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November 7th 2012
Game 1 – Australia 5 versus Thailand 1
Craig Stockdale
This was the first game of the qualifiers and as such there was a sense of nervous energy surrounding the Australian camp but an air of confidence that the girls were ready to tackle their opponents head on.
I woke in the hotel early as the blazing sun pierced through the blinds and the thick layer of smog stretched across the horizon as far as the eye could see. With a forecast temperature of 32 degrees Celsius and humidity of 64%, the girls needed to be fully hydrated to be able to perform in such adverse conditions.
They had prepared accordingly over the last three days under the watchful eye of Vicki Linton and the amazing Australian support team led by assistant coach Nicola Williams, team manager Kean Marshall, physiotherapist Sunita Sidhu and a number of other members from the FFA family.
As I ventured down to the gym in the Ascott Hotel located in central Makati City, I met another Australian about to hit the treadmill. I was greeted by the familiar face of Tom Sermanni looking very slim and athletic as he went about his morning ritual of exercise in preparation for the day’s events.
Tom is very approachable and of course very supportive of the development of our young Australian women in football having been involved at senior levels since the mid nineties. Tom has accepted the senior coaching role with the world’s number one team, Team USA, and assumes his new position in early January 2013.
But in the meantime, here he was in Manila to support our girls during the tournament and this reflects his amazing commitment and dedication to the game of women’s football. Tom has been instrumental in elevating Australian women’s football to lofty heights; a golden period of eleven years during which he led the Matildas in three Women’s World Cup tournaments. During his time in charge of Australia, Sermanni helped bring the team into the top 10 in the FIFA Women’s World Rankings.
Upon arrival, the sun was shining over Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila and equally so over the Australian U17 women's football team as they went about their business crushing Thailand 5-1 in the first qualifying match of the AFC tournament.
With a 4-3-3 formation, the Australians opted to start with Teagan Micah between the posts ably supported by Chloe O'Brien, Siena Senatore, Brooke Goodrich and Matilda-Lee (Tilley) Potter as the defensive line designed to thwart the Thai offence. Across the middle, Linton opted for Jessica Waterhouse (Captain), Isobel Dalton and Sunny Franco as the engine room and to finish the good work up front were Caitlin Cantrill, Tia Gavin and Emily Hendersen. The Australians looked fit and eager to take on the might of Thailand.
The game began slowly with both teams trying to adjust to the trying conditions. The pitch was very slow with a surface that was bordering on three inches high and as a result all passes were going nowhere in a hurry and boots were disappearing into the turf.
Early touches were difficult to control and the Australians struggled early to grasp the pace of the game. At the five minute mark, Emily Hendersen made a great run up the wing and fired a bullet-like cross to the box where Caitlin Cantrill finished the good work by slamming the ball into the back of the net. Australia were on the board and off to a flyer early with the score 1-0 only minutes in.
Several surges forward by the Australian midfielders forced the Thais to defend solid corner kicks with the Thai keeper being kept very busy early in the match.
The Australian defense was acclimatising to the slowness of the pitch as the Thais surged forward on a number of occasions but they managed to repel all efforts early. Until the 19th minute mark when a wayward pass from the Australian keeper was intercepted by the captain of Thailand Chucheun Sudarat (9) and with a deft left foot pass she threaded it into the top right hand corner of the net to make Australia pay - one all and things looked a little shaky – or did they?
Several more wayward defensive passes missed the mark causing opportunities for the Thais to penetrate the net but all to no avail in the end. The Aussie midfielders led by Jessica Waterhouse (Captain Courageous), Sunny Franco and Isobel Dalton were taking control of the game and dominating possession of the ball. This settled the team and with every Thai push forward the Australians gained composure and cracks started to appear in the Thai defence.
Several shots on goal by the Australians failed to penetrate.At the 37 minute mark, basked in sweat, Waterhouse danced through the midfield once again and cut the Thai midfielders to shreds finished with a pass to Franco who had drifted down and she finished with a great shot past the Thai keeper for the second major to Australia. Two goals to one and the momentum swung back to the Aussies.
All of a sudden, the Thais dug deep and started to pepper the goals. In the dying minutes of the first half, a rebound by Australia from the defensive line opened up the Thai midfield and through a decisive run by Tia Gavin, Australia scored their third major, going to the break with a comfortable 3-1 lead. Gavin was imposing up forward and really showed her class in finishing on this occasion and in conjunction with Cantrill, Potter and Hendersen, had created massive headaches for the Thai defensive line to half time.
With no changes to the lineup and their tails up, the Australians came out punching in the start of the second half led once again by Waterhouse contesting strongly in midfield. Waterhouse and Franco were dominating proceedings virtually having the ball on a string and dictating play for Australia as a result.
Both were consistently slicing through the Thai defence like a hot knife to butter and from a free kick, Waterhouse bombed the ball deep into the box where Hendersen descended on the ball but just failed to convert for the Aussies.
Moments later, Franco scooted up the left wing on the end of a rocket-like pass from Potter and landed a pinpoint precision kick at the feet of Tia Gavin. A certain goal thwarted only by a defiant Thai keeper deflecting the shot past the post for yet another Aussie corner. The Australians were now in total control and driving hard for goal number four.
After Thailand made the first substitute of the game at the 57th minute mark, Hendersen streamed down the left wing and with a rocket propelled pass smashed the ball to the mouth of the box where several Thailand players deflected the ball into the Australian net for an own goal, 4-1. With a strong Aussie contingent in the stands draped in green and gold, the crowd erupted into that indelible chant “Aussie Aussie Aussie - Oi Oi Oi!”
Minutes later, Linton made the first change of the game substituting Sunny Franco with Alycia Macqueen to add some fresh legs in the guts and take the heat off Waterhouse. The Thais were fading fast under the relentless pressure and soon substituted again. Linton quickly followed suit and replaced Caitlin Cantrill for Kally Lewis who in conjunction with Alicia MacQueen were running rampant up forward with some great crosses that were not taken full advantage of.
Play was interrupted at the 80 minute mark in the second half when a Thai player was stretchered off the ground after what looked like a fair tackle from Lewis (no not Wally Lewis but Kally). The Australian girls took the time to replenish liquids on the sideline and take final instructions from a very contented Linton.
Once the pitch was cleared, the Australians once again moved quickly to dominate the game. With some smart work by Alycia MacQueen, Tia Gavin once again was well positioned to take advantage of a precision pass and running onto the ball, she chipped the shot over the Thai keepers head and into the solace of an empty net. Lionel Messi would have smiled at that work Tia! Australia out to a five goals to one lead with minutes to go and Tia Gavin with a nice pair of sausage rolls (two goals).
In the dying minutes Siena Senatore was yellow carded for a solid tackle but the Australians were “walking the dog in the park” by now and could do no wrong. Isobel Dalton was replaced by Ayesha Kirby at the 88 minute mark from a bench that any W-League team would be overjoyed by. With three minutes extra time, Australia was able to coast along to record an outstanding win against Thailand and cement themselves at the top of the table.
Australia now have Thursday to recover in time to face off against Myanmar on November the 9th who had a 2-1 win against the Philippines under lights at Rizal Memorial Stadium this evening.
Stay tuned to Stocky Scribbles for Game 2 on Friday 9th November.
Signing off.
Read all of Stocky's Scribbles here.
