Young Matildas celebrate their 3-1 victory over Costa Rica at the U20 Women's World Cup. Credit: Football Australia via Getty

Australia is off to a winning start at the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup with a 3-1 opening-day victory against host nation Costa Rica in San José on Wednesday night (Thursday afternoon AEST). 

Goals from Sarah Hunter and Bryleeh Henry moments apart cancelled out Alexandra Pinell’s world-class long-range free kick, before Kirsty Fenton sealed all three points for the Young Matildas midway through the second half. 

Buoyed by the 22,000-strong home crowd at the Estadio Nacional the hosts looked to start strongly, aiming to impose themselves on an Australian side competing in its first Under-20 Women’s World Cup in 16 years.

The Ticas were however millimetres from a nightmare opening to the tournament after goalkeeper Génesis Pérez miscontrolled outside her penalty area in the opening minute to give possession straight to Australian striker Kahli Johnson, only for the Florida-based glovewoman to redeem herself by saving Sheridan Gallagher’s curling shot at the second attempt.

Australian skipper Gallagher continued to caused plenty of discomfort for the Costa Rican defence, with her bustling challenges sending Pinell to the turf on more than one occasion early on. 

Those home fans would have to wait just 19 minutes for their side’s opener as Pinell powered a laser-like free-kick beyond the outstretched Sally James to score one of the great under-age World Cup goals and send the Josefinos into raptures.

Pushed forward by a now-vocal crowd Costa Rica upped their tempo, pressing higher into Australia’s midfield and seeming to grow an extra lung in defence as Gallagher and fellow winger Henry looked to stretch the pitch as the first half progressed.

That enhanced effort was cruelly undone by wing-back Abigail Sancho, whose outstretched hand was struck by a low sweeping cross from Gallagher after 35 minutes, leaving Swedish referee Tess Olofsson no choice but to award the visitors a penalty kick which Sarah Hunter duly dispatched beyond Perez.

Barely 90 seconds later the Young Matildas took the lead after Pérez again mishandled inside the six-yard box, this time fumbling a superb low cross from Gallagher into the path of a pair of onrushing gold-shirted attackers, allowing Henry to bundle home from close range for her first competitive international goal.

Leading at the break, Australia looked to continue in the second half as they left the first, consistently pulling midfielder Pinell and central defensive pairing Keylin Chavarría and Celeste Jiménez into the space between the lines to feed the free-roaming Gallagher and Henry.

Even Costa Rica’s forward-most players weren’t spared the midfield shuttle runs, as Young Matildas midfield pivots Hana Lowry and Hunter were allowed to pass among the team’s defensive six with rarely a care as the second stanza ticked on.

The effect of those defensive efforts began to show beyond the hour mark, and were in full view after Naomi Thomas-Chinnama played a delightful raking pass to the flying Henry down the right flank, squaring to her Western Sydney teammate Gallagher whose effort she could only watch trickle wide for a corner.

Moments later the Young Matildas would double their lead, if not through the most glamorous of efforts then certainly the most assured, as Lowry curled in an inch-perfect back-post corner to find Fenton among the pack to head her side two goals clear from almost inside the Costa Rican net.

The introduction of former Levante winger Abbey Lemon again sparked new life in to the Australian line-up as they continued to attack Costa Rica’s left wing with significant success, and while her combination with Hunter will please Blayney and her staff, the pair were unable to fashion further gilt-edged chances as time wound down.

Costa Rica 1 (Pinell 19′)
Australia 3 (Hunter 37’p Henry 38′ Fenton 72′)

Costa Rica: Génesis Pérez; Fiama Guzman (María Paula Porras 76′), Celeste Jiménez (Chloe Markey 82′), Keylin Chavarría, Abigail Sancho; Paula Arce (Sianyf Aguero 63′), Alexandra Pinell, Sheika Scott (Mónica Matarrita 76′), Amelie Araya (Priscilla Rodriguez 76′), Yerling Ovares; María Salas.
Yellow cards: Nil

Australia: Sally James; Jamilla Rankin, Ella Tonkin, Naomi Thomas-Chinnama, Kirsty Fenton (Jessika Nash 89‎’); Hana Lowry, Sarah Hunter (Paige Zois 89‎’), Daniela Galic; Sheridan Gallagher (Jynaya Dos Santos 89‎’), Kahli Johnson (Charlize Rule 60′), Bryleeh Henry (Abbey Lemon 78′).
Yellow Cards: Hunter 64′

Other results:
Spain 0 Brazil 0 at Estadio Nacional, San José

  Team P W D L F A GD Pts
1
AUSTRALIA
 1 1 0 0 3 1 2 3
2
BRAZIL
 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
3
SPAIN
 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1
4
COSTA RICA
 1 0 0 1 1 3 -2 0

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