Australia’s U-23s have traversed a strong Vietnam outfit 2-1 in front of a passionate home crowd to clinch a spot in the MSIG Serenity Cup 2025 final.
Compared to the three group matches, there were minimal changes to the side that scored 9 against Timor Leste, with just four adjustments to Wednesday’s clash. Those included Chloe Lincoln in goal, Alana Cerne and Claudia Cicco in defence, and Amy Chessari in the middle of the park.
The plan to silence the raucous home crowd early in the match was a successful one, with Australia taking the lead after 6 minutes, with a McKenna cross into the box swooped on brilliantly by Aideen Keane. Keane timed her run to perfection, out-leaping the goalkeeper to head home.
It would be McKenna who would go from provider to goalscorer just 10 minutes later. A blistering counter-attack following a save by Lincoln ended at the feet of McKenna, who opted to shoot from 25 yards out rather than play the ball to a teammate. The strike looped perfectly over the keeper’s head, with the custodian managing to get just her fingertips on the ball as it dropped into the top corner.
A dominant first half made way for a tense second; Australia, sensing that victory was near, began to sit deeper, daring the Vietnamese side to break them down.
