CommBank Young Matildas seal U20 World Cup qualification with 3-0 win against Chinese Taipei | Football Australia

The CommBank Young Matildas have defeated Chinese Taipei 3-0 in the final group stage match of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2024™.

The result, meaning they finished top of the group on nine points out of nine, secured their place in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024™. It is the fifth time that Australia has qualified for an U20 Women’s World Cup, and the second since 2006, after appearing in the 2022 edition.

Head Coach Leah Blayney made three changes to the team that defeated Uzbekistan on Wednesday. Kahli Johnson, Claudia Cicco and Zara Kruger came into the starting eleven in place of Alana Murphy, Maddie Caspers, and Lara Gooch.

Australia started the livelier of the two sides. In particular, Western United’s Kahli Johnson proved a constant menace on the left-hand side of the attack.

It was from a corner won by Johnson that the CommBank Young Matildas had their first big chance. A pinpoint delivery from Zara Kruger found the head of Naomi Chinnama, the match winner from game one. Her header was saved onto the underside of the crossbar, and the follow up from Claudia Cicco could only hit teammate Peta Trimis in the resulting scramble.

They had the ball in the back of the net moments later after clever work from Trimis to release Daniela Galic, who squared it to Johnson to tuck away - but Galic was marginally offside.

It was right-back Jessika Nash who would be the one to break the deadlock. A perfectly weighted diagonal ball from Galic found her captain at the back post. The 19-year-old made no mistake from close distance, placing her volley beyond the goalkeeper and into the back of the net.

The CommBank Young Matildas continued to apply the pressure throughout the first half. Chinese Taipei