By Kieran Yap 8/5/24
Above: The Junior Matildas. Photo Via AFC
The Junior Matildas will look to bounce back after a 3-0 loss to China in the U17 Asian Cup. Australia will play Japan on Friday, and coach Rae Dower has identified that her players need to be more clinical to get a result.
Australia created a number of opportunities but were unable to convert in Bali, something that Dower at least partially attributes to nerves.
“Technically we just were off the pace today,” she told the media.
“We gave a lot of the ball away, and turned over a lot of possession which is really uncharacteristic of us.
“Upon reflection, we’ve had a bit of a discussion amongst the staff. We think that potentially the nerves got the better of some of our players today.
“Full credit to our opponents, they were clinical in that final third. At 1-0 down at half time I thought that we potentially had a couple of opportunities to get a goals back and had some really good shouts for some penalties as well.
“Some of our set piece delivery was really good but today it wasn’t clinical.”
Debutant Amelia Bennett echoed those sentiments.
“It was an intense game,” said the midfielder.
“With the weather conditions it was pretty hot, but we’ve got a lot to improve on and that we can work on towards our next game against Japan.
“If we link up a bit more through the middle as well I think we’ll be able to get more opportunities going forward.”
Goalkeeper Caoimhe Bray was solid in her first game, and noted the change in intensity at internation football.
“It’s definitely a lot quicker,” said the Emerging Jets custodian.
“Obviously because they’re from different countries, they play a lot differently to what we’re used to so that was cool to realise and notice.
“I was a abit nervous at the start but I think once the game started… and I had a few saves, had a few touches on the ball I started getting comfortable with the pace and ended up going pretty well.”
Dower was pleased with the intent and effort from her team, but lamented the cutting edge in the Australian attack.
“I can’t fault the effort from the players,” she said.
“But we just didn’t make those passes stick or that final action whether it was a pass, whether it was a shot, we were just off the pace there. It’s all to play for in our next game on Friday.
“It was always going to be a difficult game. we know every single that we play is going to be difficult. Our opponents are going to be good, to get to an Asian cup you’ve got to be good.
“For us it was always going to be difficult, but it really comes down to taking those opportunities. You’ve really got to be clinical in that final third.
“If you limit the errors that you make yourself and you capitalise on the chances that you create or that you force on the other team that goes a long way towards getting the three points.”
Despite the stern test presented by the Steel Roses, Australia created some chances. They were able to get behind the Chinese defence and that can give them some confidence heading into the second game.
“We knew that there was going to be opportunities to break lines,” said Dower.
“We were going to do that in a variety of ways, but again when our passing completion was poor it meant that we were having to turn and chase and work really really hard to win the ball back and start the attack again.”
Despite the result, this will be a memorable game. Danella Butrus joined Bray and Bennett in stepping out for the first time in Green and Gold.
“We spoke about it before the game and after the game and reflected on it,” said Dower.
“The team were very excited for the girls, and we were as well.
“You never forget your first jersey you never forget the first time that you walk on the park as an Australian player.”
Bennet was thrilled to get her first cap after dreaming about it for years.
“It was a surreal experience,’ she said.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about this, dreaming about this for years now.
I’ve put in the work, so it’s really nice to see that its starting to pay off but it means a lot to me and I’m really proud.”
FV Emerging’s Danella Butrus was pleased to represent Australia for the first time, it was the culmination of a dream but also an opportunity to learn about the elite level.
“I’ve dreamt about this day for a long time and it just feels really good to go out there today with the girls.
“It was so memorable, ill never forget the feeling. You feel everyone’s energy and you feed off it. I was pretty pumped.
“That game was pretty difficult, coming on when we were 1-0 down, but I’m still very grateful to be able to play.
“I felt like it was a learning lesson. International football is so much more intense, so much quicker and you just have to be tactical and very quick if you want to play well in this competition.”
impetusfootball.org 