Australia's U-23 Women's National Team bounced back overnight with a 1-0 win against defending champions, the Philippines at the ASEAN Women's Championships MSIG Serenity Cup 2025.
Not content after their opening match defeat by Myanmar last week, it was an Alana Jancevski goal that kept the team in contention for a spot in the semi-finals.
Wanting to ensure shared game time and opportunity across the board, head coach Joe Palatsides made 10 changes to the Starting XI that were defeated by Myanmar, with Chloe Lincoln replacing Sally James in goal and Tori Tumeth wearing the captain's armband.
The Philippines presented a tough defensive unit to break down for the Australians, who dominated possession 71%.
It was in the 21st minute when Australia's U-23 team made their first threat at goal with future goalscorer, Jancevski, firing a low shot at Olivia McDaniel, who was forced into a full-body extension, diving to swipe the ball away.
As the teams settled into the first half, Australia presented a more cohesive unit than was seen against Myanmar, with Leticia McKenna troubling the Philippines twice before the half was over.
McKenna swung in an attempt, which was headed away by the Philippines defender, Kaya Hawkinson. Then, just moments later, the opposition was close to being punished by a loose ball swiftly sniped by McKenna, who took another shot at goal. It was ultimately blocked by McDaniel, keeping the scores level.
Top Row (From L to R): Annalise Rasmussen, Holly Furphy, Chloe Lincoln (GK), Alana Jancevski, Leticia McKenna & Alana Cerne
Bottom Row (From L to R): Amy Chessari, Sasha Grove, Tori Tumeth (C), Claudia Cicco & Isabel Gomez
The match played into injury time, and at 45+1, Jancevski would break the deadlock with a stellar individual effort. Winning the ball via interception, she threaded it into the only unmarked area of the goal, curling the ball into the far bottom corner and sending her team into the change room 1-0.
Just eight minutes into the second half, it would be the Aussies under attack, with a Hali Long header forcing Lincoln into a stellar save, denying the Filipina's what could've been an easy semi-finals qualification.
Palatsides made three changes with Rasmussen coming off for Keane, then later, Furphy coming off for Woods and finally, McKenna off for Tonkin.
Keane made an early impact when, in the 61st minute, she presented Furphy with a perfectly targeted ball, forcing another McDaniel save.
In the dying moments of regulation time, both McKenna and Woods troubled McDaniel at the top centre and bottom right corner of the goal, but were denied with the score settling 1-0 to Australia.
Overall, McDaniel was forced into five saves, to Lincoln's one, a telling statistic around the way the Aussies made the most of their chances and an exciting prospect for the Australia U23s final group stage match against Timor-Leste on Wednesday
Match Details
Australia U-23: 1 (Alana Jancevski 45+1')
Philippines: 0
Tournament: ASEAN Women's Championship MSIG Serenity Cup™ 2025
Date: Sunday, 10 August 2025
Kick-off: 7.30pm local / 10.30pm AEST
Venue: Việt Trì Stadium, Phú Thọ, Vietnam
Australia U-23 XI: 1. Chloe Lincoln (GK), 2. Alana Cerne, 6. Isabel Gomez, 9. Holly Furphy (14. Alicia Woods 83'), 11. Annalise Rasmussen (5. Aideen Keane 58'), 13. Alana Jancevski, 15. Tori Tumeth (c), 16. Amy Chessari, 17. Sasha Grove, 20. Leticia McKenna (4. Ella Tonkin 90+4'), 21. Claudia Cicco.
Substitutes not used: 7. Emilia Makris, 8. Georgia Cassidy, 10. Sofia Sakalis, 12. Sally James (GK) 18. Tahlia Franco (GK), 19. Grace Johnston, 22. Abbey Lemon, 22. Naomi Thomas-Chinnama
Yellow Card: Nil
Red Card: Nil
AUSTRALIA | MATCH SCHEDULE | ASEAN WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP MSIG SERENITY CUP™ 2025
Australia U-23 v Timor-Leste
Date: Wednesday, 13 August 2025
Kick-off: 7.30pm local / 10.30pm AEST
Venue: Việt Trì Stadium, Phú Thọ, Vietnam
