Matilda's into the Quarter Finals!!!

[Burgs]

A 92nd minute goal, by Australian Captain Salisbury, was enough to take a two all draw and see the Matilda's progress through to the World Cup Quarter Finals!!!
Well done girls, full report to come directly.


Matildas squeeze through

FFA

Australia have secured a first-ever berth in the quarter finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in the most dramatic circumstances.

Skipper Cheryl Salisbury scored an injury time equaliser to draw 2-2 with Canada in the Matilda's final Group C match at the Chengdu Sports Centre Stadium in China.

Collette McCallum had earlier scored a stunning free-kick eight minutes after the interval to help Australia finish second in the group.

Norway hammered Ghana 7-2 to take top spot.

Australia now meet the winner of Group D on Sunday at 8pm (10pm AEST) on Sunday in Tianjin. (tipped to be Brazil )

The Group D winner will be decided Friday night with Brazil currently in top spot ahead of Denmark and China.

The Matildas had to overcome the hurdle of losing key defender Thea Slatyer to injury in the warm-up and then conceding a goal in the opening minute of the match from Canadian striker Melissa Tancredi.

The goal was recorded as 32 seconds making it the second fastest Women’s World Cup behind a 30-second strike by Sweden's Lena Videkull at the inaugural tournament in 1991.

Canada looked looked likely to progress after taking a 85th minute lead through Christine Sinclair before super-sub Lisa De Vanna conjured up some magic to set up Salisbury for the late salvo.

Australian line-up:

Melissa Barbieri (gk); Lauren Colthorpe (Lisa De Vanna H/T), Kate McShea, Cheryl Salisbury (c), Dianne Alagich; Sally Shipard, Collette McCallum, Joanne Peters (Alicia Ferguson 76’), Heather Garriock; Caitlin Munoz (Joanne Burgess 62’), Sarah Walsh.

[Skiza]

Woooo! Thank goodness for that late goal, otherwise they would've been out i think...GO MATILDAS

[chook]

Better viewing than the diabolical Twenty/20 cricket farce that was on at the same time.

go the Aussie Chicks!

[LarryNJ]

US beats Poms 3-0 move onto semi's! Could be Aussie chicks against US chicks in semi's! Beat Brazil!

[jargan83]

unfortunatley we lost to the ladiers from brazil but it looks like we have left a lasting impression

From www.foxsports.com.au

Matilda-mania after Cup quest
By David Davutovic
September 25, 2007 AUSTRALIA's women's football team has been inundated with requests for matches from "high profile" international opponents after its World Cup heroics in China.

The Matildas produced another gallant effort on Sunday, only bowing out at the quarter-final stage after a spectacular late strike from Brazilian Cristiane.

Coach Tom Sermanni said the 3-2 loss was their worst performance of the tournament but paid tribute to his team's efforts which has put women's football on the map.

It came as Football Federation Australia head of high performance John Boultbee revealed there has been a flood of interest in the past week.

"We've had offers of friendlies and internationals both home and overseas and they've come from major nations," Boultbee said yesterday.

Sermanni said: "That was probably our poorest performance of the tournament at both ends, but it was the best team we came up against by a long way.

"I felt we never got into a rhythm, but when you consider that and the way they managed to get back into the game, it says a lot about the team.

"We came away with a lot of positives and they showed in a football sense that they can go and match it with the teams ranked above us and even on our off days we're able to hang in there and battle away and give ourselves a chance of winning.

"They're very tired, they were disappointed after the game but they weren't devastatingly disappointed.

"There was also a sense of satisfaction."

Sermanni warned that caution must be exercised when drawing up the schedule, taking into account the part-time players' personal and work commitments.

The coach also confirmed that there was a very good chance a women's national competition would be reignited in late 2008.

"When we put a calendar together we really have to be conscious that the players need time off as well as time to catch up with their jobs and various other things," Sermanni said.

"Since February we've been away mainly overseas and internationals at home for over 100 days - I see more of this team than I see my wife."

Sermanni said Lisa De Vanna - Australia's top scorer with four goals - and Collette McCallum really "came of age".

"We've gained credibility with the wider public back home and the international football community," he said.

"When we went into the tournament people said the Matildas improved a bit but I think that was mainly tokenism - once they saw us play they realised the team's come a long way.

"We've constantly chipped away the last three years, but if we can get a national league up and running next year it will help recognition.

"If we can get internationals at home, that will help, and we've got to make sure we do well in international tournaments."

Like the Socceroos, the Matildas will only have to wait a year for their next major tournament, with the 2008 Asian Cup kicking off in May.

Keeper Lydia Williams and defender Clare Polkinghorne will stay in China for the women's under-20 Asian Cup.