The under-20 Young Matildas last graced Canberra turf in April 2022 with an entertaining two match series against New Zealand. Three years on, the 2025 squad hosted Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and Thailand U20 as part of a six-game round-robin tournament.
Three years ago, the Young Matildas had qualified for that year’s Under-20 World Cup. With some Covid-19 around the camp, coach Leah Blayney used the two game series to examine squad members who had not featured regularly in the 2021/22 A-League season. There were three players from NPL club-land in Blayney’s squad.
Roll forward to 2025 and all players initially selected were from the A-League, with interim coach Kory Babington – the Director of Football at Westfield Sports High School – announced just days before the tournament. (For what it’s worth, we believe only the announcement was late and that Babington had been given enough time to prepare.)
Injuries meant that four players were medically withdrawn before the tournament. India Breier (Newcastle Jets), Alexis Collins (Newcastle Jets), Nikkita Fazzari (Western Sydney Wanderers Academy), and Christina Kiceec (APIA Leichhardt FC) replaced Alexia Apostolakis, Tiana Fuller, Isabela Hoyos, and Amber Luchtmeijer.
All games were played in beautiful conditions at Viking Park and Deakin Stadium. The three games featuring Australia had quite different characteristics.
Game 1: Young Matildas vs Vanuatu
Young Matildas 9 (Saveska 13’ 17’, Kuilamu 30’, Allan 34’, Caspers 44’, Breier 50’, Lobo 63’, Stanic-Floody 72’ 90’+4)
Vanuatu 0
Played mid-afternoon on a working day, this game had the lowest attendance of the three involving the Young Matildas. Vanuatu set themselves up in a low defensive block which only got lower as the game progressed, to the point where much of the second half was played on the edge of their penalty box.
The Young Matildas were captained by Grace Kuilamu and showed they were not afraid to be physical. Sienna Saveska stamped her class on proceedings early on, scoring the opening two goals, with her captain adding a third in the first half hour.
Vanuatu’s brightest moment of the game came just before halftime, earning a free kick (taken by Nelly Kaltack) outside the Australian penalty box and forcing a save from keeper Ilona Melegh. The Young Matildas went into the break with a 5-0 lead.
Mary Stanic-Floody came on with almost 20 minutes remaining and scored two fine goals, displaying a willingness for accurate shots from outside the Vanuata area, something we also saw from centre back Maya Lobo earlier in the match. The crowd was also treated to the unusual sight of a Vanuatu kickoff played nearly all the way back to their penalty box, where the majority of their players were.
The Aussies were able to break through the defensive block on four occasions in the second half for a 9-0 final scoreline.
Game 2: Young Matildas vs Solomon Islands
Young Matildas 12 (McMahon 9′ 23′, Trimis 27′ 38′ 48′ 64′, Collins 50′ 68′, Tallon-Henniker 54′ 90+1′, Lobo 71′, Saveska 89′)
Solomon Islands 0
There was enthusiastic support from the Solomon Islands supporter contingent which added to the occasion at Viking Park. Zara Kruger captained this one for the Young Matildas, while Jessica Skinner started between the sticks. Squad rotation was the order of the day.
Solomon Islands set up distinct structural lines for this match, which created space for both teams to move forward. That same space – and the prodigious talent of Peta Trimis – was possibly a factor in more goals being scored this time around, but also made the game a little easier on the eye for onlookers, compared to Vanuatu’s low block approach from game 1.
With a halftime score of 4-0, the Aussies put their foot down for a further eight second half goals as the Solomon Islands continued to commit to their structures and play through their lines. Trimis impressed with four goals, while Caley Tallon-Henniker nabbed a brace in a 12-0 scoreline.
Game 3: Young Matildas vs Thailand U20
#PacificAusSports Four Nations 2025 signed off in style with the CommBank Young Matildas taking home the trophy after winning a 5-2 thriller against Thailand.
⚽️ Sienna Saveska 11’, 28’, 78’
⚽️ Own Goal 73’
⚽️ Caley Tallon-Henniker 90’+8Earlier, Vanuatu ended their journey on… pic.twitter.com/l1DMGU0IUL
— Football Australia (@FootballAUS) February 26, 2025
A strong team in green and gold lined up for the game at Deakin Stadium, with Indiana Dos Santos leading the side, Tegan Bertolissio switching to centre back for her third start (the only Aussie with three starts to her name), and the following observation from Kieran Yap on Instagram showing the attacking intent:
Thailand’s skill levels, comfort on the ball, and gameplan familiarity were evident. A 2-2 scoreline at halftime meant the match was wide open. Midfield general Rinyaphat Moondong was the creator of many threatening Thai moments, while Madison Casteen, scorer of both Thai goals, was proving to be an elusive proposition for Aussie left back Milly Bennett.
The home side rose to the challenge as their attacking threat stepped up in the second half. Sienna Saveska added a third to her two first half goals, Trimis was heavily involved in what was recorded as an own goal, and substitute Tallon-Henniker sealed the deal in added time for a 5-2 win and tournament victory.
This was a great showcase for a new group of Aussie Under-20s, and a welcome introduction to three of our nearest neighbours. It was a treat to see the A-League’s best and brightest Under-20s working together for a common cause, and the trajectories of several Australian players appear to be sky high.
