CommBank Young Matildas end two-match series with draw agaisnt New Zealand

The Commonwealth Bank Young Matildas finished off their two-match international series with a 1-1 draw with New Zealand at Viking Park, Canberra. 

First-half goals from Sarah Hunter and Milly Clegg saw both teams go into the half-time interval with a goal each. 

Australia continued their dominance early after a 5-1 win last Wednesday, having a flurry of chances to take the lead early. 

Hunter released the ball to find skipper Sheridan Gallagher making a run down the right-hand side, the forward whipped the ball in and the deflection off New Zealand skipper Kate Taylor fell into the path of Hunter who finished her attempt from outside the box into the top corner. 

The visitors showed promising signs of finding the equaliser, with Ava Pritchard free at the back post but her resulting chance was straight into Chloe Lincoln's safe hands.  

Khali Johnson had the chance to double the advantage before the break but the keeper Murphy Sheaff denied the close-range attempt

Pritchard missed the perfect opportunity to give the Junior Football Ferns the equaliser, left alone in the box but skied her chance. 

New Zealand found the equaliser in the 38th minute, Milly Clegg advancing past two defenders to slot the ball into the bottom corner. 

Gallagher played through a perfectly weighted through ball to find Aideen Keane, but Sheaff denied the chance for the Aussies to retake the lead.

Both sides went into the break at a deadlock, with promising chances from both sides to retake the lead before the half-time whistle was blown. 

Leah Blayney's side went close to finding the go ahead goal, with Australia's goal scorer Sarah Hunter taking another long range effort that just missed the upright.  

Blayney made a host of changes as the second half progressed, but Australia were unable to find the winner against their Trans-Tasman rivals. 

MATCH DETAILS

Australia               1 (Hunter 10’)
New Zealand     1 (Clegg 38’)

Referee: Georgia Ghirardello 

Australia U20 Line up: 1. Chloe LINCOLN (GK), 4. Jamilla Rankin (10. Ella Tonkin 75'), 5. Hannah JONES (29. Alana Murphy 45'), 6. Sarah HUNTER, 9. Aideen Keane (16. Sofia Sakalis 45'), 11. Naomi CHINNAMA, 15. Cushla RUE, 17. Sheridan GALLAGHER (C) (22. Hana Lowry 71), 23. Kahli JOHNSON (19. Abbey Green 79'), 24. Emma ILIJOSKI, 26. Daniela GALIC (21. Leticia McKenna 45')

SUBS not used: 25. Miranda Templeman (GK), 8. Jynaya Dos Santos, 13. Leia Puxty, 18. Darcey Malone, 20. Gemma Ferris, 27. Sienna Saveska