The Australian Women's Football Team have qualified for the semi finals of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup after a 5-0 victory over Thailand in Adelaide on Monday.

The Matildas however have been edged out of top spot in the group by DPR Korea (North Korea) on goal difference.

Australia will now meet Group A winners Japan in Thursday’s semi final where a berth at the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be on the line.

The match will kick off at 4.30pm with the second semi final to be played between DPR Korea and China at 7.30pm.

Japan are 13th and Australia 15th in the world rankings. 

Australia held a two goal advantage at the interval courtesy of goals to stand-in captain Alicia Ferguson plus striker Joanne Burgess.

Ferguson scoring with a header from a pinpoint Heather Garriock corner just four minutes into her debut match as Australian captain in the absence of regular skipper Cheryl Salisbury and stand-in Joanne Peters.

Second half strikes to Sarah Walsh, Kate Gill and Lisa De Vanna meant the Australians ultimately fell three goals short of overhauling DPR Korea on goal difference.

A 7-0 margin to Australia would have seen the teams equal on every count back criteria and resulted in the drawing of lots.

“I am certainly not disappointed with the effort and way we played though I was disappointed with the lack of care and the lack of quality in the finishing," said Matildas coach Tom Sermanni.

“On the positive side we haven’t conceded any goals and we haven’t lost any games. We are going into the semi finals with a fit and healthy squad and a team that is playing well.”

Just three players backed up from Saturday’s tough encounter against DPR Korea with only goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri, defender Heather Garriock and striker Sarah Walsh making a second starting appearance in three days.

Sermanni said he was mostly satisfied with the workload spread around the squad given the team have been required to play four matches in nine days.

“Because we have had some good results, we have been able to rotate the squad and give players opportunity; give players game time and also the chance to claim a spot in the team."

Football Australia