Matildas hit Taiwan for six, farewell Polkinghorne

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Matildas hit Taiwan for six, farewell Polkinghorne

An experimental Matildas line-up has thrashed Taiwan 6-0 in Geelong to finish their year on a high and give a glimpse of the future in retiring great Clare Polkinghorne’s final game.

In what was probably interim coach Tom Sermanni’s final game at the helm, in-form attacking midfielder Tameka Yallop starred in front of 30,097 fans at GMHBA Stadium.

A permanent coach is likely to be in place when the Matildas are next in action at February’s SheBelieves Cup against Japan, the United States and Colombia.

On her starting debut, Leah Davidson drew first blood, scoring her maiden goal with a terrific header in the sixth minute, before Yallop scored a belting goal five minutes later, then teed up Emily Gielnik in the 40th minute.

Remy Siemsen brilliantly set up Michelle Heyman to score in the 56th minute.

Tash Prior scored her second header in two games in the 73rd minute, and five minutes later Sharn Freier lashed a sixth home.

With a plethora of big names unavailable, Sermanni made four changes to his team that won 3-1 in Melbourne.

Retiring great Polkinghorne – who had a celebration match against Brazil in Brisbane – started her record 169th and final game, while Bryleeh Henry and Davidson made their starting debuts.

Winonah Heatley started and impressed on the left side of a back three with her willingness to progress the ball aggressively, while Emily van Egmond (two assists) showcased her creativity.

Australia took the lead when, after a corner, Yallop recycled the ball out to van Egmond, who lofted a wonderful ball into the area.

Davidson stooped down and flicked the header into the top corner.

Just minutes later, Yallop intercepted a long ball out from goalkeeper Wang Yu-Ting, took a touch with her right, then lashed a wonderful, skidding left-footed strike into the far bottom corner.

Play was stopped around the half-hour mark when Ting Chia-Ying was taken off on a stretcher with a serious knee injury.

In the 40th minute, Yallop lifted a wonderful ball onto the head of Gielnik, who turned home her first international goal since the Tokyo Olympics.

Gielnik appeared to be offside, but with no VAR in friendlies the goal stood.

Siemsen set up the fourth goal when she pinched the ball, danced around multiple defenders, then cut it back for Heyman to prod home.

Polkinghorne departed the field for a final time to a standing ovation in the 64th minute, replaced by Jessika Nash.

Teenage goalkeeper Chloe Lincoln, 19, debuted when she replaced Mackenzie Arnold shortly afterwards.

Laura Hughes also received her first cap.

The Matildas completed the rout when Prior steamed in to head home a van Egmond free kick, before Heatley launched a long-range ball to Freier, who bodied her defender and nutmegged the goalkeeper.

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