By Kieran Yap 16/3/24
Above: Lara Gooch is swamped by teammates after her winning goal. Photo Tiff Williams, Football Australia.
The Young Matildas have ended the 2024 U20 Asian Cup in third place after an entertaining, but tense 1-0 win over South Korea.
Lara Gooch’s 79th minute goal was enough to separate the sides, but Chloe Lincoln was in unbeatable form in goal for Australia and produced some stunning saves in a confident and flawless performance between the sticks.
It was a game of shifting momentum and clear cut chances for either team were rare. South Korea were clearly wary of Australia’s ability to counter attack and although the moved the ball well, did not commit as many players forward as Japan did on Wednesday night.
Peta Trimis and Daniela Galic looked like Australia’s most dangerous attackers, while the back four returned to the exemplary for that they have displayed for most of this tournament.
With the game in the balance, Leah Blayney turned to the bench, she brought on Lara Gooch and Indiana Dos Santos, and the pair combined for the only goal of the match. Gooch ran onto the long pass. Her pace deceived the South Korean goalkeeper and she was able to flick it beyond her and into the goal.
Australia now had to survive at least 10 more minutes before the final whistle and despite a late South Korean surge, they held on to equal their 2006 finish in this tournament.
This win mattered in more ways than one. Once again, it is important to look at the Young Matildas as a program to create senior Matildas. This performance underlined the depth of talent coming through the ranks.
Their response to the semi final thrashing was impressive. Their confidence in themselves and each other did not wane from that defeat to Japan. With just two days between matches, they brushed off one bad loss to deliver a solid performance against strong opposition.
The Young Matildas did not lose faith in the game plan, and did not panic under significant first half pressure. Australia gradually worked their way into the contest with a maturity that would most senior sides would be in admiration of.
The bench players came on ready to make an impact. Daniela Galic is a potential generational talent, and was looking likely to create the winning goal for much of this match. When she was subbed out, Australia looked no less dangerous. From Lara Gooch’s goal to Georgia Cassidy’s defensive efforts, this was an Australian squad stacked with players ready to contribute in their own way when needed.
Developmentally, this win could be huge. It was important to see how they would respond to a humbling loss, and who could change the game once it was underway.
The first aim of this tournament was World Cup qualification, and that was achieved with flying colours. The other was to try and win the Asian Cup. On that front, they fell short, but not by much, and this win will provide all the evidence necessary that they can make an impact in Colombia.
This was an exciting, entertaining and rewarding tournament. Australia scored in every match, and only conceded once in five games. Despite the loss to Japan, Australia showed that they are improving against the top opposition, and the youth program is making progress.
Australia played different types of opponents, in wildly varying weather conditions, they switched personnel, formations and tactics between and within games. This was an encouraging Cup run, and although it may be too soon to label any individual as the “next big thing,” the 2024 Asian Cup produced numerous candidates. Some performed to the high level we have come to expect, some stepped up to a new level and announced themselves on a bigger stage.
Although these players are all unique in their own way, comparison’s can easily be drawn with their senior counterparts. Gooch has the raw pace and menacing presence of Hayley Raso in full flight. Peta Trimis has the craft of Mary Fowler, and while Sasha Grove and Jess Nash are very different in style, they defended the flanks as well as Steph Catley or Ellie Carpenter. The idea of some of these players gradually entering the senior setup should give Matildas fans hope.
Much has been made of the potential in this generation, and now that they have finished in tne top three of a major tournament, it is clear that optimism was not misplaced.
There is a lot going right in Australian women’s football in the present. The Young Matildas, coaches and support staff have shown that the future is also in the right hands.
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