The Matildas confidently closed out the game in the latter stages guaranteeing a third win in as many starts and leaving the Australians clear at the top in the six-team tournament, where only the top two earn a ticket to Rio.
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Van Egmond got on the score sheet in the emphatic win against Vietnam and the Australian midfielder says that the team’s goal is to get the three points in their upcoming fixtures against South Korea, North Korea and China.
With two points from two draws and two losses, Korea is automatically eliminated from the qualification race regardless of the result of its last remaining match against Vietnam.
On Saturday, the Vietnamese women were awarded a shopping trip after a pity 0-1 loss to North Korea due to a last-minute goal a day earlier, so they will enter the Japan game with relaxed spirits, according to the coach.
“Today wasn’t pretty football from us but it was effective and to put it all together with everything we’ve done here over the past week is just an fantastic effort”.
The South Korean’s may be winless in the tournament but they are still in a chance to qualify.
“We always had the weapons in attack, but now we have shown we have maturity, composure, hard work, discipline and commitment, and I think we have the makings of a world class team”. “I will send in players who haven’t been getting into action so far”. “On Wednesday we face China in the final match here and that’s now the next step on the path to an Olympic gold medal”, he added.
“But full credit to Korea Republic because I thought they were a really good opponent tonight”. “It’s the best result that we could expect”, said Wang Shanshan after the game.
And Australia coach Stajcic, who suffered heartbreak after defeat in the final of the 2014 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, believes the whole nation should be proud of what his side has achieved.
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The 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil kick off on August 5 and conclude on August 21.
