Westfield Junior Matildas kick off qualifiers with 11-0 win over Palestine

The Westfield Junior Matildas got their AFC U-16 Women's Championship 2019 qualification campaign off to a flying start thanks to a 11-0 win over Palestine.

A Nia Stamatopoulos hat-trick stole the show for Rae Dower’s side, with doubles from Georgia Beaumont, Isabella Wallhead and Anna Hunt leading Australia to a comprehensive Group D win.

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Australia were dominant from the opening whistle and opened the scoring in the second minute when Beaumont reacted quickest after a shot hit the crossbar.

Be sure to watch the Junior Matildas qualification campaign live and free on www.matildas.footballaustralia.com.au


Stamatopoulos then struck her first – a fine free kick that left Palestine goalkeeper Layal Abualzulof with no chance.

A goal from Alana Jancevski followed soon after before Stamatopoulos completed a first half treble with a cool finish and a strike from long range.

Having established a commanding 5-0 lead at half time, there was no let off from the Westfield Matildas in the second stanza.

Wallhead and Beaumont bagged doubles before Charlie Farmer added a ninth on the cusp of the 90th minute mark.

Hunt added a quickfire double in stoppage time to wrap up a dominant display in Bishkek.

Junior Matildas coach Rae Dower said the performance and occasion will live long in the memory for the team.

“I am super proud of the effort and performance from the whole team today in trying conditions, with a match that was very stop-start," Dower told www.matildas.com.au.

"We spoke about creating our own momentum, moving the ball quickly and we were rewarded with some great team and individual goals

“We had 14 players make their debuts for Australia today, with six different goal scorers. The players will remember the match for the rest of their lives and I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

“With first game nerves now out of the way, we look forward to an improved performance against Indonesia on Wednesday.”

The Junior Matildas have three remaining Group D fixtures against Indonesia (19 September), Kyrgyz Republic (21 September) and Chinese Taipei (23 September).

Finishing first in Group D would guarantee the Junior Matildas a place at next year’s AFC U16 Women’s Championship, which will be held in Thailand next year.

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Match details

Westfield Junior Matildas 11 (Beaumont 2’, 65’, Stamatopoulos 11’, 39’, 46’, Jancevski 22’, Wallhead 57’, 82’, Farmer 88’, Hunt 90+3’, 90+4’)

Palestine 0

Westfield Junior Matildas XI: 3. Isabella Wallhead, 8. Josephine Dubbert, 11. Charlie Farmer, 16. Nia Stamatopoulos, 21. Georgia Beaumont, 23. Alana Jancevski, 5. Jessika Nash, 10. Darcey Malone, 12. Mia Bailey, 19. Jordan Jasnos, 22. Kahli Johnson

Palestine XI: 1. Layal Abualzulof, 3. Razan Awad, 5. Aseel Abudayyeh, 10. Jeniver Shattara, 12. Yuliana Qumseya, 17. Dana Bawatneh, 2. Joelle Rabee, 4. Layal Musleh, 7. Hala Sarawi, 11. Sara Alshakshir, 13. Angela Naser

Upcoming fixtures

Westfield Junior Matildas v Indonesia
Date: Wednesday, 19 September 2018
Venue: Dolon Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
Kick-off: 1pm (local), 5pm (AEST)

Kyrgyz Republic v Westfield Junior Matildas
Date: Friday, 21 September 2018
Venue: Dolon Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
Kick-off: 5pm (local), 9pm (AEST)

Westfield Junior Matildas v Chinese Taipei
Date: Sunday, 23 September 2018
Venue: Dolon Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic
Kick-off: 1pm (local), 5pm (AEST)

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This article was originally published on the CommBank Matildas website.
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