The Matildas have embarked on their AFC Women’s Asian Cup campaign with a 2-nil win over a spirited Vietnam at the Chengdu Sports Center Stadium in Chengdu, China.

Leena Khamis popped up to score the first with a header following a curling cross from Kylie Ledbrook.

Ledbrook later guaranteed the result with a spot kick, calmly slotting her first ever goal for the Matildas after Tameka Butt was felled in the area.

Although delighted with the victory Matildas coach Tom Sermanni felt his side could have played better.
 
“I’m satisfied with the win but thought we could have played better,” Sermanni said.

“I think we’ve come to expect these tough games from teams like Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar and to come through with a victory is quite a positive for us.

Sermanni expects even tougher matches against the Korea Republic and China, one of the reasons for holding back some of his more experienced campaigners from this match.

“When we play in these tournaments it is very important to use the squad as a whole instead of just relying on the same starting 11,” he said.

“Both China and Korea will be very difficult to play against and to beat.”

“There will be significant changes for the next game and we’ll see where we are placed following that.”

The Matildas play Korea Republic on Friday at 5pm AEST, live and exclusive on ABC 1.

Match Details

Australia  2 (Leena KHAMIS 28’, Kylie LEDBROOK 52’ (pen)
Vietnam   0
Chengdu Sports Center Stadium, Chengdu, China
Referee: Ri Hyang OK
Assistant referees: Hong Kum NYO and Liu Hsiu MEI
Fourth official: Sachiko Yamagishi

Australia starting line-up: 18.Lydia WILLIAMS (GK), 3.Karla REUTER, 5.Lauren COLTHORPE (31.Teigen ALLEN 64’), 6.Servet UZUNLAR (22.Sam KERR 53’), 10.Kylie LEDBROOK, 13.Thea SLATYER (c), 15.Sally SHIPARD, 17.Kyah SIMON, 19.Leena KHAMIS, 24.Tameka BUTT, 27.Aivi LUIK

Substitutes not used: 1.Melissa BARBIERI (gk), 4.Clare POLKINGHORNE, 7.Heather GARRIOCK, 9.Sarah WALSH, 11.Lisa DE VANNA, 12. Kate GILL, 16.Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 25.Casey DUMONT (gk)

Yellow cards: Nil

Red cards: Nil

Vietnam starting line-up: 1.TRINH (gk), 4.Nguywen Thi Hanh, 7.Nguyen Thi Nga, 8.Dao Thi Mien, 13.Nguyen Thi Muon (19.Oanh 76’), 14.Chi, 15.Anh, 16.Le Thi Thuong, 18.Nguyet,23.Hong,29.An

Substitutes not used: 3.Nhieu Tuy Linh, 5.Nhu, 10.Nguyen Thi Thanh, 12.Phu, 17.Nguyen Hai Hoa, 20.Nguyet, 28.Do Thi Thu Trang, 27.Duong Thi Danh (gk), 28.Ngoc

Yellow cards: Nil

Red cards: Nil