WAIS athlete Katie Gill has come off the bench in the Matildas’ 2-2 draw with World Champion Japan in the first match of their Asian Cup title defence in Vietnam.
Whilst a draw represents a point well gained against the reigning world champion, the Matildas will be left to rue a 15 minute period late in the second half in which they saw a hard earned 2-0 lead slip away.
However, with an average age of 22 and an interim manager in place, the Australians will regard the result as a success, particularly against the strongest team in their group, and will remain confident of progressing deeper into the tournament’s knockout phase.
The Matildas gained a slender 1-0 halftime advantage courtesy of a Caitlin Foord strike but the Australians remained wary of their opponents’ speed on the counter. The Asian Cup holders claimed a stronger position in the 64th minute, with Western Australian Lisa De Vanna on hand to turn-in a blocked effort from Emily Van Egmond.
Katie Gill – Australia’s equal all time record goal scorer – came on after 66 minutes from Michelle Heyman, marking a return to international football following a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a knee injury.
It was Japan doing all the attacking however, and they found a way back into the match through an own-goal to Clare Polkinghorne, and with less than ten minutes to play, it was back level at 2-2 when Japan’s Ogimi finished off a well crafted attack with a clinical header.
The Matildas are back in action on Friday, when they play Jordan, with kick-off at 6.15pm Perth time.
