The CommBank Junior Matildas have been defeated 3-0 by China in their first group stage game of the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup Indonesia 2024™.
Goals to Zhou Xinyi, Xiao Jiaqi and Zhang Kecan were enough to see Australia's defensively solid and well-organised opponents secure the three points to start the tournament.
The match started with China on the front foot. Their number 9, Li Yuhan, was a creative force up front and proved very difficult for Australia's defence to deal with.
It was no surprise that it was her work that created the opening for the first goal. After finding her way into the penalty area, her cross found the feet of Zhou Xinyi, who slotted it in at the near post.
14-year-old Caoimhe Bray impressed in goals in her first international appearance for Australia, making a number of saves and showing safe hands when the ball came her way.
It took 21 minutes for Australia to have their first shot - a Kiera Meyers strike from outside of the box - but once they did, the game began to turn a little more in their favour. Their best chance of the half came in the 25th minute, when Sienna Dale hit the side netting from inside the six-yard box.
Isabela Hoyos was substituted off in the first half, replaced by Annabelle Yates. At half-time, Chloe Parker replaced Mikayla Duong.
The end of the first half saw a lot of joy on the left flank, led by the runs of Dale, and the second 45 started in a similar vein. There was a huge penalty shout after Tiana Fuller went to ground off the ball while waiting for a cross from Dale. Minutes later, she was only inches away from equalising when a ball from the same player was agonisingly just out of reach.
Unfortunately, Dale would be forced off with injury in the 60th minute, pulling up while making another run up the wing and appearing to gesture at an issue with her calf. She was replaced by Danella Butrus.
China would score their second moments later. After an ambitious shot crashed against the crossbar, it fell to the feet of their substitute Xiao Jiaqi. Her strike from outside the area gave her side a buffer on the scoresheet.
A couple of incredible blocks from Alvina Khoshaba and captain Talia Younis prevented China's third. Moments later, Bray - with a little help from the post - did very well to save a close-range effort from Liu Jingwen.
However, the CommBank Junior Matildas could not continue to hold out against the waves of attacking forays from China. Zhang Kecan scored number three for China after a clever header over Bray allowed her to get in behind, to tuck away the finish.
Head Coach Rae Dower looked to the bench again in the aftermath of China's third. Christina Kiceec and Sian Dewey were introduced, while Chloe Parker - injured in the process of trying to prevent the goal - and Amelia Bennett were withdrawn.
Fuller came very close to scoring for Australia deep in stoppage time, when a shot from outside the area looked destined to float into the top corner, but Hou Shumei made a fantastic save to keep her clean sheet.
They never gave up, but in the end, China were too strong for the CommBank Junior Matildas. Focus now shifts to Japan on Friday.
Australia v Japan
Date: Friday, 10 May 2024
Kick-off: 7.00pm (local) / 9.00pm AEST
Venue: Kapten I Wayan Dipta Stadium, Bali
