Young Matildas in Asian Cup

Canberra's Lydia Williams is captain of the Young Matildas as they prepare for their Asian Cup which starts on Saturday.

For match schedule and FFA Press Release.....

NEXT GENERATION OF MATILDAS PRIMED FOR THEIR OWN WORLD CUP GLORY

** See the AFC ‘mini-site' for further tournament information:-
http://www.the-afc.com/english/competitions/womenU19/2007/default.asp

The next generation of Matildas will face their own date with World Cup destiny later this week when the Young Matildas compete in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-19 Women's Championship in China. The top three nations at the tournament will earn a berth at next year's FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup to be played in Chile.

The championship commences on Saturday in Chongqing with Australia’s first match against Japan. It will be followed by another tough match for Australia against reigning U-20 World Champions DPR Korea, before the final group match against Myanmar.

The top two teams from each group will then meet in the semi finals, with the other group containing hosts China, Korea Republic, Thailand and Chinese Taipei.


Captain Lydia Williams and vice-captain Clare Polkinghorne will back up from their efforts with the Matildas World Cup squad to lead the Young Matildas. While the experience of Williams and Polkinghorne will be invaluable, there are also a number of other players in the squad with previous experience at this level, with Olivia Kennedy, Caitlin Cooper, Servet Uzunlar, Grace Gill and Victoria Balomenos, all part of the squad that went to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Championship in Russia last year. Sydney-based defender Cooper, who will join Polkinghorne as vice-captain, is in her third campaign having also been part of the squad which reached the quarter finals of the U-20 World Cup in Thailand in 2004.

"The opening match against Japan is likely to be crucial in determining the outcome of the group with our second group match against reigning world champions DPR Korea," said Young Matildas coach Alen Stajcic.

"Our group is undoubtedly the toughest of the two given DPR Korea's pedigree and also Japan who are likely to prove the best technical team in Asia.

"Obviously our goal is to qualify for the World Cup, but also to help prepare the next generation of Matildas.

"The fact the Matildas did so well on the world stage has given the squad an added level of confidence going into this tournament."

The full squad is:
Goalkeepers: Lydia Williams (ACT), Casey Dumont (Qld), Rachel Cooper (NSW)

Defenders: Caitlin Cooper (NSW), Clare Polkinghorne (Qld), Grace Gill-McGrath (ACT), Stacey Day (SA), Rachel Doyle (NSW)

Midfielders: Lyndsay Glohe (NSW), Olivia Kennedy (NSW), Ellyse Perry (NSW), Elise Kellond-Knight (Qld), Teresa Polias (NSW), Renee Rollason (NSW), Tameka Butt (Qld), Ella Mastrantonio (WA)

Forwards: Jenna Kinglsey (NSW), Servet Uzunlar (NSW), Kyah Simon (NSW), Ashleigh Connor (NSW), Victoria Balomenos (SA)

AFC U-19 Women's Championship Fixtures:

Sat 6 Oct - Australia v Japan
Chongqing Olympic Sports Centre Stadium

Mon 8 Oct - Australia v DPR Korea
Chongqing Olympic Sports Centre Stadium

Wed 10 Oct - Australia v Myanmar
Datianwan Stadium

Sat 13 Oct - Semi Finals
Chongqing Olympic Sports Centre Stadium

Tues 16 Oct - Final and 3/4 match
Chongqing Olympic Sports Centre Stadium

The Young Matildas completed final preparations for the championship with a two-match series this week against China where they lost 1-0 and drew 0-0 against the tournament host nation.