A trio of West Ham United women’s team players were in action in Sunday’s round of international fixtures, with each securing impressive wins for their respective countries.
Mackenzie Arnold and her Australia teammates secured a comprehensive 8-0 victory over the Philippines in their Olympic qualifier at the Optus Stadium in Perth.
The West Ham skipper played between the sticks in a full-strength Matildas side, who made short work of their opponents in a high-scoring showing.
It only took 16 minutes for Australia to open the scoring as Mary Fowler passed the ball into the net from Caitlin Foord’s pass, before Sam Kerr doubled the lead just two minutes later.
On 30 minutes, it was 3-0 as Foord followed up on her two assists with a finish of her own, grabbing her personal second to make it four goals to the Matildas just three minutes later.
Chelsea’s Kerr grabbed her second to make it 5-0 on the stroke of half-time, and secured her hat-trick just seconds into the second half with a fine header.
Foord got her own hat-trick with a cool finish under Philippines goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel, and substitute Clare Wheeler wrapped up the scoring with her first-ever international goal.
Arnold, in truth, had very little to do in between the sticks as Australia completely dominated in terms of possession and chances.
Victory means the Matildas have two wins from two Olympic qualifiers played, and will contest a third on Wednesday 1 November against Chinese Taipei.
There was also a win in Olympic qualifying for Hammers’ duo Risa Shimizu and Honoka Hayashi, who helped Japan to a 2-0 win away to Uzbekistan.
Japan stormed into their two-goal advantage early in the first half as Roma defender Moeka Minami turned home on ten minutes to give her side the lead at Bunyodkor Stadium in Tashkent, while Remina Chiba tucked in Japan's second five minutes later.
Victory means Japan, like Australia, are top of their Olympic qualifying group after two matches played, and will play their third qualifier at home to Vietnam on Wednesday.
