De Vanna double helps Matildas thrash Thailand in Asian Cup warm-up

The Matildas warmed up for their Asian Cup campaign with a thumping 5-0 win over Thailand.

Matildas striker Lisa De Vanna volleys the ball home during Australia’s 5-0 win over Thailand at NIB Stadium in Perth. Picture: Getty Images

Veteran Lisa De Vanna scored a double as the Matildas warmed up for their Asian Cup campaign with a thumping 5-0 win over Thailand in Perth last night.

Player-of-the-match De Vanna scored either side of halftime, with Chloe Logarzo, Alex Chidiac, and Larissa Crummer also getting on the scoresheet in front of 7549 fans at NIB stadium.

Hometown hero Sam Kerr came close to scoring on several occasions, but couldn’t quite find the finishing touch before being subbed off in the 55th minute.

The match was predominantly played in the Matildas’ attacking half, with Kerr and De Vanna wreaking havoc.

De Vanna missed two golden chances from point-blank range in the opening 40 minutes, but she finally got on the scoresheet in the 42nd minute when she volleyed home from close range.

She also set up Logarzo’s headed goal two minutes later with a whipping cross.

De Vanna then scored the pick of the bunch in the 52nd minute when she combined with Kerr for a beautiful one-two pass before firing home.

The win gave the Matildas a timely confidence boost as they attempt to win the Asian Cup for the second time, following on from their 2010 success.

They will enter the upcoming tournament in Jordan as favourites following a stunning 12 months that saw them rise to as high as fourth in the world. The Matildas slipped to sixth over the weekend following a rankings update.

They will face Japan, Korea Republic, and Vietnam during the group stage of the Asian Cup.

AAP