By Kieran Yap 26/2/25
Above: Sienna Saveska (16) is mobbed by teammates following her third goal. Photo: Tiff Williams. Football Australia
The Young Matildas have lifted the trophy in the PacificAus Four Nations Tournament following a 5-2 win over Thailand U20’s in Canberra. A hatrick to Sienna Saveska combined with goals to Peta Trimis and Caley Tallon-Henniker settled the match despite the brace from Thailand captain Maddie Casteen.
Korby Babington named a strong lineup for the final game of the window. The Young Matildas have scored freely against Vanuatu and The Solomon Islands, but Thailand’s Under 20 side would be their toughest test yet.
Sydney FC star Indiana dos Santos wore the armband, while Saveska returned to the starting lineup, with Peta Trimis also named in an impressive looking attack.
Australia hit the scoreboard in style with a 10th minute strike. Zara Kruger lofted a perfect pass over the Thailand defence, and Saveska’s deft volleyed touch curled the ball around the goalkeeper.
The game was fiercely contested in the middle of the pitch, and while the Young Matildas preferred to retain possession where possible, Thailand looked dangerous on the break.
A terrific solo goal from Casteen levelled the scores in the 19th minute, The North Carolina Courage Academy prospect drove in from the right flank and fired into the net from a seemingly impossible angle.
Dos Santos and Saveska combined in the 27th minute to regain the lead for Australia. Saveska’s cross into the box dipped troublingly for the Thailand defence and Australia had a penalty for a handball. Saveska scored her second of the game with a cooly taken spot kick.
A cross from deep caused problems for Australia and Casteen had her brace from another composed and powerful finish. The scores were 2-2 going into half time but not before a scare for Australia as Rinyaphat Moondong won possession in attack. Her shot looked goal bound until The Young Matildas scrambled it off the line.
Opportunities were scarcer in the second half, Thailand’s press made it difficult for Australia to build from the back and The Young Matildas midfield strength like life difficult for the visitors to counterattack.
Trimis broke the deadlock in the 70th minute when her low, hard effort squirmed under the goalkeeper to make it 3-2 to Australia.
The best was still to come from Australia and Saveska brought up her hatrick with a spectacular goal. Maddie Caspers’ flicked on header bounced nicely for the Wanderers forward who unleashed a dipping volley of pure precision into the far corner of the net.
That made the score 4-2 and Thailand starting to surge forward while leaving more space at the back. Claire Adams movement put her into a great scoring position but her shot was scuffed wide.
Caley Tallon-Henniker scored the fifth goal in the final seconds on the match when she finished off a flowing end to end move by Australia.
Ilona Melegh’s goal kick started a swift move that sliced open Thailand’s structure, Caspers, Dos Santos and Talia Younis all combined before Adams’s perfect cross was tapped home by Tallon-Henniker .
Late goals have become a habit o this team during this tournament, but this may have been the best of the lot and put an exclamation point on an excellent performance from Australia’s Under 20 side.
“It’s a good feeling to get a hatrick, said Saveska after lifting the trophy.
“But the performance out there by the girls was amazing and I think we stuck to our plan.
“We knew Thailand was a great team so it was good to get the win in the end.”
The three goals made Saveska the tournament’s leading scorer with six in total. But her focus remained firmly on the team. There is a strong sense of pride that this squad has managed to play so cohesively despite limited time to prepare.
“We’ve had a week and a bit to gel as a team and I think we’ve done just that,” continued Saveska .
“On and off the field we’ve been amazing and tonight shows that against a good squad like Thailand.”
The three wins in three games, all while rotating the squad as often as possible has meant that interim coach Kory Babington has made a strong impression in the role. The players spoke of how his half time encouragement lead to a much stronger performance after the break.
“He’s a great guy and a great coach,” said Saveska.
“I think he deserves a good rap. He’s worked pretty hard and to come and slot in for Leah (Blayney) has been pretty good for him and he’s produced.”
Babington clearly enjoyed his fist time in charge of a national team, and said the tournament pointed to an exciting future for Australian football.
“It’s fantastic,’ he told the media.
“There’s 26 here, we had another four identified as well. We had seven make their debut’s this week, six are still eligible for the Junior Matildas.
“So there’s a lot of depth there across the different age groups. You saw the quality in some of the goals there, a lot of these players have big futures.”
Babington has potentially hut his hand up to continue in the role permanently after this camp, and he says he was aiming to continue the good work put in place by his predecessor.
“I’ve really enjoyed it. Leah left a very good system in place, processes and things like that.
“She did a great job with the girls when she was here. Carrying on from that has been an honour to lead a national team.
“The staff have been fantastic and all contributed. I’d like to thank them for that and Football Australia as well.”
Peta Trimis score the goal to put Australia ahead. She was dangerous in the first half, but deadly in the second. Her pace constantly troubled the Thailand defence and her workrate never ceased, she seemed to thrive on the physicality of the contest at its toughest too.
“We never lost belief,” the playmaker told the media.
“We kept pushing and to get that goal in that stage was a really good feeling for me and to step up for the girls.
“The whole week has gone really well. We’ve been training together only for this week but we’ve really gelled quickly and there’s so much talent coming through so I’m really proud of the girls.”
Trimis starred at the 2024 Asian Cup, and went to the U20 World Cup in Colombia as a result. Although she is still 18, she has extensive experience as a Young Matilda and is eager to pass that on to her new teammates for this World Cupo cycle.
“I’m usually one of the younger girls in the team so to be one of the oldest now, I think it’s a big role for me to step up and help the girls grow and I’m really proud of that.”
This tournament was a successful one for The Young Matildas, although the first two games were made to look easy as Australia ran up the scorelines, when they were faced with a tough, organized and dangerous opponent they rose to the occasion and still put on a show for the home crowd.
There is style in this squad. There is flair, talent and tactical astuteness. The future is bright, and it is very exciting to see where this team can go over the next two years.
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