Kuala Lumpur: Australia and Thailand fell to defeats in their final 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France warm-up matches on Saturday.
Australia lost 3-0 to the Netherlands in Eindhoven while Thailand suffered a 6-1 defeat against Belgium in Leuven as both Asian sides enter the last phase of preparations for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France which kicks off on Friday.
NETHERLANDS 3-0 AUSTRALIA
Australia produced a spirited performance but fell to 3-0 defeat against the Netherlands in Eindhoven.
Ante Milicic’s side had the better of the first half but Olympique Lyonnais striker Shanice van de Sanden’s header deep into stoppage time put the Dutch in front against the run of play in Eindhoven.
Vivianne Miedema got the Netherlands off to a flyer in the second half by adding an excellent finish on 49 minutes before Tameka Yallop almost forced Australia back into the game but was denied at close range.
FULL TIME | We fall to the European Champions in Eindhoven.
All attention now turns to Italy on June 9. #NEDvAUS #WeAreMatildas pic.twitter.com/smS8u6eiD9
— Westfield Matildas (@TheMatildas) June 1, 2019
Ellie Carpenter and Sam Kerr were also thwarted by fine saves from goalkeeper Sari van Veenendaal as the European champions made it four wins in a row in front of the 30,640 in attendance at Philips Stadion.
Kerr had a goal chalked off for offside on the brink of half-time, but the Dutch came out firing in the second half when Jackie Groenen poked the ball to Miedema and the Arsenal striker added an excellent finish.
Van de Sanden scored the Netherlands third in the 70th minute as Australia now look ahead to their World Cup Group C opener against Italy on June 9.
BELGIUM 6-1 THAILAND
Earlier, Thailand continued their difficult pre-World Cup run-in with a 6-1 defeat at the hands of a rampant Belgium at Den Dreef Stadium in Leuven.
Belgium’s Ella van Kerkhoven helped herself to a hat-trick, as Nuengrutai Srathongvian’s side slumped to a fifth successive defeat in their final ‘A’ international before the global Finals begin later this week.
In warm conditions, it took less than two minutes for van Kerkohoven to give the hosts the lead, and the heat was turned up further for Thailand as Tessa Wullaert added a second goal in the 18th minute.
Belgium – who failed to quality for the FIFA Women’s World Cup France.- continued their dominance after half time, with van Kerkhoven heading in their third in the 50th minute before completing her hat-trick two minutes later.
The goals kept flowing for the Red Flames, first through Janice Cayman in the 74th minute, then via Yana Daniels 13 minutes later, before Thailand’s Kanjana Sung-Ngoen netted a consolation goal for the visitors in the second minute of stoppage time.
Thailand have one unofficial match still to play – against Belgian outfit FC Kontich on Wednesday – before their France 2019 group stage campaign begins against World Cup holders and current top-ranked side United States on June 11.
Sources: matildas.com.au, AFP
Source: the-afc.com