Australia’s women’s football team will not be competing in the London 2012 Olympic Games after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) decided not to appeal FIFA’s ruling that North Korea can compete in London next year despite members of their team failing drugs tests at the World Cup earlier this year.

FIFA are responsible for organising the Olympic football tournaments, and though they have banned North Korea from competing at the next Women’s World Cup in Canada in 2015, they have allowed them to compete in London, saying that their sanction was meant to apply only to the competition in which their players failed the drugs test

The Australian Olympic Committee had lodged the protest with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and WADA last week.

North Korea finished second in the women’s qualifying tournament held in China in September, having beaten Australia 1-0 in their opening game, a result which proved crucial with their opponents finishing third overall, and just missing out on London.

Following its Foundation Board meeting yesterday, a spokesman for WADA told insidethegames that they had “carefully considered the award relating to all the sanctions handed out by FIFA to the North Korea women’s team.

“WADA has taken the decision not to appeal bearing in mind the rules that were in place for the event,” he said.

WADA point to their anti-doping code article 11.2, which states that if more than two members of a team commit an anti-doping violation during an event, it is the organiser of that event who will decide and impose an appropriate sanction, in this case FIFA.

Via Australian Olympic Committee.

Young Matildas

A double strike by Adriana Jones has helped guide Australia to their first victory at the AFC U16 Womens Championship, winning 4-0 against Thailand. Jones opened the Australian account just on 21 minutes, after a sweet build up involving captain Alisha Bass and Breanna Sampson. After receiving a forward pass from Bass, Jones’ first touch allowed her to turn sharply off her defender and with only the Thai goalkeeper to beat, calmly slotted home her first goal for the day from close range. Jones’ second arrived in the 83rd minute, when she struck a first time shot after a cross from Sampson, leaving Kittiya Aryuwong in goals no chance.

Both the Westfield National U17 Womens and Thailand entered the game winless and goal-less. Playing for national pride, Australia dominated possession throughout the match against a much physically smaller Thai side compared to previous opposition. Australia’s first strike on goal arrived in the 6th minute, after pressure was placed high up the field on the Thai defence. Vasinee Pakthongchai lost possession after struggling to play out from the back, however, Sampson’s shot was well wide of the target. Two minutes later, after a counter attack down Australia’s right wing, the Westfield National U17’s Women won the first corner for the match, and could have gone one up. Bass’s well struck delivery was almost met by an advancing Emma Checker, after the ball had sailed over goalkeeper Aryuwong.

Thailand’s first moment to score arrived in the 14th minute after a defensive error by the Australians allowed Pattha Srikapa to run with the ball towards Shamiran Khamis’ goal. A fast recovering Lucy Metcalfe tackled well inside the Australian defensive 18 yard box, resulting in the first corner for Thailand. Six minutes later, Thailand almost snatched the opening goal against the run of play after another defensive lapse by the Australian defence. A long Thai free kick was poorly cleared and fell invitingly for Alisa Rukpinij, only to be denied by the goalkeeping brilliance of Khamis.

In the first half, Australia’s midfield consisting of Alisha Bass, Olivia Price and Lauren Brown worked well together controlling the tempo and flow of the game. Bass was the instigator in crafting Australia’s first goal in the 21st minute after her vision found Jones forward of play.

Stepping out on to the field for the second half, a determined Australia were looking to extend their lead. From the onset, the Westfield National U17 Women once again controlled and dominated possession and continued to do so for the remainder of the half. Australia’s persistence paid dividends in the 62nd minute when a 20 yard looping shot by Brown found the back of the net. Two minutes later, Australia made it 3-0 after a Sampson cracker curled neatly around the Thai goalkeeper from the edge of the 18 yard box. Once again Australia piled on the pressure from a poorly executed Thai goal kick, with Sampson winning the ball, easily flying past two Thai defenders, and with her left foot, bent the ball into the side netting.

Australia capped off an impressive display when the match sealer was finished off by Jones in the 83rd minute.

The Westfield National U17 Womens will complete their campaign against the might of the Japanese, who today were crowned AFC U16 Women’s Champions after defeating Korea Republic 3-0.

Via FFA.

Despite a best on ground performance by Australian goalkeeper Eliza Campbell, the Westfield National U17 Women’s team suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to DPR Korea, with the winning headed goal arriving in the 90th minute of play, courtesy of forward, Ri Kyong Hyang.

The loss now sees Australia sitting second to bottom in the group, with only two games remaining, and a spot at next year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup slowly slipping away.

The game saw Australia’s best team performance at the AFC U16 Womens Championships, continually absorbing the pressure from DPR Korea and fighting all the way to the end. It was evident the Korean’s began to become uneasy as they struggled to punish Australia, with coach Hwang Yong Bong showing the strain of his team’s inability to finish several goal scoring opportunities.

Throughout the game, Campbell made a number of world class saves to continually deny the Koreas from taking the lead, however, was unable to stop Ri Kyong Hyang’s header which sailed into the roof of the net from close range in the dying seconds of the match. DPR Korea were almost off to a flying start when Kim Phyong Hwa’s 18 yard rocket hit Campbell’s upright in the 4th minute, with the Australian goalkeeper at full reach, yet well beaten. For the greater part of the first half, a well structured, drilled and technically skilled DPR Korea controlled the majority of possession, although were unable to breakdown a solid Australian defence, once again, lead by Elizabeth Ralston and Grace Henry, who earlier in the day, sat for a Year 12 exam.

During the 10th minute, DPR Korea were awarded a free kick on the edge of the 18 yard box, however, Kim Hyang Mi’s shot lacked power and was easily saved by the unchallenged Campbell. Almost each DPR Korea attack resulted in a bullet like cross, but the Australia’s ‘never say die’ attitude always came out on top with many strong headers won in their own defensive 18 yard box, despite the height and strength advantage of the Koreans. 35 minutes into the first half, Ri Un Sim beat the offside trap and was almost on the scorers sheet after a clever run and cross by Ri Hyang Sim, however, her attempt missed by millimeters.

At the start of the second half, Ebony Philcox, who suffered slight concussion after an elbow to the head and Sarah Carroll, made way for Jessica Dillion and Emma Checker. With the half time break not affecting the Koreans momentum, Kim Un Hwa’s 48th minute shot only narrowly missed the target. Four minutes later, Campbell was called into action again when Choe Chung Bok played a superb through ball to Ri Un Sim, who was one on one with the Australia goalkeeper, only to see her attempt sensationally saved by the big intimidating, fearless frame of Campbell.

Campbell was Australia’s savior again in the 69th minute, when DPR Korea were able to play a long through ball between the Australia defence, finding substitute Jo Ryon Hwa, who’s smooth first touch placed her in a perfect one v one position with Campbell. The Westfield National U17 Women’s’ goalkeeper quickly closed the angle, holding her ground and produced a reflex save to palm away Hwa’s early shot at goal. In the 78th minute, another perfectly timed and weighted through ball once again found Hwa on route to goal, but the Korean forward was denied by a fast approaching Campbell. With four minutes remaining, Koreas Hwa couldn’t believe her luck when for the third time, Campbell produced one of the saves of the match, keeping Australia in the game and almost registering their first point of the championships.

With the match drawing to a close, and the scores locked at 0-0, there was time for one final attack by DPR Korea. Patiently building up possession down Australia’s right hand side, a sweetly timed crossed was met by the rising Ri Kyong Hyang, heading home the match winner with only seconds remaining on the clock. With no time to spare, the Australia’s were unable to search for an equalizing goal, and the score remained 1-0 to DPR Korea.

In the other group matches played today, Japan continued in their winning ways, beating hosts China P.R comfortably 3-0, while Korea Republic bounced back from their lost to rivals DPR Korea, but ending Thailands World Cup hopes with a 3-0 victory.

Australia’s remaining two games are against Thailand on the 10th and Japan on the 13th November.

Via Football Federation Australia media release.