Goals from Jessika Nash, Zara Kruger and Claudia Cicco not only confirmed Australia’s last-four berth but also saw them punch their ticket to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024 with their group stage performance indicating they are challengers for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup title.

Needing just a draw to advance into the knockout stage, Australia started the brighter of the two sides with Kruger seeing her effort foiled in the fourth minute before Kahli Johnson’s shot from inside the box took a deflection for a corner.

Chinese Taipei struggled to find their footing and almost fell behind in the 13th minute when Chang Meng-hsuan’s poor clearance set up Nash at the top of the box, but the Melbourne Victory defender sent her effort over the bar.

Australia were denied a goal two minutes later when Naomi Chinnama’s header off Kruger’s corner crashed against the crossbar before keeper Wang Ruo-ping came to Chinese Taipei’s rescue.

However, Australia’s persistence paid off in the 20th minute as Daniela Galic’s cross into the box found unmarked skipper Nash, who volleyed home into the bottom left corner.

The Young Matildas continued to dominate possession and came close through Kruger (pictured above, right) in the 24th minute, while Galic was twice denied from inside the box moments later.

Kruger, however, came good in the 40th minute when she collected Nash’s cross from the left flank before slotting past Wang to give Australia a healthy cushion going into the break.

Chinese Taipei started the second half with purpose and had their first look at goal in the 48th minute when Pu Hsin-hu struck her long range effort straight into the arms of Australian keeper Chloe Lincoln.

Having taken off Chinnama, Gaelic, Nash and Kruger, Australia were content to soak up the pressure but still packed anoough power to score their third through Cicco, who struck home from inside a packed six-yard-box off a corner in the 82nd minute to cap off their group stage campaign.