The Australian U19 Women's Soccer Team (the Qantas Young Matildas) went down 4-0 to Germany last night in Bangkok, the European side one of the favourites in this FIFA U19 Women's World Championship, although the scoreline was not a true reflection of Australia's performance. With losses from both matches so far, the Australians must now win against hosts Thailand on Tuesday night to have a chance of making it through to the quarterfinals as one of the two best third-placed teams from the groups.
After a slow start, the Australians settled into the game and enjoyed some good periods of play in the remainder of the contest. The powerful and free-flowing Germans however looked dangerous every time they pushed forward, most frequently down the left side, exploiting an inexperienced Australian defence. They took the early lead and didn't look like relinquishing the three points, although Australia were still in the contest until the third goal.
The evening game started with temperatures in the mid-30's and high humidity at Supachalasai Stadium. The Australians were forced to take the field without captain and central defender Emma Davison, sidelined through injury, with Julia Bazi the replacement. Monique Jackson won the spot in goal with the suspension of teammate Alison Logue, whilst striker Catherine Cannuli and midfielder Kylie Ledbrook gained a start for two further changes to the team which opened against Canada.
From the off, Germany displayed sweet flowing combinations in attack, incisive and penetrating and scored inside four minutes. A long ball from deep was headed at full stretch by Australian defender Caitlin Cooper but it fell nicely for Celia Okoyino Da Mbabi outside the 18-yard box who chested the ball down and beautifully looped her shot over the keeper and it sailed in just under the crossbar.
Germany had all the play for the opening 15 minutes, striker Anja Mittag and Simone Laudehr on the left also imposing themselves in attack. Soon after, the Australians finally worked their way forward to put some pressure on the opposition. Collette McCallum beat her opponent on the left wing and provided a good cross which needed to be cleared for a corner by Germany, before McCallum in the next minute found the ball at her feet from a poor kick by the goalkeeper, her effort from 30 metres sailing over.
Laudehr continued to surge up the left for Germany and had two chances inside a minute but her shooting boot was not on song. Shortly after at the other end, Australia also started to show their ability on the ball with some neat moves. A Sally Shipard freekick to the left post was met by a strong glancing header from Selin Kuralay from the edge of the 18-yard but a little too high. Two minutes later, Ledbrook played a short diagonal ball into the path of Kuralay but her drive was blocked by the leg of the keeper.
Australia's search for an equaliser was then thwarted by Germany's second goal in the 26th minute. Elena Hauer spread a diagonal ball forward for Melanie Behringer to chase up the left, tracked all the way by defender Cooper, and the German managed to hook the ball into the danger area. Mittag just managed to dive in for the ball before the goalkeeper and still had the presence of mind to get back up and touch it past a lurking defender before driving into an open goal.
Australian Lauren Colthorpe dug out a first time strike from the edge of the 18-yard box which was just over, in a lively period at both ends, before Germany finished the half the stronger. In the 38th minute, they almost scored again, from a Behringer freekick. Goalkeeper Monique Jackson tipped the goalbound shot up against the crossbar, before Laudehr was pulled up for dangerous play as she attempted to stick the ball in from point-blank range. Da Mbabi had a shot blocked, before Laudehr was put through on goal but chased down by defender Ellen Beaumont who got a foot in to clear the certain danger, the two teams going in at the break to a 2-0 scoreline.
Two minutes after half-time, Australia put in a good cross from the right which was missed by the keeper but just too high for Kuralay, before Beaumont again made a telling tackle at the other end, this time taking the ball off the feet of Okoyino Da Mbabi. In the 55th minute, a fantastic ball from deep by Sally Shipard picked out Catherine Cannuli but her solid drive was saved.
Two minutes later, Australia made another lucky escape when goalkeeper Jackson just got to Mittag's chip and batted it against the underside of the crossbar, then steering the loose ball away from the head of Karolin Thomas, and finally pouncing to steal it off the boot of Da Mbabi. Mittag came close in the 64th minute, before Australia created another great chance three minutes later. Leah Blayney played a great ball into space for the diagonal run of Cannuli but she was unable to keep her first-time attempt down.
Germany's third goal in the 73rd minute all but put the game beyond Australia's reach. A freekick from the left saw Mittag unchallenged on goal. Her shot hit the post but she had the easy task of thumping it into the open net from the ricochet.
Australia still didn't give up the fight, but again Germany finished the half the stronger. Laudehr had a great chance but her shot was deflected by the foot of her marker, before Germany scored a fourth in the 85th minute. Laudehr's squared ball from the left was touched on by a teammate and fell nicely for Anna Blaesse completely unmarked in front of goal who made no mistake with the shot.
Australian Head Coach Adrian Santrac was rueful of Australia's missed opportunities on goal and errors in defence, but remains confident about making the playoff stages of the championship.
"(The scoreline) was a reflection of the ability of the two teams to finish," said Santrac. "The chances we created were not put away, and at this level, you can't afford to get punished at the back but then not take your opportunities that you create. It was a lesson in finishing."
With regard to Australia's defence, Santrac said, "We're now looking at the basics. The movement at the back definitely against Canada was not good, but we worked better tonight. There were aspects which were much better, but individual basics were costly and something we need to tighten up."
"We can't take any credit away from Germany - they're a very good side, fit and very strong, and extremely well organised. They forced us into mistakes."
"Now we've got Thailand and we need to win and win well - not just by the score but with a big performance. The confidence is still very strong amongst the team. Their performance tonight in parts was very, very good. We competed with Germany, but for our finishing and individual defensive errors. With a good result, we're still looking to go through to the quarterfinals and a chance to go further from there."
The Australians now travel north to Chiang Mai for their last group match on Tuesday night against hosts Thailand.
In the later Group A match overnight, Canada thashed Thailand 7-0 to set up an intriguing clash with Germany on Tuesday, both with two wins and jostling for first place in the group going into the quarterfinals. The classy Brittany Timko led the attack with a hattrick.
In Group B action in Chiang Mai, China fought back from a goal down against Italy to claim their second victory with a 2-1 result. Nigeria upset favourites Brazil 3-2 after taking a two-goal lead within the opening quarter-hour. Brazil fought back to level in the second half before Nigeria claimed the three points with a last minute equaliser, helped by a goalkeeper error.