Australia issue warning to Japan after thumping Vietnam in Asian Cup
IT took a super hot Matildas just 44 minutes Wednesday to put reigning AFC Asian Cup titleholder Japan in serious jeopardy of relinquishing its 2014 crown.
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IT took a super hot Matildas just 44 minutes to put reigning AFC Asian Cup titleholder Japan in serious jeopardy of relinquishing its 2014 crown well before the final next week.
Now all Australia has to do is to make sure it doesn’t lose against the Japanese on Friday.
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Australia belting Vietnam 8-0 at Amman Stadium in the second match of Group B was the best possible psychological warning the Matildas could issue Japan before their final group match of the AFC Asian Cup at the same venue.
Australia now tops Group B with four points — equal with Japan — but with a four goal better goal difference.
Australia’s huge win has eliminated any chance of the Matildas being ousted by a head-to-head record with the Japanese if the two nations happen to be tied on points at the end of the group stage after Japan beat Vietnam 4-0 last weekend.
With Japan held goalless by a well organised South Korean side in the earlier Group B clash, a draw is now good enough for Australia to oust Japan out of the last four of the Asian Cup — providing Vietnam doesn’t cause an upset by beating South Korea in its final match.
South Korea can also clinch top spot with a big win over the Group B minnows on Friday if Australia shares the points with Japan as both matches kick off at the same time.
A Matildas win will clinch top spot and avoid a meeting with Group A leader China in the semi final.
A Matildas loss however can throw everything into chaos.
Australia was far too good in a very cool night, heading for halftime refreshments with an easy 5-0 lead — already scoring a goal more than Japan in the overall standings — after Kyah Simon drove the first dagger into Vietnamese hearts.
She was on the end of brilliant combination play between Chloe Lagarzo and Sam Kerr before tucking the ball home in the seventh minute.
Alanna Kennedy made it 2-0 with a perfect header from a sweet Elise Kellond-Knight corner 11 minutes later before Lagarzo made it 3-0 in the 21st minute.
With Vietnam unable to offer anything more than an occasional unstructured counter-attack the Matildas kept the pressure on before Emily van Egmond dribbled around Vietnam’s advancing keeper Khong Thi Hang in the 28th minute — a goal which put Japan on notice when Australia tied on goal difference with the Japanese.
Kerr then finished off another fine Matildas move in the 44th minute with a glancing header from a Kennedy cross to give the Matildas a magnificent five goal buffer.
It was also a huge night for the Matildas youngest players Alex Chidiac, 19, and Ellie Carpenter, 17.
The pair made their tournament debuts as coach Alen Stajcic — as promised — made seven changes to the starting II which drew 0-0 with South Korea on Sunday.
Chidiac had a golden chance to jag her first Asian Cup goal when Kerr outpaced the Vietnamese defence before delivering a square ball inside the box but the Adelaide United playmaker’s 6m shot was blocked by the desperation of the underdogs in the 15th minute.
After the refreshments break Kerr scored her second goal slamming the ball home with her left boot from 7m after Vietnam failed to cleared a floating Matildas cross for a 6-0 scoreline.
With Stajcic obviously keeping an eye on keeping his key players fresh for Friday’s clash Kerr and van Egmond ended their shifts for Katrina Gorry and Hayley Raso just before the hour.
The changes did very little to affect the momentum as Raso inside the six yard box caused mass panic when a clearing ball ended in the back of the net from a another perfect Kellond-Knight corner in the 71st minute.
Carpenter combined with Chidiac before the playmaker floated in a neat cross which Raso finished from point blank range four minutes later.
AFC Asian Cup — Group B
Final scoreboard
Matildas 8 (Kyah Simon 7m, Alanna Kennedy 18m, Chloe Logarzo 21m, Emily van Egmond 28m, Sam Kerr 44m, 51m, OG 71m, Hayley Raso 75m) Vietnam 0 at Amman Stadium — Referee: Edita Mirabidova (Uzbekistan)
Other Group B matches
South Korea 0 Japan 0 at Amman Stadium — Referee: Qin Liang (China)
Group B standings after two rounds
1. Australia 4 pts (goals)
2. Japan 4 pts (+4 goals)
3. South Korea 2 (0 goals)
4. Vietnam 0 (- 12 goals)
Originally published as Australia issue warning to Japan after thumping Vietnam in Asian Cup