Young Matildas through to AFF Championships semi finals

A 59th minute free kick from Kobie Ferguson has secured Australia a 1-0 win over Laos in their second match of the 2015 AFF Championships in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Ferguson's second half strike broke the deadlock in a match which Australia dominated from start to finish.

With 2 wins from 2 starts, the win also confirmed the Young Matildas passage to the semi finals.

Australia started their second match on the front foot dominating possession and forcing Laos to sit deep and play defensively.

Princess Ibini-Isei and Kally Lewis has the best chances of the first half but were unable to go get on the scoresheet.

The second half was no different to the first with the Young Matildas earning several corners but Laos held them at bay.

Australia finally were rewarded for their efforts when Northern NSW's Ferguson rifled a strike into the top left hand corner finally beating Laos goalkeeper Bounyong Akkhavong.

"In being honest, we have to say that this performance was nowhere near our best and we expect more of ourselves as a group of players,” said Ante Juric regarding the performance.

"There were wholesale changes from game one, with 4 debutants, which may have influenced the cohesion of the side however every member in this team sets themselves high standards and we fell short today.

"On a positive, as always the girls took on board at half time what had to be done for the second half and as a result the second half performance was markedly better."

"The girls dominated all parts of the second half and created an abundance of chances, culminating in a timely world class free kick from Kobie."

"We look forward to playing Indonesia and the semi-finals, all of which is great for experience at this level for our girls.”

Australia plays their final group game on Tuesday against Indonesia.

Match Details

Australia 1 (Ferguson 59')

Laos 0

3 May 2015

Kick off: 7.00pm (AEST)

Thong Nhat Stadium

Australia line up: Gabrielle Dal Busco, Annabel Martin, Chloe O'Brien, Brooke Goodrich, Jordan Baker, Julia De Angelis, Panagiota Petratos, Kobie Ferguson, Emily Condon, Kally Lewis, Princess Ibini

Young Matildas’ Squad

Jordan BAKER (Western Sydney Wanderers), Angela BEARD (Brisbane Roar), Ellie CARPENTER (FNSW), Emma CHECKER (Melbourne Victory), Alex CHIDIAC (Adelaide United), Emily CONDON (Adelaide United), Gabrielle DAL BUSCO (Perth Glory), Julia DE ANGELIS (Canberra United), Kobie FERGUSON (NNSW), Sunny FRANCO (Brisbane Roar), Beattie GOAD (Melbourne Victory), Brooke GOODRICH (Brisbane Roar), Amy HARRISON (Sydney FC), Monique IANELLA (Adelaide United), Princess IBINI (FNSW), Kally LEWIS (NNSW), Annabel MARTIN (VIC), Teagan MICAH (Brisbane Roar), Chloe O’BRIEN (Western Sydney Wanderers), Panagiota PETRATOS (FNSW), Olivia PRICE (Sydney FC), Natalie TOBIN (Sydney FC)