City’s Australian duo star in emphatic Asian Cup win | OneFootball

Hayley Raso grabbed a brace and Alanna Kennedy also starred as Australia earned an 18-0 win over Indonesia in their Asian Cup curtain-raiser.

The Matildas were last crowned Asian Cup champions in 2010 and got their latest tilt off to a dream start in Mumbai with the City duo both featuring for the full 90 minutes.

Indeed, Tony Gustavsson's side fell one short of Australia's greatest winning margin, which came courtesy of a 19-0 win over Samoa in 2003, with nine different players getting on the scoresheet in their opening Group B match.

An early brace from Sam Kerr saw her become her nation's all-time leading scorer inside 11 minutes, before further strikes from Caitlin Foord and Mary Fowler had Australia four ahead before the 20-minute mark.

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Hayley Raso got in on the act five minutes later, heading home a pinpoint cross from the left wing for her seventh international strike, before Kerr completed her hat-trick from the spot after Foord was brought down inside the area.

Another three-goal flurry saw Tony Gustavsson’s side go in nine goals to the good at the break, with Ellie Carpenter and Kerr once again on the scoresheet, before Emily Van Egmond slotted home a penalty just before 40 minutes.

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Australia picked up where they left off after the restart, with a spectacular strike from Carpenter grabbing number ten, before Kerr, Van Egmond and Tameka Yallop added to the tally before the hour mark.

Chelsea forward Kerr struck another spotkick against the bar after being brought down in the area, but a Kyah Simon brace and further Van Egmond strike made it 16 with a further 20 still to play.

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Aivi Luik, who came out of international retirement ahead of the tournament, grabbed her first international goal in the 78th minute, before Raso added her second and the Matildas’ 18th.

The City winger stole in at the far post to tap home after Indonesia failed to properly clear a corner as stoppage time approached to round off the scoring.

Raso, Kennedy and co. face the Philippines in their second Group B match on Monday 24 January with kick-off scheduled for 10:00 (UK), before facing Thailand three days later.