The Westfield Matildas have produced a stellar performance to earn a 2-all draw with football powerhouse DPR Korea at a sodden Spencer Park yesterday in Brisbane.
Playing in slippery conditions, the Westfield Matildas fought back from conceding an early goal to lead 2-1 through goals to Kate Gill and Lisa De Vanna before Hyon Hi Yun snatched a late equaliser.
Both teams started the match in uncertain fashion, coming to terms with the unpredictable wet weather and each other's style of play.
Westfield Matildas' Clare Polkinghorne managed to find some room, but fired straight at Korean goalkeeper Myong Hui Hong for the first shot of the game.
However, the visitors soon had the advantage, the crafty Hyon Hi Yun opening the scoring in the 14th minute from a half-cleared corner.
The new-look Australian backline scrambled the initial delivery away, but when the ball was hooked back into the area, it somehow found Ra in the perfect position to prod past stranded Westfield Matildas' ‘keeper Lydia Williams.
Sally Shipard tried to spark the Westfield Matildas into life with a great run down the right, but the Koreans were starting to assert their dominance, carving out two great chances in as many minutes.
Ra was the first to threaten with a drive just over the bar, but Yun should have doubled the Koreans advantage when she found space in the Australian penalty box.
Caught in two minds, Yun delayed too long and sent a poorly directed pass across the face of goal and away from danger.
De Vanna, then Gill, stung the hands of Hong, as the Westfield Matildas looked for an equaliser before half-time.
But it was Un Byol Ho who had the last chance of the opening 45 minutes, her shot taking a wicked deflection and forcing Williams to acrobatically tip the ball onto the upright.
The Westfield Matildas started the second half in search of an equaliser and finally found their reward off the head of Gill in the 50th minute.
Half-time substitute Lauren Colthorpe broke free from her markers, directed a teasing cross into the Korean area and Gill finished the move with a well directed header.
The Koreans quickly hit back, Williams smothering a dangerous free-kick before watching Myong Hwa Jon send her shot over the bar.
And the Westfield Matildas made the visitors pay for their wayward radar, a De Vanna solo effort handing the home side the lead in the 68th minute.
Using all her poaching instincts, De Vanna robbed the ball from the DPRK defence, sprinted into the box and coolly slotted home.
Both sides began to use their allotted six substitutions, and with the rain continuing to fall, the game was beginning to lose its shape, bogged down in a midfield battle.
Michelle Heyman shot over the bar, while Chung Sim Kim picked out Williams with a well struck drive.
But in the 86th minute the visitors conjured a dramatic late equalizing goal.
The ball was worked out to the right and fizzed into the box and onto the head of the on charging Kim.
Williams made another spectacular diving save, but unlike the first half, the ball fell kindly to the feet of Yun, who made no mistake from three feet out.
Westfield Matildas coach Tom Sermanni said he was pleased with the performance of his new look squad against one of the world's heavyweights.
"Over the 90 minutes, I was really pleased with how we played," said Sermanni.
"We're never quite sure at the moment when we put the team out how we're going to gel but I thought we had some really good positive passages of play.
"To get a couple of goals was pleasing, to come back from behind was really pleasing.
"We switched off for a little minute and lost the equaliser which was a little bit disappointing, but overall I was happy with the way we played," finished Sermanni.