World class football kicks off in Adelaide : AFC Women's Asian Cup : [poster]

Australia's national women's football (soccer) team, the Matildas, played in the 2006 Asian Football Confederation Women's Asian Cup. In the final China defeated Australia 4-2 on penalties to win the Cup, after extra-time ended 2-2 in one of the most thrilling games in the history of Asian women's football.

The first Australian women's national team was formed in 1978, four years after the Australian Women's Soccer Association was formed, to play in the inaugural World Women's Invitational Tournament in Taiwan. Australia was the only national team at the tournament. Australia played in the first Oceania Cup in 1983, losing the final to New Zealand. The 1986 tournament in New Zealand was only three teams: Australia, New Zealand and Taiwan, Australia again losing in the final. The Matildas have qualified for the women's World Cup since 1995.

Women's football is said to be the fastest growing sport in Asia, and the AFC supports competition across all age groups, from the top players to Under 16 and Under 19 Championships.

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