Matildas’ Chinese clash to proceed

THE Matildas’ clash with China is set to go ahead after having their Olympic qualifying encounter delayed until February 12 at Campbelltown Stadium in Sydney.

Officials were scrambling to reschedule the game after the Chinese team was this week isolated at its Brisbane hotel because of the coronavirus outbreak. Football Federation Australia yesterday confirmed the women’s national team will begin their qualifying tournament against Taiwan at Campbelltown on February 6.

The Matildas then head to Western Sydney Stadium, where they will face Thailand on February 9 before taking on China.

“FFA very much appreciates the collaborative approach displayed by everyone to reschedule the Olympic qualification tournament,” FFA boss James Johnson said.

“I’d like to thank the CFA [Chinese Football Association] for their understanding and co-operation, despite the difficult situation their team and staff have found themselves in since arriving in Brisbane.”

It is the third time authorities had been forced to move the matches, which initially relocated from Wuhan to Nanjing.

China withdrew as tournament hosts after the outbreak, prompting the hasty decision to shift the schedule to Sydney.

The Chinese FA says its 32 players and staff are in good health and have shown no signs of the disease.

The schedule will now begin with Taiwan battling Thailand at Campbelltown Stadium on Monday.

The top two nations from Group B will face the top two from Group A — featuring hosts South Korea, Myanmar and Vietnam — in a homeand-away playoff.

The playoff winners will secure their spots as Asia’s representatives along with hosts Japan at this year’s Tokyo Olympics.