Australia coach Tom Sermanni believes a third-place finish would represent a successful campaign for the Matildas.

HO CHI MINH CITY – Australia coach Tom Sermanni admitted a third-place finish at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup would be a success for his patchwork side if they defeat Japan at Thong Nat Stadium on Sunday.
The Matildas were denied a second successive appearance in the final of the tournament after they were comfortably defeated 3-0 by DPR Korea on Thursday.

Sermanni has been unable to field his strongest side throughout the tournament with nine of his 2007 World Cup squad absent while influential skipper Cheryl Salisbury has managed only a cameo appearance due to injury.

“If someone said before this tournament you could finish third I would have taken that,” said the Scot.

“There have been some positives and negatives but we came into this competition with a very much changed team and an understrength team.

“If any other team came into this with nine of their World Cup players missing they would be severely weakened as well.

“It has been disappointing how we have conceded goals but the positive thing is that it helps us to go away and know what we have to work on.”

The game on Sunday gives Australia the chance to make up for their final Group B game against Japan where, like against DPR Korea, they were outplayed for much of the match and lost 3-1.

“You have to be realistic, you get very disappointed when your team loses and is outplayed for much of the game but you have to look at the overall picture of the progress we are trying to make,” added Sermanni.

“In light of that if we win on Sunday I will go away from this tournament feeling genuinely satisfied.”

Japan coach Norio Sasaki believes his side need to defend better as a team after they missed out on a place in the final following their semi-final defeat to China.

The 2008 EAFF Championship winners had taken the lead through Homare Sawa but three goals in less than 15 minutes secured the victory for the defending champions.

“It is not the defence that is at fault it is also the midfielders and forwards,” said Sasaki.

“It is not just the job of the defenders to stop players from scoring but the rest of the team need to win the ball back from the front.”