Australia made a positive start in their ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U16 Championships campaign with a 14-0 win against the Philippines last night in Yangon, Myanmar.
With seven goal scorers for the Australian side, including four to Alanna Kennedy, a hat-trick to Caitlin Friend and braces for Teigen Allen and Heidi Markillos, it was a commanding start to their ASEAN Cup push.
Australia put immediate pressure on their opposition with chances being created from the first whistle and the opening goal scored in the 7th minute.
Sam Kerr received the ball on the halfway line and beat a number of players before being dispossessed in the box. Teigen Allen was quick to take advantage, winning the ball and finishing well for her first goal of the match.
Heidi Makrillos, on her debut, scored in the 13th minute after Sharni Brown, another debutant, slid a ball into the 18 yard box for Makrillos to run onto. She made no mistake with the finish and doubled her tally 2 minutes later.
Brown again was the provider after she made a break down the left and delivered a cross into the box. Makrillos received the ball, beat a player and drove the ball into the top left corner.
In the 33rd minute Makrillos was substituted by Caitlin Friend after picking up a thigh injury. It was not long before Friend was in the action. After receiving the ball just outside the 18 yard box Friend ran at her defender before making a great reverse pass into the path of Kerr who struck the ball first time sweetly into the bottom right hand corner.
Five minutes later, Kerr passed the ball from the right wing into Alanna Kennedy who, after beating a defender, found space to shoot and scored past the diving Philippine goalkeeper.
Just before halftime, Hannah Brewer received the ball on the right wing and delivered a deep cross into the 18 yard box finding Friend who met the ball in the air with a delightful volley, scoring the goal of the match. Australia heading into half-time with a 6-0 lead.
In the second half Australia's ball possession and controlled the pace of the game to a greater extent.
Ashlee Faul, the third player making her debut in this game, registered a goal in the 55th minute with a strong header from a corner.
In the 60th minute, Brown was again in the action, beating a number of defenders down the left before sliding a ball across the box for Kennedy to finish from close range.
Australia continued to create chances with the Philippine goalkeeper making a number of good saves. In the 70th minute, Allen made a great individual run from outside the 18 yard box, cutting inside and scoring in the bottom right hand corner.
Australia continued to get in behind the Philippines defence with Brewer and Stott combining well on the right hand side. In the 73rd minute, Stott made a break down the line and cut the ball back across the 18 yard box where Kennedy clipped the ball into the top left hand corner of the net.
Friend then scored two quick goals bringing her total to three. In the 79th minute a defence splitting pass found Whitfield who managed to push the ball past the goalkeeper before calmly cutting the ball back to Friend who shot into an open net from just outside the six yard box.
Play continued to develop down the right and in the 81st minute, Stott beat her defender and crossed the ball into Friend who, receiving the ball with her back to goal still had plenty to do, but with a composed turn she beat the defenders and shot past the goalkeeper.
Brown was unlucky not to score soon after when Australia counterattacked after a free-kick deep in their own half. Higgins took the ball cleanly and threw quickly out to Kennedy who played the ball to the right wing where Stott delivered a cross into the far post. Despite making a good run, Brown failed to get the touch required to score.
In the 85th minute, Brewer made an overlapping run down the right and crossed the ball into the box. After a bit of a scramble, Whitfield managed to find her way clear to finish from close range.
And in the 93rd minute Australia was given their first free kick of the game when the Philippine goalkeeper inadvertently picked the ball up after catching it and placing it on the ground. The ensuing indirect free-kick saw Brown touch the ball for Ruth Wallace to shoot. Kennedy deflected the ball passed the keeper – taking her tally to four for the night.
Head Coach Robbie Hooker was pleased with the performance.
"I am pleased with the execution of the tactical training we have been working on in the lead up to the AFC U16 Championships. I thought Caitlin Friend had a good game after coming on as a substitute in the first half and that Sharni Brown played well on debut,"
"I was also pleased with the job Erika Elze did as captain, leading the team well in her first opportunity in this role," said Hooker.
Hooker will now look to make a number of changes in the second game on Monday against Vietnam.
"It is important to give all players some game time in this tournament to find the right combination going into the AFC tournament in November."