Summary
So - job done from a Matildas perspective. Vietnam showed real flashes of promise, and some tidy skills and footwork at time. Unfortunately though, there was very much an underdog’s attitude on show, they started with a defensive mindset and invited pressure upon themselves. Still, Australia have struggled at times to break down set defences, so did well to fashion shooting opportunities early on, especially combining well down the flanks with Carpenter and Catley getting forward on the overlap. A relief for the skipper Kerr to pick up a brace - she’s had a lean trot recently and celebrated wholeheartedly after thumping home her second from the spot. Van Egmond and Simon were lively around the box, and Foord her usual industrious self. Hardly a bad performance in yellow (sorry, gold) as Australia booked themselves a handy five-goal advantage ahead of Wednesday night’s return fixture in Vietnam.
Thanks for your company - we’ll see you again in five days time!
Full-time: Australia 5-0 Vietnam
And there’s the final whistle! It’s the result home fans were hoping for, and in fairness, the performance that accompanied it from the Matildas was pretty good too. They’re in the boxseat heading into the return leg in five days time. The clean sheet was important in a two-legged contest. Perhaps a chance to manage the workload of some players for the second clash.
Updated
90 + 5 min: Crossbar! And that’s the shot of the night from the youngster, from Vietnam who beats Williams all ends up with a fine effort, but it cannons back. What a shame - they deserved something from this game, Vietnam. But that’s how close the margins are in international football.
90 + 3 min: Raso with a fine ball to release Gielnik, but she’s called offside and denied the shooting opportunity. Could she have done better there, the Matildas winger? It’s an area of the game Australia could definitely improve on, especially against higher-rated opponents should they qualify for the Olympics.
90 min: Five minutes added on is the verdict, and we have an immediate pause in proceedings as Raso stays down after a nasty head-on-ground potential concussion. It was a lunging tackle that brought her down, but she’s eventually up and about again.
87 min: Post! It’s a terrific run from midfield from Raso, who uses her pace to set up the move, releasing Foord one-on-one with the ‘keeper. She jinks round the Vietnamese custodian, but with the goal begging she dinks it into the upright! That’s the miss of the evening.
Following a suspect penalty and a potential red card though, you’d have to say a touch of fortune Vietnam were sorely due.
84 min: And it is the new arrival Gielnik with a shooting opportunity, but she blasts her effort over the bar! A bad miss for the Bayern Munich player, she could be in danger of missing the Olympics squad, should Australia qualify.
A break in play, as Vietnam’s skipper again remonstrates with the referee. Logarzo has caught her opponent flush in the face with the elbow - and you have to say, should that have been a red card?
82 min: And that’s Kerr’s final contribution, as she makes way to the bench, and Emily Gielnik comes on in her place. You’d have to imagine this is a straight audition between Gielnik and Raso for the wide position. There are of course limited spots in the squad for the Olympics - only 16 outfield players, which makes versatility an added plus.
Goal! Australia 5-0 Vietnam (Kerr)
80 min: It’s the skipper who steps up to take it, and she blasts hard, down the guts. It clips the underside of the bar, but there’s no chance for the ‘keeper - that was moving. She celebrates - a relief for a player who has missed a couple from the spot in recent years.
79 min: Oh my. Raso’s gone to ground in the box and the referee’s called a penalty! “She’s added a little bit of GST to that” was the call from the commentary box, but in plain English - that’s a dive, and she’s got away with it, the winger. The Vietnamese defence are livid - they remonstrate with the referee.
77 min: 14,014 is the official crowd - a terrific turn out given the violent storms earlier in the day. They love their football in Northern New South Wales and some have no doubt driven from inland for this fixture. Shoutout to my first football club “Moree Hot Bread Shop”.
75 min: Vietnam with a very fast release after Kellond-Knight fouls Huynh Nhu, but Williams comes a long, long way to sweep! Good instincts from the ‘keeper, but she did find herself about 30m outside her box. She spares her backline’s blushes, as once again, Australia are turned around.
72 min: Vietnam with a rare foray forward, and they fashion an effort in the end, but it’s a weak one as two or three in yellow surround the shooter. Williams, happy to watch it wide. Still, a promising build up.
69 min: Raso earns the freekick not far outside the box.
A second substitute for Australia, as Elise Kellond-Knight comes on to replace Tameka Yallop.
And the ball in is cleared by Vietnam, who pack the numbers and spring forward in transition once again.
Goal! Australia 4-0 Vietnam (Polkinghorne)
66 min: Kerr with a sharp burst and she uses her body well to roll a ball centrally, but no teammate can get on the back of it.
Australia with another chance from the corner, and it’s a rehearsed routine that finishes with van Egmond picking out the veteran centre back - and it’s a fine finish! Delight for the former skipper, her teammates rush to congratulate her.
63 min: Raso looks to break clear down the left, but it runs too long for the flying winger. A poor decision from Kerr centrally and she hangs her head for a long time. She’s not had the best of starts to her time in the UK, the player voted the best in the world by The Guardian. Is she a little run down, either physically or mentally? It’s a demanding schedule she observes these days.
60 min: You have to say, the referee is letting a lot go tonight - from a Vietnamese perspective there have been a lot of physical challenges that have gone unpunished from Australia.
Foord looks for Kerr, but the final ball is over-floated. She’s had little more than crumbs to feed on tonight, the Matildas’ taliswoman. Something for Milicic to work on ahead of the return leg.
58 min: Foord with a terrific effort at goal - she jinks inside a couple and fires from outside the box, but it skips past the far post.
Both sides go to the bench - Australia bring on Hayley Raso in place of Kyah Simon, while Vietnam go to their star striker Huynh Nhu, who is just coming back from injury.
56 min: Foord with a flick down the line for Simon, but Vietnam to their credit, are sticking very well to the task - hurrying and harrying, breaking up the play where they can. They just need to show a little more in possession and they could yet hope for something from this game.
53 min: Carpenter goes in the book - she was lucky to escape in the first half for a tackle that denied a good opportunity, but she goes in for shooting long after the whistle had blown. A little petulant from the youngster, but she accepts the decision from the referee.
50 min: A good passage of passing from the Matildas as Simon and van Egmond probe around the edge of the box.
It’s a late run from van Egmond who’s denied by a fine save with the feet from the Vietnamese ‘keeper, but it would have been hard on the visitors, replays suggest the ball had gone into touch earlier in the move.
47 min: Catley cuts in from the left, jinks past her marker and fires an effort goalwards with her right foot, but it doesn’t quite curl back and flashes harmlessly wide. A nice sign of intent, though.
Second half!
45 min: And we’re back! Can Vietnam pinch an away goal to make it tasty; or will the Matildas keep the foot on the throat? We’ll know shortly.
Now, some WoSo action from elsewhere, where there was a World Cup semi-final rematch between the US and England at the SheBelieves Cup.
The evergreen Carly Lloyd rearing her head once again there - Team USA with the chocolates:
Australia had 70% possession that half, fashioned seven shots on target (to Vietnam’s zero), and fired over 30 balls into the box - eight of these delivered by Carpenter. Still, Vietnam had at least two good chances - one from a set piece, and one with a ball over the top exposing the Matildas’ backline for pace - if anything Pham Thi Tuoi could have had an equaliser if she’d connected with Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy’s cross.
Murray Henman has written in:
That third goal looked a tad offside to me. Am I wrong?
Hmm. I’d have to take another look. There have been some marginal calls so far, but at first glance I didn’t see too much amiss.
The third goal for mine is crucial though - going into the break 2-0 Vietnam might still have the spirit to keep this contest tight and then hope for home conditions to make things a little nervy in the return leg. But with an early goal after the break, 4-0 would definitely hammer a significant nail into their Olympics hopes. Players like Simon are looking hungry out there - don’t expect anyone in yellow (sorry, gold) to let up from here.
So - your assessment of that opening 45? Are Australia good value for their lead?
It’s a curious one for mine; Vietnam have shown flashes of real quality, and it begs the question if they had been a little braver could they have faced this test a little better? They started deep and instantly invited pressure from the Matildas.
Still, the delivery from wide areas has been quality, with Carpenter and Logarzo combining well down the right.
Half-time: Australia 3-0 Vietnam
The Matildas concede a set piece to the left of their box, but it’s easily claimed by Williams. And there’s the whistle - and the home side jog off to a chorus of cheers. It’s all going well for Australia, you’d have to say.
45 min: We have three minutes added on - but there’s another break in play as the skipper Tran Thi Hong Nhung receives some treatment. She got absolutely poleaxed by Foord then - a real ball-and-all challenge. She might have to watch herself, the new Arsenal striker.
43 min: Some ugly stuff going around at the moment - Kennedy comes to grips with an opposite number before Tran Thi Phuong Thao catches Kerr in the back with a knee. Foord clatters into her opposite number - it’s not spiteful, but it’s definitely physical out there.
41 min: A tricky patch here for Vietnam - they can’t afford to go further behind ahead of the break. They need their more experienced heads to try and calm things down - it’s been all a little too frenetic; Australia want to play fast, but Vietnam need to put the foot on the ball and stay as calm as they can.
Goal! Australia 3-0 Vietnam (van Egmond)
38 min: It’s fine work from Kerr and Catley who combine down the left - the skipper with the backheel. She picks out the range van Egmond who makes a clever near-post run, and her headed effort trickles in! Not sure if a defender or the goalkeeper got the last touch there, but either way - it’s a third for the Matildas.
36 min: A brilliantly worked move as Yallop finds Catley at the far post. It’s flicked on by Foord before Catley puts across the face for Logarzo once again - it was easier than the chance she already scored, but she shanks it badly wide!
A real scramble in the goalmouth as the sweeper saves off the line behind her keeper before van Egmond blasts over.
34 min: It’s a shot direct at goal from Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy - but it flashes just over Williams’ crossbar! Not a bad effort, that. A few flutters among the home fans.
32 min: Vietnam with a ball into the area, but there’s too much on it, and Lydia Williams watches it roll harmlessly past her posts. A dangerous moment as Carpenter takes down Vietnam’s left winger.
What can they make of this - a set piece just on the edge of the box.
29 min: Carpenter marauds through midfield before Simon picks up the loose ball, evades one or two tackles and earns Australia a corner.
It’s a set piece that finds Kerr along the ground and she thumps a fine first-time shot, but it’s cleared by a body near the line. It’s not letting up for the visitors!
Goal! Australia 2-0 Vietnam (Logarzo)
27 min: It’s another cross from wide, this time down the left from the vice-captain Catley - she finds van Egmond centrally whose header goes straight up in the air. Chloe Logarzo reacts fastest from midfield and she strokes home for her first goal since the World Cup. Australia doing it nicely!
24 min: Vietnam look to be targetting the space vacated by Carpenter when they get the ball - they’ve obviously identified the right back’s tendency to maraud forward; it’s something to watch - Polkinghorne is the less mobile of the two centre backs, and she’ll need to be on her toes against a mobile and pacey Vietnamese front line.
20 min: A ball in from van Egmond and Kerr wins the flick, but it doesn’t find Simon behind her. The flag is raised again for offside, but replays suggest she perhaps wasn’t. A short break in play as Vietnam ‘keeper receives a bit of attention for a suspected elbow injury.
Updated
18 min: Carpenter steps in to win it well in the heart of midfield, but it’s a poor turnover from van Egmond. Vietnam break quickly and it’s a ball over the top that almost embarrasses the Matildas - only a last-ditch lunge from Kennedy prevents a shooting chance for the visitors! A real scare for the Matildas.
15 min: Van Egmond looks to release Kerr over the top - there’s that offside trap concern when you player a sweeper - but it’s marginally against the Australian striker. She would have been through one-on-one for a second in no time, but for the linesperson’s flag.
Updated
13 min: The thinking from Vietnam would have been that the longer they stay at parity, the more frustrated Australia would become. So - what can they do now?
Australia have enjoyed more than 80% possession - they’ve made almost 100 completed passes already to Vietnam’s 12. An early headache for their coach Mai Duc Chung, who incidentally is the national team coach of Vietnam’s men’s side as well.
Goal! Australia 1-0 Vietnam (Kerr)
10 min: Carpenter gets things going with an overlapping run - her cross is defended, but Australia recycle and her second ball in is whipped with venom, and who else - captain Kerr - throws the noggin at it and heads home well from around five metres out!
6 min: A good tackle prevents Simon from starting a promising move, before Foord swings in a cross for Logarzo, but it’s a touch high and her headed effort floats harmlessly wide.
The early pattern is set, as expected: this will be attack v defence.
4 min: It does look, as suspected that Vietnam are lining up with a back five - unusually though in the modern game one of them appears to be a sweeper. Will that present opportunities for the Matildas to spring the offside trap?
It’s Australia with the early possession, Vietnam looking to break with pace - if they can isolate Polkinghorne one-on-one it could be an interesting test.
Kick-off!
1 min: Australia in their predominantly yellow strip, yellow shorts and yellow socks get us underway, Vietnam are in all red, so no kit clash concerns. An early foul as Yallop is brought down - a big test for the veteran as the “sitter” in midfield.
Graham Carnaffan has written in and solved my “Thi” conundrum:
The name Thi signifies a woman. Considering drinking coffee in Vietnam is the preserve of males then this is quite apt.
There you go! How good is learning new things? Cheers, Graham.
Our players are in the tunnel, which means we’re not a million miles away from kick-off. It’s a focused Sam Kerr with the armband as usual, about to lead out her chargers. Gee, hasn’t she been racking up the airmiles lately, flitting between Australia and the UK, as many of this Matildas lineup are now doing, having signed in the Women’s Super League.
There’s a bit of a threat of rain around, but hopefully that holds off. The pitch is otherwise in it’s usual immaculate condition.
A first question from me - and apologies in advance for my ignorance. The name “Thi” features prominently in a lot of the Vietnamese players names - a standard honorific, common middle name - can anyone shed any light on that?
Our action comes from the Hunter tonight, where already there’s a decent crowd trickling in. They’ve hosted a few Matildas games in recent times - and got 16,827 out to a match against Brazil in 2017. Let’s hope the Newcastle faithful come out in similar numbers again tonight.
So - without further ado, to team news where it’s a largely as-expected XI for Australia:
STARTING XI
— Westfield Matildas (@TheMatildas) March 6, 2020
Here's how we line up tonight against Vietnam in our #Tokyo2020 play-off first leg!#WeAreMatildas #AUSvVIE pic.twitter.com/2FxG8bowHH
The biggest change is Tameka Yallop coming in at the base of midfield ahead of Elise Kellond-Knight or Aivi Luik, while Clare Polkinghorne retains her spot in the heart of defence ahead of challenger Jenna McCormick, and Kyah Simon beats out Emily Gielnik and Hayley Raso to start from the beginning.
For Vietnam it’s listed as a nominal 4-5-1, we’ll see if that’s how they actually line up:
Tran Thi Kim Thanh (gk); Tran Thi Hong Nhung, Luong Thi Thu Thuong, Pham Thi Tuoi, Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy; Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung, Thai Thi Thao, Ngan Thi Van Su, Duong Thi Van, Tran Thi Phuong Thao; Pham Hai Yen.
Hi all! A fond greeting to you all, from wherever around the globe you’re following this one. We’d love to hear from you during tonight’s coverage - firstly, your thoughts, predictions, concerns; but also if you’re somewhere a little interesting. What’s the internet reception like on The Orkneys? In Tierra del Fuego? Fire us an email or tweet to join the conversation.
Preamble
The first of a two-legged playoff between Australia and Vietnam and the goal is very clear - win over 180 minutes and the Matildas are off to the Olympics. Standing in their way is a team considered very beatable - at least on historic form, where Australia boast 8-0, 9-0 and 11-0 wins over the past five years against today’s opponent. But as we know, football changes very quickly - and with wins against Indonesia and Thailand recently, Vietnam are a team on the rise, knocking on the world’s top 30.
It could be a case of attack vs defence, at least that’s what coach Ante Milicic is expecting pre-game: “Every opponent is different, and we know this will be a difficult game for us and one where we need to remain patient at all times, but we’re the type of team that likes to focus on ourselves.”
Vietnam have flirted with a back-five at times, so the strategy could be stay resolute for this first leg, and then look to hit Australia in trickier conditions in Cẩm Phả in five days time.
