Junior Matildas cruising in AFC U-16s qualifiers

Australia's U17s national team is currently making light work of the qualifiers for the 2017 AFC U-16s Women's Championships held in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Australia has been drawn in Group D alongside hosts Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Hong Kong, Palestine and Iraq.

The winner of the group will claim a place in the 2017 AFC U-16s Women's Championships alongside DPR Korea, Japan, China PR and Thailand.

Ante Juric's team has made a strong start with 3 convincing wins from their opening three matches against Palestine (28-0), Hong Kong (14-0) and Iraq (8-0).

Sofia Sakalis, Courtney Nevin, Jacynta Galabadaarachchi and Kyra Cooney-Cross have done most of the goalscoring damage for Australia against outmatched opponents.

With two matches to go, Australia are well placed to meet their objective but with tests still to come from Uzbekistan and a key match against Vietnam to potentially decide their fate.

Australia's next match is on Thursday, 1 September 2016 against Vietnam.

Australia U17 Squad

Goalkeepers: 1. Annalee Grove, 18. Olivia Riddel, 21. Shakinah Friske

Defenders: 2. Gracie Johns, 3. Tori Tumeth, 4. Cecilija Matic, 5. Tessa Tamplin, 12. Ashley Dribbus, 13. Angelique Hristodoulou, 14. Alyssa Rose, 15. Jess Meads, 22. Julia Vignes

Midfielders: 6. Molly Arens, 8. Amy Sayer, 11. Courtney Nevin, 16. Georgia Iannella, 17. Karly Roestbakken, 23. Laura Hughes

Forwards: 7. Kyra Cooney-Cross, 9. Lucy Kell, 10. Sofia Sakalis, 19. India Kubin, 20. Jacynta Galabadaarachchi

Results

Australia 28-0 Palestine

Scorers: Courtney Nevin (1’, 7’, 12’, 20’, 27’, 27’, 32’, 32’, 34’), Kyra Cooney-Cross (4’, 72’, 83’, 89’), India Kubin (11’, 30’), Amy Sayer (37’), Karly Roestbakken (45+3’, 52’), Ashley Dribbus (54’), Gracie Johns (55’), Sofia Sakalis (59’, 61’, 68’, 86’, 90+1’), Georgia Iannella (85’) | Nicol Alsoos (47’ own goal, 57’ own goal)

Australia 14-0 Hong Kong

Scorers: Julia Vignes (3’, 47’), Jacynta Galabadaarachchi (6’, 36’, 83’), Amy Sayer (18’, 32’), India Kubin (24’, 45+2’, 49’, 64’), Jess Meads (53’), Lucy Kell (77’), Laura Emily Hughes (81’)

Iraq 0-8 Australia

Scorers: Sofia Sakalis (10’, 30’, 42’), Ashley Dribbus (36’), Karly Roestbakken (44’), Jacynta Galabadaarachchi (49’), Molly Arens (67’), Kyra Cooney-Cross (80’)