Australia U20 5-0 India U20
By Kieran Yap 5/4/26
Above: The Young Matildas celebrating a goal. Photo: Football Australia
For the second successive match in the U20 Asian Cup, Australia has recorded a 5-0 win. A hatrick to Skye Halmarick and goals to Danella Butrus and Daisy Brown continued the Young Matildas perfect record in the tournament. In a very different game to the opening match against Chinese Taipei, Australia still found different ways to score.
Alex Epakis made some changes to the starting lineup. Danella Butrus started in place of Tiana Fuller and Shelby McMahon rotated in for Talia Younis. The back four remained the same and that continuity came in handy as Australia were tested in the early stages.
While Chinese Taipei were happy to sit back against Australia in the first game, India set up to compress the midfield and try and attack with pace. Sulajana Raul and Subjangi Singh looked dangerous in the early minutes, finding space on the left.
Australia grew into the game quickly, and once they worked their way through midfield, the attacking quarted of Halmarick, Butrus, Peta Trimis and Avaani Prakash were able to cause problems for the Indian defence.
It looked like the Aussies had taken the lead in spectacular fashion. Trimis curled a free kick over the wall and into the net, but the referee was quick to disallow the goal having judged an infringement in the wall.
For a short time, Australia began to show signs on visible frustration as fouls and border-line throw-in calls went against them. But they regrouped and took the lead in the 38th minute. Butrus cut inside from the left and drew a foul as she shaped to shoot. Halmarick dispatched the spot kick to make it 1-0.
Barely a minute had passed before Australia doubled their advantage. Prakash and Teagan Bertolissio combined to release the tightly marked Trimis on the right. Some quick shifting on her feet made room for the cross and Halmarick met the ball at pace to nod home her second.
Halmarick had her third just after the break. Prakash, a menace all afternoon in the main playmaker role, weaved inside, drew four defenders and slipped a ball into the path of the Sydney FC striker. The finish took a deflection, but was on target and she had her fifth for the tournament.
Butrus got in on the act after stealing the ball and bursting into the box, taking on the last defender and slotting the ball into the far corner.
At 4-0 up, Epakis rotated again. Amelia Cassar, Poppy O’Keeffe and Amelia Bennet enterted the game and all made good cases to start in the final game against Japan. Cassar was proactive in attack, while O’Keeffe was quick and decisive with her passing from deep in midfield.
Bennet’s inclusion shifted Bertolissio to the opposite flank. After being a rock at right back, she moved her talents to left back and was still able to get forward in support of the attack in a near complete performance by the Canberra United defender.
The final goal came late, but it was a testament to Australia’s persistence and relentlessness throughout this game. A series of deflections meant that the ball eventually felt to Brown. Her first touch was delicate and took her into space, her second rifled the ball into the net for Australia’s fifth.
Despite the identical scoreline, this was a more impressive display from The Young Matildas. India were much more confident and aggressive on the ball than Chinese Tapiei and worked hard without it. Australia’s professionalism and experience saw them through the initial tests, and like the first game, they were able to create a variety of chances and most importantly, convert. Trimis was typically impactful despite being closely marked and Prakash was outstanding, either wriggling free or every challenge or drawing a foul with her acceleration and quick changes of direction. The Mariners pair were more than just effective, they were a problem that India had no answer for, and a joy to watch.
That win sees Australia guaranteed a place in the knockout stages, but next up they face Japan, historically a powerhouse at this level.
With the form that this side is in, and the squad depth they were able to flex in both games, Australia have every chance of getting a result on Wednesday night, and topping the group.
Teams: AUSTRALIA U20’s (4-1-2-3): Melegh, Bertolissio, Dundas, Halmarick, McMahon, Kruger, Apostolakis, Prakash, Butrus, Trimis, Sullivan. Substitutes: Bennett, Cassar, O’Keeffe, Fuller, Brown, Collins, Breier, Black, Henniker, Ritchie, Younis, Dale.
Goals: Halmarick 38’ 39’ 48’ Butrus 55’ Brown 94’
India U20’s (4-5-1): M Devi, Chanu, Pooja, N Devi, Kipgen, Khumukcham, Tjokchom, Singh, Chanu, Raul, Colney. Substitutes: S Kumari, N Devi, Sahena, N Kumari, Sillay, B Kumari, Jamu, Ruchi, Shaji, Singha, Pal, Mattu.
Referee: Ersa Almbaiden.
Attendance: TBC
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