Young Matildas Clinch AFC U-20 Cup Spot with 3-0 Win

The CommBank Young Matildas have secured qualification for the AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Thailand 2026™, after beating Chinese Taipei 3-0 and finishing at the top of Group C in qualifying.

Alex Epakis made nine changes to the side that beat Palestine 3-0 two days earlier, with the side going into their final game of qualifying against Chinese Taipei with one foot in next year's final tournament. Both teams went into the game undefeated in qualification, with the final game determining who went through in first place and who would finish as the group runners-up.

Both sides had a perfect record coming into the game, having not conceded any goals in their opening two games, and made Australia work for the opener, with the stalemate broken in the 37th minute after Lin Szu-Ying turned the ball into her own net. Talia Younis wiped in a dangerous cross that just missed the run of Madeleine Caspers; however, Szu-Ying deflected the ball into the back of the net, attempting to clear it.

The CommBank Young Matildas Starting XI against Chinese Taipei.
Top Row (From L to R): Madeleine Caspers, Talia Younis, Ilona Melegh (GK), Alexia Apostolakis, Skye Halmarick & Rub Sullivan
Bottom Row (From L to R): India Breier, Tegan Bertolissio, Zara Kruger (C), Tiana Fuller & Avaani Prakash

Skye Halmarick scored her fifth goal of qualification, doubling Australia's advantage after volleying home Younis' cross from close range. Epakis made three changes after the side took a 2-0 lead, with Sienna Saveska, Caley Tallon-Henniker, and Amelia Cassar entering the game.

Halmarick doubled her tally in the 75th minute, weaving into the box and beating three Chinese Taipei defenders and getting a shot off to score her sixth of the qualifying campaign and all but booking Australia's spot in the final tournament next year.

Two late changes saw Milly Boughton and Jasmine Black come on to see out the game for Australia. The side booked their spot in the AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Thailand 2026™ next year following their 3-0 win, making it three from three in qualifying. The CommBank Young Matildas head into next year's tournament with confidence, having not conceded a goal in qualification and scoring 20 goals.

Match Details

Australia U-20: 3 Lin Szu-Ying 37' (OG), Skye Halmarick 64' 76'

Chinese Taipei U-20: 0

Tournament: AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup Thailand 2026™ Qualifiers - Group C

Date: Sunday, 10 August 2025 (Monday AEST)

Venue: Pamir Stadium, Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Kick-off: 7.00pm (local) /12.00am AEST (Monday)

Referee: Dong Fangyu (China PR)

Assistant Referees: Xie Lijun (China PR) & Yoon Eunhee (KOR)

Fourth Official: Cha Minji (Korea Republic)

Australia U-20 XI: 1. Ilona Melegh (GK)(12. Jasmine Black ((GK)) 80'), 3. Tegan Bertolissio (11. Sienna Saveska 71'), 7. India Breier, 9. Skye Halmarick, 13. Tiana Fuller (20. Caley Tallon-Henniker 71'), 14. Zara Kruger (C), 15. Alexia Apostoalakis, 16. Avaani Prakash (6. Milly Boughton 85'), 17. Madeleine Caspers (10. Amelia Cassar 71'), 19. Talia Younis, 23. Rubi Sullivan

Unused Substitutes: 2. Amelia Bennett, 4. Maya Lobo, 5. Sian Dewey, 8. Amber Luchtmeijer, 18. Sofia Fante (GK), 21. Peta Trimis, 23. Amali Kinsella

Yellow Card: Nil

Red Card: Nil

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Match Details

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