Australia 6-0 Chinese Taipei
By Emma Burke at GMHBA Stadium for Impetus (7/12/24).
Above: Sharn Freier after scoring Australia’s sixth goal. Photo: Football Australia.
The Matildas have cruised to a 6-0 win against Chinese Taipei for their final international fixture of 2024, in front of a crowd of 30,097 in Geelong.
In a much more cohesive performance than we’ve seen in this window, the Matildas made easy work of their opponents, utilising a three-back defence with fast-paced wing-backs to break down and open up Chinese Taipei.
Less than 15 minutes into the game the Matildas found themselves with a 2-0 lead over the visitors, with a debut goal for Leah Davidson scored with her head and assisted by Emily van Egmond, followed by an exceptional solo effort from Tameka Yallop who picked off a poor pass from the goalkeeper and fired back on her.
A third goal for the first half came late to Emily Gielnik, assisted on a silver platter by Yallop, who finally found the back of the net after multiple opportunities sent either skyward or into the side netting.
The Matildas came out wanting more in the second half, and got exactly what they came for when substitute Remy Siemsen took it on herself to drag the ball through the box past multiple defenders and set up Michelle Heyman for an easy finish in front of goal.
Already up by four goals, Australia found a fifth after a free kick delivered by van Egmond met the head of Tash Prior who came careening through a crowd of defenders to score her second goal in as many international games.
The final goal was scored by Sharn Freier who had spent the game looking very threatening on goal. A long ball was played perfectly for Freier to run on to by Wini Heatley, who only had to beat her defender to the ball, and finish clinically at the near post.
In between being a goal-fest, this game also saw the final exit of legendary Matildas defender Clare Polkinghorne, who left the pitch to a standing ovation. Polkinghorne ends her international career with a win and 169 appearances to her name.
The final whistle tonight closed the 2024 campaign for the Matildas, with players now returning to club football. The next challenge for the team now comes in the form of finding a permanent head coach before competing in the SheBelieves Cup in the United States in February early next year.
To view Impetus’ Adrian Geremia’s EXCLUSIVE pitchside photography from the game go to our Instagram page @ImpetusFootball.
Teams: AUSTRALIA (5-3-2): Arnold, Heatley, Polkinghorne, Van Egmond, Yallop, Gielnik, Freier, Heyman, Henry, Davidson, Prior. Substitutes used: Siemsen, Chidiac, Nash, Lincoln, Røstbakken, Hughes.
Scorers: Davidson 6’, Yallop 11’, Gielnik 40’, Heyman 56’, Prior 73’, Freier 78’.
CHINESE TAIPEI (4-5-1): Wang Yu-Ting, Chang Chi-Lan, Teng Pei-Lin, Li Yi-Wen, Pu Hsin-Hui, Wu Kai-Ching, Ting Chia-Ying, Chen Ying-Hui, Lin Ya-Hsuan, Tseng Yun-Ya, Huang Ke-Sin. Substitutes used: Hsu Yi-Yun, Su Yu-Hsuan, Chan Pi-Han, Chen Jin-Wen, Lin Hsin-Hui, Su Sin-Yun
Referee: Azusa Sugino.
Attendance: 30,097.
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