Australia's U-23s have traversed a strong Vietnam outfit 2-1 in front of a passionate home crowd to clinch a spot in the MSIG Serenity Cup 2025 final.
Compared to the three group matches, there were minimal changes to the side that scored 9 against Timor Leste, with just four adjustments to Wednesday's clash. Those included Chloe Lincoln in goal, Alana Cerne and Claudia Cicco in defence, and Amy Chessari in the middle of the park.
The plan to silence the raucous home crowd early in the match was a successful one, with Australia taking the lead after 6 minutes, with a McKenna cross into the box swooped on brilliantly by Aideen Keane. Keane timed her run to perfection, out-leaping the goalkeeper to head home.
It would be McKenna who would go from provider to goalscorer just 10 minutes later. A blistering counter-attack following a save by Lincoln ended at the feet of McKenna, who opted to shoot from 25 yards out rather than play the ball to a teammate. The strike looped perfectly over the keeper's head, with the custodian managing to get just her fingertips on the ball as it dropped into the top corner.
A dominant first half made way for a tense second; Australia, sensing that victory was near, began to sit deeper, daring the Vietnamese side to break them down.
Joe Palatsides made a number of changes after the hour mark to help secure victory. Grove and Woods were first brought on to solidify the middle, before Sakalis and Murray, who looked to stretch a disciplined Vietnam team late in the tie.
It would be the hosts that got a goal back in the last five minutes, a moment that sent the stadium in Haiphong into raptures. Nguyen cut inside from the right flank, before striking the ball past Lincoln in goal.
The final minutes of the match saw Australia manage a desperate Vietnam team and crowd. Yet, the U-23s prevailed following a period of resolute defence, setting up a rematch with Myanmar in the final.
Match Details
Vietnam U-23: 1 (Nguyen 88')
Australia U-23: 2 (Keane 6', McKenna 17')
Tournament: ASEAN Women's Championship MSIG Serenity Cup™ 2025
Date: Saturday, 16 August 2025
Kick-off: 8:00pm local / 11.00pm AEST
Venue: Lach Tray Stadium, Haiphong, Vietnam
Australia U-23 XI: 1. Chloe Lincoln (GK), 2. Alana Cerne, 5. Aideen Keane, 6. Isabel Gomez (10. Sofia Sakalis 86'), 9. Holly Furphy (14. Alicia Woods 63'), 13. Alana Jancevski (C) (7. Emilia Makris 76'), 15. Tori Tumeth, 16. Amy Chessari, 19. Grace Johnston, 20. Leticia McKenna (17. Sasha Grove 63'), 21. Claudia Cicco
Substitutes not used: 4. Ella Tonkin, 8. Georgia Cassidy, 11. Annalise Rasmussen, 12. Sally James (GK), 18. Tahlia Franco (GK), 22. Abbey Lemon, 23. Naomi Thomas-Chinnama
Yellow Card: Nil
Red Card: Nil
AUSTRALIA | MATCH SCHEDULE | ASEAN WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP MSIG SERENITY CUP™ 2025
FINAL
Australia U-23 v Myanmar
Date: Tuesday, 19 August 2025
Kick-off: 7.30pm local / 10.30pm AEST
Venue: Lach Tray Stadium
