Australia U23’s give us reason to be excited about the future and to celebrate right now

Australia U23 1-0 Myanmar

By Kieran Yap 21/8/25

Above: Holly Furphy after scoring for Australia. Photo: Football Australia

Australia’s U23 side has won the ASEAN Championships for the first time since 2008 after beating Myanmar 1-0 in Halphong. Holly Furphy’s second-half goal was enough to secure Australia the trophy and seal the votes for the Melbourne Victory striker to win player of the tournament.

Myanmar were the side that almost ended Australia’s ASEAN Championships campaign before it really started. The 2-1 win in the first group game was clearly no fluke as the defensively disciplined yet high scoring side earned their way to the top of the group and an eventual place in the final.

Despite that early and somewhat surprising setback, Australia found their groove. After the loss, coach Joe Palatsides pointed out that the Aussie team had only one training session before the tournament but still had confidence they could find form and survive the group.

They did so with grit and style. A gusty win over the Philippines was followed up by a dominant display against Timor Leste and then an entertaining victory against host nation Vietnam.

This final was a meeting between the two best sides of the tournament, and although Australia were a different proposition than in game one. Myanmar had every reason to be confident, not least the fact that they boasted the tournament’s leading scorer Win Theingi Tun as their captain.

Australia controlled possession early. Georgia Cassidy was particularly dominant in midfield. Her passing range, close control, and determination saw her become the standout player in the opening stages.

Despite this control, Australia struggled to carve out chances against Myanmar. Although goalkeeper Mya Nyein Myo was called into action to stop efforts from Cassidy and Alana Jancevski, both of them were from range. An early corner looked destined to be scrambled in, but Myanmar somehow managed to clear.

Sasha Grove looked at her best at left back, and her slaloming run ended with a shot on target despite the attention of four defenders, but Australia went into the break without a goal. Myanmar would have been justified in thinking that they may have created the better chances. Chloe Lincoln was well-positioned and strong in goal to repel a few moments of danger.

When the goal eventually arrived, it was all class. Jancevski picked up the ball deep in the central area. She found Aideen Keane out on the left, and the Canberra United forward’s decisive cross was met by Furphy’s well-timed and aggressive run.

The finish was a slight touch, but it was very deliberately directed away from the goalkeeper and into the corner of the net. It was a stylish goal born of instinct and class from all three forwards. Australia’s individual quality has risen when needed most during this tournament, and the final was no exception.

That goal was enough to divide the team,s and Australia’s defence stood strong against the quick and dangerous Myanmar counter-attacks. Tori Tumeth and Alana Cerne were rock solid at centre back, with the latter’s ability to pass through midfield and find the wingers a real asset.

Claudia Cicco was excellent at right back. The versatile Newcastle Jet can play almost anywhere on the pitch and was good on the ball, while being just as aggressive in the tackle as she was in her runs and passing.

There were no bad performers on this squad; there cannot be to win a tight final. Although this is not considered a major trophy, it is not a friendly or manufactured competition. This is a serious title with two senior World Cup sides featuring, although the Philippines were missing the likes of Angela Beard and Jaclyn Sawicki.

It is hard to be truly objective in reporting a trophy win. This was glorious by the Aussie U23’s. This tournament has not been won in 17 years, and that is mostly due to the quality of the opposition over that time and the fact that it is a real challenge for a youth side to face hardened, organised senior teams.

The real  purpose of an U23 program is to help prepare prospective senior Matildas or to see if any are ready to step into one of the world’s most high profile sides.

On the strength of this tournament, almost all of them can be trusted to do a job if called on by Joe Montemurro. Jancevski backed up a career-best A-League Women season with a nod from ASEAN as the Rising Star of The Tournament. She was highly impactful in every game, and her brilliant solo goal against the Philippines was one of the best of the tournament.

Leticia McKenna did not feature in the final, but the Melbourne City playmaker was one of the A-League Women’s best players over the last season and was in spectacular form in the high-pressure semi-final against Vietnam.

Cassidy is a real find as a box to box midfielder, with a similar passing style to Kyra Cooney-Cross, while Isabel Gomez was close to Australia’s most consistent player. Her senior Matildas opportunities have been scarce, but she definitely put her hand up as an option for a Montemurro midfield.

Grove remains a marvel. A combative fullback with sparkling footwork and an enviable engine. Opposition coaches seem to always try and isolate her because of a perceived height advantage, but it has never really worked. The best case scenario for the opposition at club or national team level is their centre forward is nos out wide and up against an excellent and experienced one-on-one defender.

Grove’s positioning, acceleration and willingness to make her opponent earn every touch mean she is a dependable presence at the back. Her pace and natural attacking instincts forged as by years as a forward in Canberra’s youth system mean she is almost the complete footballer. To compare her to another former Canberra United defender, if you give me eight Sasha Grove’s and two Ellie Carpenter’s I will give you the World Cup.

Grove, along with Cicco on the other flank, had to be at their best for Australia to win this, and both were excellent against a side that player-for-player looked faster than the Aussies.

It meant that Australia only really needed to take one chance to win this game, and the front three delivered.

Furphy’s goal was the product of teamwork and individual excellence. She is hungry in front of goal in a way that few players are. Furphy will attack the space, the ball, and run through anybody that stands in her path on the way to getting the most delicate and intricate finish.

She can score headers, which is surprisingly rare for a nation that develops so many excellent wingers and can operate on the wings or hold the ball up with her back to goal. She is a rare striker who has pace, height, and technical ability. She fits into almost any tactical system imaginable, and her performances in this tournament have her positioned as one to watch ahead of the Asian Cup.

There are stories all over this squad. Naomi Chinnama earned her ticket to Vietnam through consistent performances with Perth Glory, but has also risen through the ranks of the national youth teams, and it is wonderful to see her continue to progress in the system.

Jancevski is one who has long been a fan favourite. After narrowly missing selection in an U20 World Cup squad in 2022, she grasped this chance and took responsibility in attack. Jancevski is sometimes at her spectacular best when the game is at its hardest, and her goal against the Philippines, a curling left footer after a brilliant solo run, changed the course of the tournament.

Aideen Keane was consistently dangerous in attack, Sofia Sakalis was able to carry her impressive NPLW form into the national team setup, and Emila Makris was finally able to taste success in the Green and Gold after injury heartbreak in the 2024 Asian Cup and following the U20 World Cup.

There was a lot to be excited about in this tournament. It speaks to the quality in the domestic league and the next generation of rising Matildas. Many factors will determine if any of these champions will play in the Asian Cup next year, but they have all proven they can deliver when called upon.

More than that, they gave us at home a reason to cheer loudly at 1am and return that winning feeling to Australian football that has felt somewhat lost since the heights of the World Cup.

This was a victory for the players, the A-League Women, and the National Premier Leagues. It was a mature performance from a very young team. One that has provided real excitement for the future while giving us something to celebrate right now.

Congratulations to Australia, the 2025 ASEAN Champions.

Teams: AUSTRALIA: Lincoln, Grove, Tumeth, Cerne, Cicco, Cassidy, Gomez, Chessari, Jancevski, Furphy, Keane. Substitutes: James, Franco, Tonkin, Makris, Sakalis, Rasmussen, Woods, Johnston, McKenna, Lemon, Chinnama.

Scorer: Furphy 66′.

MYANMAR: Myo, Lin, Oo, Phyu, May, Wai, P. Win, Thaw, Yu, T. Win, Tun. Substitutes: Ei, Hnin, Myrat, W. Win, May, Nan, Than, Zu, Shwe, Khin, Yoon, Khin.

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