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Women's Football World Cup News

Australia give themselves hope

Women's Football World Cup News 3 Jul 2011

Australia 3 (Khamis 8, Van Egmond 48, De Vanna 51)
Equatorial Guinea 2 (Anonman 21,83)
att: 15,640; at Bochum
Australia gave their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup quarter finals a huge boost as they defeated Equatorial Guinea by the odd goal in five.

However the game is likely to be remembered for a comical first half incident in which the Matildas were not awarded a penalty for the most blatant of handballs.

Australia started the game well and were rewarded in the eighth minute when a shot by Heather Garriock was blocked and Leena Khamis was on hand to score from the rebound.

The game then turned to farce after Khamis came close to a second when her shot came back off the post. Central defender Bruna picked the ball up and held it in her arms for several seconds before letting go but, to the disbelief of the Aussies and everyone else watching, somehow none of the officials managed to see the offence and play went on.

To rub salt into the wounds, Equatorial Guinea then equalised against the run of play following some sloppy defending. Servet Uzunlar dallied on the ball as she went to play it to the goalkeeper, allowing Anonman to nip in and take the ball off her before rounding Lydia Williams to score.

Australia came back from the setback and almost went back in front shortly before half time but Collette McCallum's free kick came back off the bar.

Early in the second half, Khamis drove a cross into the area which just eluded Lisa De Vanna but Emily Van Egmond was on hand to restore Australia's lead.

Three minutes later, the Matildas went further ahead as McCallum played a long ball into the area whre De Vanna controlled neatly before planting a left foot shot past Miriam.

McCallum clipped the bar once again, this time with a cross-cum-shot from the left, whilst at the other end Anonman went close with an effort from the edge of the area.

Equatorial Guinea gave themselves renewed hope with seven minutes remaining by scoring a goal remarkably similar to their first. Once again, Uzunlar dwelt on the ball too long and was robbed by Anonman who beat Williams with a clinical finish.

There were no further scares for Australia and they now face a showdown with Norway for a quarter final place on Wednesday.

Australia: Lydia Williams, Samantha Kerr (sub Teigen Allen 69mins), Kim Carroll, Sally Shipard (sub Lisa De Vanna 45mins), Lauren Colthorpe, Collette McCallum (sub Clare Polkinghorne 78mins), Heather Garriock, Elise Kellond-Knight, Leena Khamis, Servet Uzunlar, Emily Van Egmond.

Equatorial Guinea: Miriam, Bruna (sub Laetitia 83mins), Dulcia, Carolina, Ana Cristina, Vania, Diala, Jumaria (sub Sinforosa 66mins), Dorine, Anonman, Chinasa (sub Adriana 57mins).