Pages

Sunday 19 October 2008

Lydia Williams to start in ASEAN final

Lydia Williams will start in goals against Vietnam tomorrow in the ASEAN final.
Matildas Coach Tom Sermanni said, "We decided before we even left for the tournament the goal-keeping roster and if they made the final, then Lydia would start."



The Matildas probably only have 12 field players available with Amy Chapman and Clare Polkinghorne suspended, Renee Rollason also in doubt and Elise Kellond-Knight probably won't play.

The Matildas received two red cards agains Myanmar, nothing untoward apparently.

But with most of the Myanmar team being physically pretty small, "the Matildas barrelled in like usual and knocked them over," added Sermanni.

"It's a bit like David and Goliath some times in some of the contests with the different size and just the effect of the collison is that it looks worse than it is because the the girls were smaller and it was that kind of case for the two red cards against Myanmar."

Sermanni also mentioned the two new Canberra United players; Christine Walters and Ashleigh Sykes, both on their first international tours, both have been 'fantastic'.

On Chrissy:
"Chrissy really has made a jump forward in the last three months and we always thought she had potential but she was very quiet and well she's still quiet, but she is definitely at that international level now, and maybe she thought she wasn't quite ready yet but she is,"

On Ashleigh:
"I think she'll be a great asset, 18 months ago she wasn't even in the NSW country team and now she had made her international debut, she has really come from now-where and I think she'll be great for Canberra United, I think she'll be very hard to handle for other W-League teams."


1 comment:

Anonymous said...

VIETNAM AIM TO GUN DOWN DEPLETED AUSTRALIAN SIDE
HO CHI MINH CITY (19 Oct 2008) – Despite Australia's dominant performances here, hosts Vietnam will be aiming for nothing less than the overall honours in the AFF Women's Championship final tomorrow evening.

The Vietnam girls won the tie 2-1 to set up a mouth-watering encounter against Australia in the final match of the tournament at the Thang Long Stadium.

Although unbeaten in their preliminary matches, Vietnam will start as the underdogs against a well-represented Australian side.

The Aussies, made up of the best up and coming players from Down Under, have been very impressive and should be able to go the distance in their debut appearance in this tournament.

Australia's confidence, however, may have suffered a slight dent following the suspension of first-choice defender Clare Polkinghorne and right flanker Amy Chapman, clearly one of the best players in the team.

Australian coach Alistair Edwards said one or two more players who sustained injuries may not be available for the final.

“It was a tough game and we are now without two players who received red cards. Problem is there are others who suffered severe knocks and may not be able to play,” Edwards said.

“It is a bit disappointing for the young players who can't play in the final; you don't always get to play a major final.”

The semi-final against defending champions Myanmar was a bruising affair, especially for Australia, but more importantly, it may havejust showed up some chinks in their armour.

While Myanmar conceded four goals in the first half, their players came together and took the fight to Australia in the second half.

Myanmar let in one more goal but equally important is that they became the first team to score against Australia.

The final result was 5-1.

“Australia had a big break between the last group match and the semi-final, so they had ample time to prepare. They have very capable players and their fitness is also very good, it will be a difficult game for sure,” said Vietnam's Chinese coach Chen Yunfa.

Meanwhile, the third and fourth playoff between Thailand and Myanmar will kick-off at 3pm while the final will be held at 6pm.
http://www.aseanfootball.org/headlines_01.asp?id=656