The CommBank Young Matildas have been declared PacificAus Four Nations Tournament champions after a hard-fought 5-2 victory against Thailand U-20.
In front of a near-capacity crowd, the Australia U-20 team were made to earn their victory with Thailand twice fighting back to equalise before the home side stormed home in the final 15 minutes.
A hat-trick from Sienna Saveska - including goal of the tournament - as well as an own goal and a last-minute strike from Caley Tallon-Henniker was enough to overcome a double from Thailand's impressive winger, Madison Casteen.
The match started as a tense contest with both teams testing each other out until a sublime finish from Sienna Saveska opened the scoring. The Western Sydney Wanderers' midfielder finished off a Zara Kruger cross with a curling first-time volley that rounded the keeper into the inside side netting.
Just as it seemed Australia had won the momentum, a cheap turnover at half way gave Thailand an instant reply. With Rinyaphat Moondong the architect, the Thai captain created space to deliver the ball to Casteen who shaped to cross but instead beat her defender and scored from an improbable angle.
The Young Matildas' lead was restored as Saveska both won and converted a penalty after Napatsawan Suebsuan handed the ball as she struggled to deal with Saveska's cross.
Parity was restored once again as a punch from Ilona Melegh fell to the feet of Casteen who took a touch before driving the ball on the half volley past a scrambling Melegh. Both teams had a flurry of chances before half time but couldn't convert before the interval.
The second half opened with a period of sustained pressure for Australia which was rewarded when some front third combination play saw Peta Trimis in space out wide. Hitting a firmly struck shot, it was initially saved before being bundled over the line by two Thai defenders getting in each other's way.
Saveska claimed her hat-trick and opened a two-goal lead with the goal of the tournament, running in behind the defensive line and playing a first-time pile driver into the opposite side-netting. The goalkeeper had quite literally no chance.
Having started the match two goals behind in the golden boot race, Saveska's hat-trick also gave her the outright lead as the tournament's top goal scorer.
The impressive second half from Australia was capped-off with a sharply worked team goal when substitutes Claire Adams and Caley Tallon-Henniker combined for the latter to seal the game and claim the championship.
Australia finished three points clear at the top of the table with an undefeated nine points, Thailand sitting in second position.
In the other match, Vanuatu claimed third place following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Solomon Islands. Limas Erikan scored the winning goal, heading in from close range following a Nelly Kaltack corner.
The victory was driven by Vanuatu midfielder, Jane Alatoa, who was named Pacific Player of the Tournament following a string of impressive performances throughout the competition.
MATCH DAY 3
Solomon Islands: 0
Vanuatu: 1 (Erikan 30')
CommBank Young Matildas: 5 (Saveska 11' 28' (p) 78', Own Goal 73' Tallon-Henniker 90'+8)
Thailand U-20: 2 (Casteen 19' 35')
Pacific Player of the Tournament: Jane Alatoa
Golden Boot: Sienna Saveska (six goals)
