In form: Kyah Simon (left) celebrates the team's first goal with Chloe Logarzo. Photo: Getty Images
The Australian women's football team have one hand on a ticket to Rio after maintaining their perfect record in qualifying with a confident 2-0 win over South Korea in Osaka, Japan on Friday night.
Looking to maintain their momentum after wins over Japan and Vietnam, the Matildas made a perfect start with Kyah Simon netting just 50 seconds into the contest.
Simon, who scored a hat-trick against Vietnam midweek, crashed home from close range after Lisa De Vanna struck the post.
Laura Alleway in action. Photo: Getty Images
Midfielder Emily Van Egmond, making her 50th international appearance, soon doubled the advantage from the penalty spot after De Vanna was brought down just inside the area on 15 minutes.
South Korea tried to take it to the Aussies but their efforts on goal were mostly restricted to long-range, though Jeon Ga-Eul struck the crossbar with a speculative effort.
Substitute Caitlin Foord had the ball in the net for Australia soon after entering the fray but her strike was correctly ruled out for offside, while the Matildas' utility was twice more denied by the Korean goalkeeper.
The Matildas confidently closed out the game in the latter stages guaranteeing a third win in as many starts and leaving the Australians clear at the top in the six-team tournament, where only the top two earn a ticket to Rio.
AAP
