AUSTRALIA v CHINESE TAIPEI

After more than two weeks of training, Australia are set to finally get their Tokyo 2020 qualifying campaign up and running, and head coach Ante Milicic is eager for his side to put their preparation into practice when they face Chinese Taipei at Campbelltown Stadium on Friday.

With the ongoing coronavirus outbreak affecting the tournament’s schedule and pushing Australia’s Group B opener back by four days, Milicic has been afforded a rare chance to put in extensive time with his charges on the training ground, but the former Socceroo is now ready to get down to business.

Voted AFC Women’s Player of the Year just over a year earlier, the player affectionately known as ‘Mini’ was at the peak of her powers on the road to Rio 2016, scoring crucial goals against Japan and DPR Korea as the Matildas went unbeaten through qualifying to end a 12-year participation drought.

The 27-year-old is well acquainted with the Steel Roses, having not only played against them on several occasions at international level, but also having played club football for Chinese second-tier outfit Yunnan Jiashijing during the 2019 season.

While brother Teerasil is an established J1 League star in the men’s game, Taneekarn’s only previous overseas experience came in a 2014 stint with Swedish club Ostersunds, but goals against the likes of Mexico and Italy in the 2019 Cyprus Cup, and solid showings at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France opened the door to a move north.

The prolific striker, who recently completed a high-profile move to FA Women’s Super League powerhouse Chelsea, is far from a certain starter when the Matildas begin their campaign against group leaders Chinese Taipei on Friday, saying the team would take no unnecessary gambles to get her into Ante Milicic’s starting line-up.

An added incentive for Nguyen and her teammates is that a win at the Jeju World Cup Stadium would seal their place in next month’s Play-offs, with Myanmar having suffered a 7-0 defeat to Korea Republic in the three-team Group A.

Already considered outsiders to achieve the top two finish required to advance from Group B, the Chaba Kaew’s odds lengthened considerably after they failed to find the back of the net in their opening match, but, like all goalkeepers, Sornpao doesn’t like to concede, and the American-born shot-stopper said no one in the Thai camp has given up on their Olympic dream.

Ting Chi’s first-half winner means another victory in either of their two remaining matches against Australia and China PR would almost certainly see Echigo’s charges through to next month’s play-off round, with a maiden Olympic qualification remaining the ultimate goal.