Written by Thomas Esamie.
| With six countries competing for two places at the 2016 Olympic Games as the Asian representatives the qualifying tournament was held in Osaka seeing each team faced with the tough task of playing five matches in the space of ten days. First up for Australia is reigning World Champion Japan. This was a Olympic Qualification match. | ||||
| Played : February 29 | Venue : Kincho Stadium, Osaka | |||
| Japan Erina Yamane, Azusa Iwashimizu, Saki Kumagai, Aya Sameshima (Mana Iwabuchi 84), Mizuho Sakaguchi, Aya Miyama, Nahomi Kawasumi (Yuri Kawamura 84), Yuki Ogimi, Shinobu Ohno (Kumi Yokoyama 40), Saori Ariyoshi, Emi Nakajima Goal : Ogimi 45 |
1 | - | 3 | Australia Lydia Williams, Clare Polkinghorne, Laura Alleway, Chloe Logarzo (Caitlin Foord 65), Stephanie Catley, Elise Kellond-Knight, Emily van Egmond, Lisa de Vanna (Emily Gielnik 87), Alanna Kennedy, Michelle Heyman (Kyah Simon 70), Katrina Gorry Goals : de Vanna 25, Heyman 41, Gorry 78 |
| Referee : Carina Vitulano (Italy) Attendance : 4988 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Sasaki Norio (Japan) | ||||
| Australian squad | Match Report by FFA | |||
| Having won well against Japan Australia handed the Vietnamese side a solid pasting, presumably to ensure if things got down to goal difference that they would be looking good. This was a Olympic Qualification match. | ||||
| Played : March 2 | Venue : Yanmar Stadium Nagai, Osaka | |||
| Australia Mackenzie Arnold, Caitlin Cooper, Stephanie Catley (Clare Polkinghorne 46), Elise Kellond-Knight, Caitlin Foord (Michelle Heyman 57), Emily van Egmond, Tameka Butt, Alanna Kennedy, Emily Gielnik, Kyah Simon (Ashleigh Sykes 46), Ellie Carpenter Goals : Gielnik 10, Simon 17, 38, 43, Kennedy 19, Sykes 64, van Egmond 68, Heyman 77, Polkinghorne 85 |
9 | - | 0 | Vietnam Dang Thi Kieu Trinh, Nguyen Thi Xuyen, Chuong Thi Kieu, Bui Thi Nhu, Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung, Nguyen Thi Lieu, Pham Hai Yen (Tran Thuy Trang 46), Hoang Thi Loan, Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy (Vu Thuy 74), Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet (Nguyen Hoa 82), Huynh Nhu |
| Referee : Esther Staubli (Switzerland) Attendance : 129 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Mai Duc Chung (Vietnam) | ||||
| Australian squad | Match Report by FFA | |||
| Australia was starting to run away with the group... This was a Olympic Qualification match. | ||||
| Played : March 4 | Venue : Yanmar Stadium Nagai, Osaka | |||
| Australia Lydia Williams, Clare Polkinghorne, Laura Alleway, Chloe Logarzo, Stephanie Catley, Elise Kellond-Knight, Emily van Egmond (Michelle Heyman 74), Lisa de Vanna (Caitlin Foord 56), Alanna Kennedy, Kyah Simon (Ashleigh Sykes 86), Katrina Gorry Goals : Simon 1, van Egmond 14pk |
2 | - | 0 | South Korea Kim Jung Mi, Kim Do Yeon, Hwang Boram, Jeon Ga Eul (Yoo Young A 75), Cho So Hyun, Ji So Yun, Jung Sul Bin, Jang Selgi, Lee Sodam (Lee Min A 46), Kim Soo Yun, Kim Hye Ri (Lee Geummin 46) |
| Referee : Lucila Venegas (Mexico) Attendance : 1124 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Yoon Duk Yeo (South Korea) | ||||
| Australian squad | Match Report by FFA | |||
| Needing a draw or a win to be assured of a place in the Olympics the Matildas found the going difficult but were never headed and ran out winners and celebrated the end of a 12-year absence from the Olympic tournament appropriately when the final whistle blew. This was a Olympic Qualification match. | ||||
| Played : March 7 | Venue : Yanmar Stadium Nagai, Osaka | |||
| Australia Lydia Williams, Clare Polkinghorne, Laura Alleway, Chloe Logarzo (Lisa de Vanna 57), Stephanie Catley, Elise Kellond-Knight, Caitlin Foord (Ashleigh Sykes 89), Emily van Egmond, Alanna Kennedy, Michelle Heyman (Kyah Simon 71), Katrina Gorry Goals : Heyman 18, Gorry 84 |
2 | - | 1 | North Korea Hong Myong Hui, Ri Hui Jong, Kim Un Hyang, Kim Su Gyong, Kim Un Ju, Ra Un Sim, Ri Ye Gyong (Ri Hyang Sim 74), Kim Yun Mi (Ri Kyong Hyang 89), Wi Jong Sim, Kim Nam Hui, Kim Un Ha Goal : Kim Su Gyong 78 |
| Referee : Anna-Marie Keighley (New Zealand) Attendance : 900 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Kim Kwan Min (North Korea) | ||||
| Australian squad | Match Report by FFA | |||
| Both sides had already qualified and it was pride of place at the top of the qualification table that was at stake. Thanks to Emilys long range strike that honour went to Australia. This was a Olympic Qualification match. | ||||
| Played : March 9 | Venue : Yanmar Stadium Nagai, Osaka | |||
| Australia Mackenzie Arnold, Caitlin Cooper, Laura Alleway, Stephanie Catley, Caitlin Foord, Emily van Egmond, Lisa de Vanna, Tameka Butt (Michelle Heyman 61), Kyah Simon, Katrina Gorry (Elise Kellond-Knight 78), Ellie Carpenter (Clare Polkinghorne 46) Goal : van Egmond 85 |
1 | - | 1 | China Zhao Lina, Liu Shanshan, Yang Man (Ren Guixin 46), Wu Haiyan, Li Dongna, Ma Xiaoxu (Gu Yasha 66), Li Ying (Zhang Rui 77), Wang Shanshan, Zhao Rong, Lou Jiahui, Tan Ruyin Goal : Ma Xiaoxu 16 |
| Referee : Stephanie Frappart (France) Attendance : 250 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Bruno Bini (China) | ||||
| Australian squad | Match Report by FFA | |||
| On the 10th of May the FFA announced two Matildas matches against New Zealand (a fellow Olympic Finalist). This was a Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : June 4 | Venue : Morshead Park Stadium, Ballarat | |||
| Australia Mackenzie Arnold (Casey Dumont 88), Clare Polkinghorne (Teigan Allen 88), Alanna Kennedy, Stephanie Catley, Caitlin Cooper, Elise Kellond-Knight (Ellie Carpenter 64), Katrina Gorry (Tameka Butt 64), Chloe Logarzo, Lisa deVanna (Larissa Crummer 82), Caitlin Foord, Michelle Heyman (Kyah Simon 64) Goals : Foord 5, 51 |
2 | - | 0 | New Zealand Erin Nayler, Ria Percival, Meikayla Moore (Rosie White 89), Abby Erceg, Ali Riley (Kirsty Yallop 70), Annalie Longo, Betsy Hassett (Anna Green 70), Katie Duncan (Paige Satchell 86), Amber Hearn, Katie Bowen (Jasmine Pereira 77), Hannah Wilkinson (Sarah Gregorius 46) |
| Referee : Yoshimi Yamashita (Japan) Attendance : 4371 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Tony Readings (New Zealand) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| On the 10th of May the FFA announced two Matildas matches against New Zealand (a fellow Olympic Finalist). This one was part of a double header match for the Socceroos v Greece match. This was a Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : June 7 | Venue : Docklands Stadium, Melbourne | |||
| Australia Lydia Williams, Clare Polkinghorne (Teigen Allen 65), Laura Alleway, Stephanie Catley, Elise Kellond-Knight (Chloe Logarzo 65), Caitlin Foord, Emily van Egmond, Lisa de Vanna, Alanna Kennedy, Kyah Simon (Michelle Heyman 65), Katrina Gorry Goal : de Vanna 73 |
1 | - | 1 | New Zealand Erin Nayler, Ria Percival, Katie Duncan, Abby Erceg, Ali Riley, Amber Hearn, Kirsty Yallop (Betsy Hassett 46), Katie Bowen (Jasmine Pereira 78), Meikayla Moore, Annalie Longo, Hannah Wilkinson (Sarah Gregorius 46) Goal : Bowen 64 |
| Referee : Fusako Kajiyama (Japan) Attendance : 8604 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Tony Readings (New Zealand) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| Australia found a match against the tournament hosts (and eliminated from the World Cup at their last meeting) ahead of the Olympic games. This was a Friendly match. | ||||
| Played : July 23 | Venue : Estadio Presidente Vargas, Fortaleza | |||
| Brazil Barbara Micheline do Monte Barbosa, Erika Cristiano dos Santos, Monica Hickmann Alves, Poliana Barbosa Medeiros, Tamires Cassia Dias Gomes (Camila Martins Pereira 46), Marta Vieira da Silva, Beatriz Zaneratto Joao (Raquel Fernandes 65), Andressa Cavalari Machry (Darlene de Souza Reguera 78), Debora Cristiane de Oliveira, Andressa Alves da Silva (Miraildes Maciel Mota 80), Cristiane Rozeira Goals : Debinha 61, Raquel 73, Darlene 90 |
3 | - | 1 | Australia Lydia Williams, Clare Polkinghorne (Tameka Butt 62), Laura Alleway (Caitlin Cooper 79), Alanna Kennedy, Elise Kellond-Knight (Ellie Carpenter 89), Katrina Gorry (sent off 49), Cailtin Foord, Michelle Heyman (Chloe Logarzo 57), Emily van Egmond, Kyah Simon, Larissa Crummer (Lisa de Vanna 89) Goal : Crummer 36 |
| Referee : Attendance : Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Oswaldo Fumeiro Alvarez (Brazil) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| Australia fell behind early to some sloppy defending/opportunist attacking and spent the rest of the match chasing the game. They had the better of the chances, though had to save a penalty, but as so often happens the suckerpunch at the end extinguished the hopes of salvaging something out of the game and next up facing Germany who pasted Zimbabwe 6-1 in the other group game. This was a Olympic Games Finals match. | ||||
| Played : August 3 | Venue : Corinthians Arena, Sao Paulo, Brazil | |||
| Australia Lydia Williams, Caitlin Foord, Clare Polkinghorne, Laura Alleway, Alanna Kennedy, Katrina Gorry, Samantha Kerr (Stephanie Catley 46), Elise Kellond-Knight, Chloe Logarzo (Lisa de Vanna 61), Emily van Egmond, Michelle Heyman (Kyah Simon 71) |
0 | - | 2 | Canada Stephanie Labbe, Ashley Lawrence, Rhian Wilkinson (Allysha Chapman 46), Shelina Zadorsky (sent off 19), Kadeisha Buchanan, Jessie Fleming, Desiree Scott, Diana Matheson (Sophie Schmidt 69), Melissa Tanredi (Rebecca Quinn 23), Janine Beckie, Christine Sinclair Goals : Beckie 1, Sinclair 80 |
| Referee : Stephanie Frappart (France) Attendance : 20521 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), John Herdman (Canada) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| Despite leading by two and having chances to score more Australia had to make do with a draw and now rely on being one of the 2 best 3rd placed side to progress to the knockout stages. This was a Olympic Games Finals match. | ||||
| Played : August 6 | Venue : Corinthians Arena, Sao Paulo, Brazil | |||
| Australia Lydia Williams, Laura Alleway, Stephanie Catley, Alanna Kennedy, Clare Polkinghorne, Lisa deVanna (Michelle Heyman 67), Katrina Gorry, Kyah Simon, Elise Kellond-Knight, Samantha Kerr (Chloe Logarzo 83), Caitlin Foord Goals : Kerr 6, Foord 44 |
2 | - | 2 | Germany Almuth Schult, Tabea Kemme, Saskia Bartusiak, Leonie Maier, Annike Krahn (Josephine Henning 46), Melanie Leupolz, Dzsenifer Marozsan (Lena Goessling 70), Sara Daebritz, Anja Mittag (Isabel Kerschowski 61), Melanie Behringer, Alexandra Popp Goals : Daebritz 45, Bartusiak 88 |
| Referee : Anna-Marie Keighley (New Zealand) Attendance : 37475 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Silvia Neid (Germany) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| Australia only had to win to get a qualifying 3rd place. However a large enough win (and a big enough loss by Germany against Canada) could have got them second place and a potentially 'easier' opponent. The consolation goal by Zimbabwe put an end to those ambitions. This was a Olympic Games Finals match. | ||||
| Played : August 9 | Venue : Fonte Nova Arena, Salvador, Brazil | |||
| Australia Mackenzie Arnold, Katrina Gorry (Michelle Heyman 52), Clare Polkinghorne, Chloe Logarzo, Stephanie Catley, Elise Kellond-Knight, Caitlin Foord (Ellie Carpenter 75), Emily van Egmond, Lisa de Vanna (Larissa Crummer 75), Alanna Kennedy, Kyah Simon Goals : de Vanna 2, Polkinghorne 15, Kennedy 37, Simon 50, Heyman 55, 66 |
6 | - | 1 | Zimbabwe Chido Dzingirai, (Lindiwe Magwede 58), Lynett Motokuto, Sheila Makoto, Nobuhle Majika, Emmaculate Msipa, Talent Mandaza, Rejoice Kapfumvuti (Daisy Kaitano 75), Mavis Chirandu (Rutendo Makore 46), Marjory Nyaumwe, Eunice Chibanda, Kudakwashe Basopo Goal : Msipa 91 |
| Referee : Esther Staubli (Switzerland) Attendance : Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Shadreck Mlauzi (Zimbabwe) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||
| Australia's reward for finishing in 3rd place was to face the hosts. Having acquitted themselves well over the course of 2 hours they were one penalty kick away from facing Sweden but Barbara's incessant jumping forward off the goal line paid off against first Katrina Gorry and then, sadly, Alana Kennedy. Brazil win 7-6 on penalties. PS. apparently you get a 4th sub in extra time at these games. This was a Olympic Games Finals match. | ||||
| Played : August 13 | Venue : Estadio Mineirao, Belo Horizonte | |||
| Brazil Barbara Micheline do Monte Barbosa, Monica Hickmann Alves, Fabiana da Silva Simoes (Poliana Barbosa Medeiros 61), Tamires Cassia Dias Gomes, Rafaelle Souza, Debora Cristiane de Oliveira, Thaisa de Moraes Rosa Moreno (Andressa Cavalari Machry 116), Miraildes Maciel Mota, Marta Vieira da Silva, Andressa Alves da Silva, Beatriz Zaneratto Joao Penalty Goals : Andressa, Andressinha, Bia Zaneratto, Rafaelle, Marta (saved), Debinha, Monica, Tamires |
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Australia Lydia Williams, Stephanie Catley (Chloe Logarzo 20), Alanna Kennedy, Laura Alleway, Caitlin Foord, Katrina Gorry, Elise Kellond-Knight, Lisa de Vanna (Clare Polkinghorne 75), Samantha Kerr (Larissa Crummer 105), Emily van Egmond, Kyah Simon (Michelle Heyman 60) Penalty Goals : Kellond-Knight, Alleway, van Egmond, Polkinghorne, Gorry (saved), Heyman, Logarzo, Kennedy (saved) |
| Referee : Carol Anne Chenard (Canada) Attendance : 52660 Coaches : Alen Stajcic (Australia), Oswaldo Fumeiro Alvarez (Brazil) | ||||
| Australian squad | ||||