A late goal from Nattatida Tirapalika has denied the CommBank Junior Matildas a winning end to 2025, with coach Mike Cooper’s side instead forced to settle for a 1-1 draw with Thailand’s U16 side in Gosford on Friday afternoon.
After falling to a 2-0 defeat to the Thais in Western Sydney earlier in the week, it took less than three minutes for Alara Turkkan to provide an Australian riposte in the second and final game of a series celebrating ASEAN-Australia Football Week.
But as the Thais laid siege to the hosts' penalty area late, they eventually found a breakthrough against their inexperienced hosts in the 86th minute through Tirapalika, who rose to meet a cross from Bunyaphon Sonsi, levelling the game.
It couldn’t be considered an injustice against Thidarat Wiwasukhu’s side, who spent much of the contest - before sending all hands forward in search of an equaliser - ahead in the possession battle and forcing the game to be played closer to the Australian goal than their own.
Nonetheless, it was the Australians who spent much of the game in the ascendancy, with a goal delivered when Zahra Ahmed slid a well-weighted pass through for Turkkan, who turned Thai skipper Arisa Tamsakul before lifting a shot over an advancing Pimlapet Aeewong.
The visitors would increasingly look to assert themselves from that point, but this sway over the contest wouldn’t be accompanied by an ability to create clear-cut chances that forced Dali Gorr Burchmore to panic between the posts.
Australia, in turn, sought to utilise space behind their opponents in transition during these exchanges and while this didn’t create a flood of looks on goal, either, it did produce a moment of excitement in the 21st minute when Ahmed played Holly Tweedale through, with the Manly United representative shooting into the side netting.
Coach Mike Cooper swung four changes at half-time, but the fresh faces almost found their lead evaporated before they’d even had a chance to get their bearings, when a turnover at the top of the penalty area teed Prawnapa Wisadchat to fire in an attempt that forced Burchmore into a top save.
Three further chances for the CommBank Junior Matildas arrived on the hour, and they were greeted by two quickfire saves: the newly introduced Jada Taylor cutting the ball back for fellow new arrival and debutant Milla Butler in the 65th minute, and Taylor charging in on goal in the 69th, only for Aeewong to charge down her shot.
Pushing hard for a leveler, the Thais would increasingly test Burchmore as the game wore on, and while the Melbourne City keeper produced a series of strong stops as full-time approached, she could do nothing when Sonsi found herself in acres of space to pick out Tirapalika.
Match Summary
Australia: 1 (Alara Turkkan 3’)
Thailand: 1 (Nattatida Tirapalika 86’)
CommBank Junior Matildas: 1. Dali Gorr Burchmore, 2. Harper Pell (Wicks 72’), 3. Madison Gabila, 4. Tessa Young (Dal Broi 46’), 5. Zoe Dumont (Tarrant 46’), 8. Frida Karaberis, 9. Zahra Ahmed (Disney 62’), 10. Chelsea Harpur (Butler 62’), 11. Alara Turkkan (Calvanese 46’), 20. Holly Tweedale (Taylor 62’), 23. Annie O’Farell (King 46’)
Substitutes: 12. Zoe Reader, 6. Aeryn Tarrant, 7. Annika Driscoll, 13. Lucy Wicks, 14. Jada Taylor, 15. Lauren Disney, 16. Milla Butler, 17. Mary Dal Broi, 19. Sienna Calvanese, 21. Ruby King, 24. Layla Habib, 27. Natalia Webbe
Coach: Mike Cooper
