Matildas v South Korea: Australia open Asian Cup campaign in Jordan with frustrating 0-0 draw
THE Matildas’ AFC Asian Cup campaign has got off to a rocky start after big guns Sam Kerr and Lisa de Vanna were shackled by a resilient South Korea in a scoreless draw in Jordan.
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South Korea got what they wanted. The Matildas didn’t.
Australia were shackled by a resilient South Korea in their opening Group B match of the women’s AFC Asian Cup on a frustrating night at King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman on Sunday morning (EST).
The upside is the Matildas didn’t concede but Australia must now belt Vietnam in the next clash on Wednesday morning (EST) before facing the prospect of an all-or-nothing clash against reigning champion Japan.
Australia was by far the more composed side, moving the ball sweetly but the Matildas hardly had a sniff in front of goal due to the South Korean’s willingness to stay deep to limit risks.
As the clock wound down substitute Kyah Simon spurning an opportunity when her touch lifted the ball over the bar in the 89th minute. It was the best chance Australia had in the entire clash.
South Korea managed to choke up all the Matildas’ outlets in the first half with striker Sam Kerr and wingers Lisa de Vanna and Chloe Logarzo having very little space to work with in a tense opening.
Attacking midfielders Katrina Gorry and Tameka Butt were also squeezed out of having any impact as South Korea’s boss Yoon Duk Yeo continually instructed his side to also block the overlapping runs of full backs Hayley Raso and Elise Kellond-Knight.
With the underdog’s intent very visible - they wanted to hit Australia in transition at every opportunity - coach Alen Stajcic went to the break with a tactical dilemma he needed to unravel.
With a blocked shot from Butt getting South Korea out of potential trouble in the 55th minute Stajcic unloaded centre-back Alanna Kennedy off the bench for Raso, with stopper Claire Polkinghorne moving to right back.
De Vanna’s overhead kick attempt at goal, which just missed the target, was a sign that South Korea was about to crack just before the hour.
She was finding more space as Australia’s pressing game had the South Koreans on the ropes but the sucker punch was still nowhere on the horizon despite Kerr’s headed attempt which sailed wide in the 66th minute from the winger’s cross.
As the game was approaching the final 20 minutes it was clear that Australia was trying to force a goal while South Korea appeared intent to hold defensively and wait for the right moment to hit the Matildas on the counter attack.
Simon, replacing de Vanna in the 71st minute, watched her header plucked out of the air by South Korea’s goalkeeper Yoon Young Geul.
In the earlier Group B clash reigning Asian Cup champion Japan easily accounted for Vietnam with an effortless 4-0 win to top the group.
AFC Asian Cup
Group B
Australia 0 South Korea 0 at King Abdullah II Stadium, Amman: — Referee: Qin Liang (China)
Other Group B match
Japan 4 (Kumi Yokoyama, Emi Nakajima, Mana Iwabuchi, Mina Tanaka) Vietnam 0 at King Abdullah II Stadium — Referee: Thein Thein Aye (Myanmar).
Originally published as Matildas v South Korea: Australia open Asian Cup campaign in Jordan with frustrating 0-0 draw