AFF Women’s Championship 2015 round up: Australia U-20 guarantee semi-final spot!
Group A: Australia U-20s book place in semi-finals
The Young Matildas have already claimed a spot in the AFF Women’s Championship 2015 semi-finals after they have earned a maximum six points from two matches in the group stage so far. Australia U-20s kicked off their campaign against the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 bound team Thailand. Thailand were not able to convert the chances created by the likes of Naphat Seesraum and Nisa Romyen, and Australia U-20s were able to soak up the pressure in the first half. Australia turned the game around in the second half, a penalty conversion by Amy Harrison followed by goals from Beatrice Goad and Emma Checker ended the game 3-0. Thailand were disappointed with the performance which saw them end Day 1 at the bottom of Group A.
Laos got their campaign off to a winning start with a 2-0 win over a much more composed and organised Indonesian side.
In match-day two, Laos came up against Australia U-20s in a pretty competitive and even fixture. Only a single goal by Kobie Ann Ferguson separated the two sides.
It seemed Indonesia got punished as Thailand set out to make up from the disappointment of their opening defeat to Australia U-20s. Thailand fired a massive ten goals passed the Indonesians with just a consolation goal by Erma Karafir to end the game 10-1.
Group A current standings: Australia U-20s (6), Thailand (3), Laos (3), Indonesia (0)
Group A results so far:
Thailand 0-3 Australia U-20
Indonesia 0-2 Laos
Australia U-20 1-0 Laos
Indonesia 1-10 Thailand
View all the AFF Women’s Championship 2015 fixtures and results.
Group B: Perfect start for hosts Vietnam
It was a hard fought battle for the hosts Vietnam in their opening Group B match against Myanmar. In front of several thousands of fans at the Thong Nhat Stadium it was the hosts who took the lead through Do Thi Yen. Undeterred, Myanmar quickly netted the equaliser thanks to Khin Moe Wai before taking the lead through Naw Arlo Wer Phaw. Vietnam battled back and before the end of the first half, they were able to bring the game back level. In the second half Vietnam scored the winner in the 77th minute.
Philippines got their tournament campaign off to winning ways as they earned a comfortable 3-0 win against Malaysia. Jesse Anne Shugg, Joanna Houplin (2) were the goalscorers.
It seemed the Philippines great start in the AFF Women’s Championship 2015 was continuing as they took the lead against Myanmar through a penalty scored by Houplin in their second Group B match. However, desperate not to make it two defeats in two, Myanmar turned the game around partly thanks to a Wer Phaw hat-trick! Khin Moe Wai also got on the scoresheet for Myanmar to end the game 4-1.
Vietnam were far too strong for their second opponents Malaysia, the goalscoring opened in less than a minute through Huynh Nhu and the hosts continued to dominate, scoring another six goals to finish the game 7-0 in their favour.
Group B current standings: Vietnam (6), Myanmar (3), Philippines (3), Malaysia (0)
Group B results so far:
Vietnam 3-2 Myanmar
Malaysia 0-3 Philippines
Myanmar 4-1 Philippines
Malaysia 0-7 Vietnam
View all the AFF Women’s Championship 2015 fixtures and results.
Group stage concludes on 6 May, teams fight for semi-final places
Group A’s final matches will be played tomorrow (5 May), with Thailand and Laos battling it out for the second available semi-final berth to join the already qualified Australia U-20s.
Australia U-20s will take on Indonesia as they look to finish the group stage with a perfect record. Indonesia are still looking for their first point of the 2015 AFF Women’s Championship.
Group B concludes the action on Wednesday 6 May as the Philippines face hosts Vietnam and Myanmar take on Malaysia. Philippines and Myanmar both head into the final group stage match on 3 points, and have a chance of advancing to the semi-finals.
The WSU Team bringing you news and updates from the world of women’s football.
