The CommBank Junior Matildas have fallen 2-0 to Thailand U16 in the first of a two-game series to celebrate ASEAN-Australia Football Week.
Prawnapa Wisadchat and Kawinthida Kikuntod were the goalscorers for Thailand, both in the first half, in an impressive performance from the ASEAN U16 finalists.
CommBank Junior Matildas Head Coach Mike Cooper selected a young and inexperienced squad for this window, with only six players retained from the team that qualified for the AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup next year. It meant that, for the most part, it was a younger group of Australians taking on a Thai side that was almost at full strength.
The first goal of the match came from fantastic work from Prawnapa Wisadchat. It was a nice finish across the goalkeeper after she found space on the edge of the penalty area to fashion a shot.
Australia were dangerous in transition, particularly through the good work of Sienna Calvanese, but they struggled to create clear-cut opportunities in the first half against a disciplined Thai defence.
Thailand scored their second just before half-time. After a powerful strike, the ball spilled to Kawinthida Kikuntod, who poked it home from close range and extended their lead.
A number of substitutions throughout the second half changed the game as it wore on. Fresh legs were vital in humid and hot conditions in Western Sydney as the team almost completely shifted - by the 80th minute, only captain Aeryn Tarrant and defender Madison Gabila remained on the pitch from the team that started the game.
It was a half-time substitute, Chelsea Harpur, who had the best chance of the game for Australia. After fantastic work on the right-hand side, Harpur's wonderful first touch saw her glide past the Thai defence, only to shoot narrowly wide.
There were encouraging moments as the likes of Lauren Disney, Holly Tweedale and Zahra Ahmed began to get more time on the ball and fashion more and more half chances.
Australia were not able to break Thailand down in the end. However, this young squad will take plenty of positives from the performance as they look ahead to taking on the same opposition in Gosford on Friday evening.
Match Summary
Australia: 0
Thailand: 2 (9. Prawnapa Wisadchat 12', 13. Kawinthida Kikuntod 45')
Australia: 1. Dali Gorr Burchmore (GK) (18. Aliesha Manthey 72'), 2. Harper Pell (13. Lucy Wicks 63'), 3. Madison Gabila, 5. Zoe Dumont (17. Tessa Young 45'), 6. Aeryn Tarrant (c), 8. Frida Karaberis (23. Annie O'Farrell 63'), 11. Alara Turkkan (9. Zahra Ahmed 72'), 14. Jada Taylor (20. Holly Tweedale 72'), 19. Sienna Calvanese (7. Annika Driscoll 72'), 24. Layla Habib (15. Lauren Disney 63'), 25. Adriana Tustonjic (10. Chelsea Harpur 45')
Unused substitutes: 16. Milla Butler, 21. Ruby King, 27. Natalia Webbe
