Goalscorers Avaani Prakash and Daisy Brown praised the team's spirit in their 5-2 loss against Japan at the AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup™ on Wednesday evening.
The team will play DPR Korea in the quarter-final on Sunday.
"We're very disappointed with the result, but we have another game to go, and we're not done yet," Prakash said.
"We're disappointed, obviously. But we'll pick our heads up and go again," Brown said.
Prakash's goal in the first half was a highlight of the game. She showed off fantastic technique to control the ball and play it into the bottom of the net.
"We didn't have much possession during the game," she reflected, "but once we got up there, I just saw the ball drop, and I just hit it in."
Brown's late goal was an example of the team's never-say-die spirit. With minutes left on the clock, the team kept on pushing for more goals until the very end.
"We were just pushing for the full 90 minutes," Brown said.
"You know, it got tougher at the end, but we were just fighting for each other and wanting to keep it up."
Ahead of the quarter-final, both players were determined that the team will bounce back and earn a place at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 2026™.
"I'm very proud of all the girls today," Prakash said.
"They're really good opponent, but we fought to the end, and I'm really proud of all of them.
"We'll just go back to the drawing board now. I know we'll prepare well for the next game, and we've just got to look forward to that."
"We'll hold on to this feeling - we don't want to have it again, and that'll push us through," Brown added.
AFC U20 Women's Asian Cup™ Thailand 2026
DPR Korea v Australia
Date: Sunday, 12 April 2026
Time: 4.00pm (Local)/ 7.00pm (AEST)
Venue: Pathum Thani Stadium, Pathum Thani
Watch: Channel 10
