Angry fans have questioned why the Australian under-20 women’s football side was forced to play an Asian Cup match on a field covered in thick snow in a move labelled ‘unsafe’ and ’embarrassing’ by supporters. 

The Young Matildas came from behind to defeat Korea Republic 2-1 in the opening game of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup in Uzbekistan on Sunday.

Teenage star Naomi Chinnama turned the match on its head with her maiden international goal in the second half, but it was the conditions that dominated conversation online.

The Australian women celebrate in the snow after their come-from-behind victory over Korea Republic in Uzbekistan

Players were forced to endure ankle-deep snow, with the ball regularly getting stuck after it was kicked due to the shocking conditions

Match organisers cleared sections around the edge of the field and in the centre circle but left most of the snow sitting on the field when the match kicked off

It presented challenging conditions for the Young Matildas, with the ball routinely getting lodged in drifts of snow before finally the Aussies were able to break the game open in the second half.

‘Australian National Squads have received FROSTY receptions before, though never this literally,’ a fan at the ground posted, along with a video of the field totally engulfed in snow just prior to kick-off.

Numerous fans posted online, saying the conditions were unsafe for the players and more should have been done to protect them.

‘Absolute shambles to be expected to play on such a disgusting pitch. Serious breach of safety standards for an AFC sanctioned tournament surely,’ one fumed.

‘That was horrible pitch conditions, Australia should launch a complaint,’ another angry fan posted.

Other fans said the match highlighted the gulf between men’s and women’s football.

‘Don’t ever tell me women’s sport is equal to men’s this is a joke,’ one posted. 

‘This is truly wild. Just because they are U20 women, no one stopped this. This is unsafe, and absolutely unacceptable,’ added another. 

‘What a joke! If you say you’re going to host, you have to have a plan to clear the snow! Ridiculous conditions! It wouldn’t happen in male football,’ another fan claimed. 

While the conditions were awful, it is not the first time a professional or international football match has been played on a snow-covered field.

In 2014, the United States and Costa Rican men’s sides had to play out a World Cup qualifier in Commerce City, Colorado right beside The Rocky Mountains on a field caked in snow.

Some football fans are used to snowy conditions, like these spectators at the Young Matildas’ match in Uzbekistan

Snow rained down from the top of the goal net in spectacular scenes when this goal was scored in Germany’s Bundesliga in 2018

A snow storm didn’t stop Atlanta from applying the blowtorch to Minnesota in a Major League Soccer match in the United States

In 2018, German forward Nils Petersen thundered home a goal for SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga that dramatically resulted in snow raining down from the roof of the goal net.

And back in the United States, a Major League Soccer men’s match between Atlanta and Minnesota not only included a snow-covered field, but players, officials and fans were forced to ensure a full-sledged snow storm that lashed the stadium.

It is also a common occurence in Russia, Scotland and other snow-prone parts of the world.

While many fans lashed the conditions, others hailed the Young Matildas for overcoming the obstacle to secure a vital come-from-behind win.

‘Shocking conditions, but how is the belief and grit of this team? To play in that and come back to win – the future is bright, what an awesome performance,’ an excited fan posted.

‘Conditions were appalling, but the girls are so deserving of the win,’ added another. 

The victory is a massive result in the context of the group. If Australia finishes first or second, they will have the chance to contest a semi-final, and will qualify for the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup 2024.