From The Australian
Australila have qualified for their sixth successive FIFA Women’s World Cup with a scrappy 2-0 win over Vietnam amid a monsoonal second-half storm in Saigon.
Matildas players during their win over Vietnam, which put them into the World Cup final. Source: FoxSports
The Matildas created a litany of chances but could find the net only twice courtesy of a comical own goal just before halftime on Sunday, while a stunning last minute long-range strike from midfielder Katrina Gorry capped qualification in style.
The result also lifted Australia into the semi-finals of the Asian Women’s Cup after finishing second on goal difference in Group A behind world champions Japan, which also secured a ticket to next year’s World Cup in Canada with victory over Jordan.
It seemed only a matter of time before Australia would overrun their opponents with Emily Van Egmond, Alanna Kennedy, Michelle Heyman and Caitlin Foord all narrowly failing to find the net.
However, despite several impressive patches of play it took an unusual goal to break the deadlock.
A free-kick from close range incorrectly awarded for a deliberate back pass was fired at goal by Van Egmond, and ricocheted along the goalline before Vietnam captain Thi Hoa Nguyen inadvertently knocked the ball into the net.
Read the full recap from The Australian.
