Matildas put eight past Vietnam

The Matildas have recorded their first win of the 2018 Asian Cup with a convincing 8-0 defeat of Vietnam to move to the top of Group B.

Matildas coach Alen Stajcic made seven changes from the game against Korea Republic, including an entirely new backline which was rarely tested.

Australia looked to get the ball to Sam Kerr as often as possible, and this paid dividends after only seven minutes.

Chloe Logarzo found Kerr behind the defence, and Kerr’s low cross was finished coolly by Kyah Simon.

The Matildas were always going to have an advantage at set pieces, and they used their height to good effect, doubling their lead when Alanna Kennedy rose unchallenged to head home from Elise Kellond-Knight’s corner.

It was 3-0 a few minutes later as Vietnam’s goalkeeper Khong Thi Hang failed to collect Kennedy’s cross, allowing Simon to roll the ball across the penalty area, presenting Logarzo with a tap in.

Incredibly, Australia got their fourth before the half-hour mark.

Simon was once again the provider, evading three defenders and sliding a perfect through ball to Emily van Egmond, who rounded the keeper and found the empty net.

The Matildas were revelling in the space afforded to them by Vietnam, and they made it five just before halftime, as Alanna Kennedy advanced with the ball, before crossing for Kerr who nodded the ball past Hang.

It was the same two players who combined early in the second half for the sixth goal.

Kennedy’s cross was not cleared by the Vietnam defence, and Kerr reacted well, controlling the ball and rifling it into the bottom corner.

With just under 20 minutes left, Australia once again profited from a set piece.

Kellond-Knight’s corner kick wasn’t cleared, with the ball eventually going in off Vietnam defender Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung.

Substitute Hayley Raso rounded off the scoring four minutes later, finishing from close range after good work from Ellie Carpenter and Alex Chidiac.

The Matildas could even have scored more, with Kyah Simon striking the woodwork twice in the second half.