2nd Australia Cup ~ January 2000
Mon 10 January 2000
USA 0 drew with SWEDEN 0
The sending-off of Czech midfielder Marie Tlachova in the 23rd minute marked a significant turn in the game after a bright attacking start from the lower-ranked Europeans. Tlachova was marched for two yellow-card tackles executed within eight minutes of each other against Heather Garriock.
Five minutes into her debut international, Matildas keeper Leanne Trimboli rescued her side with a magnificent flying save to deny a Katerina Doskova drive after a defensive mishap.
Australia looked unsteady for the opening stanza in the Melbourne heat, the send-off helping to settle their game, although they were unable to adjust and take full advantage of the extra player. Although dominating possession from thereon and creating a few chances, still no goals separated the teams at half-time.
Not long into the second half, the Matildas finally settled into a pattern, a neat move brought back for offside after Kelly Golebiowski had found the target. Immediately after in the 59th minute, striker Katrina Boyd was felled just outside the box. Defender Anissa Tann-Darby stepped up and curled the resultant direct freekick around a suspect Czech wall into the top left corner of the net to give Australia a most welcome lead.
The Matildas doubled their lead in the very next minute, a poor Czech clearance falling straight to unmarked substitute Julie Murray for a simple conversion from 14 metres. Australia sealed the match late in proceedings with goal three, Danielle Small providing another penetrating ball for teammate Sharon Black to slot home after drawing the keeper.
"The send-off made it easier - for a while anyway," admitted Australian Coach Chris Tanzey. "Although, having said that, when pressing an opposition that has ten players, they fight that bit harder. Until you get that first goal, frustration can set in and it's important to be patient. We managed to fix a few things at half-time. We were a bit more patient, used the ball quicker and got people ahead of the ball. These are still very early days for us, this only our fourth international together. We're still finding our feet."
Australia : Trimboli, Salisbury, Wainwright (Golebiowski 28), Alagich, Tann-Darby, Garriock (Black 79), Forman, Wilson (Duus 79), Small, Boyd, Hughes (Murray 56).
The clash between 7th-ranked Sweden and the young USA outfit was an exciting, attacking contest, the 0-0 scoreline a reflection of how closely fought it was.
Both teams sprayed the ball around well in possession and created good openings, often then nullified by equally impressive defensive lines. Sweden's Tina Nordlund and Victoria Svensson came closest, each having a shot cleared off the line, one in each half. Swede goalkeeper Caroline Jonsson was steadfast throughout and made one brilliant low reflex save late in the first half to stop a Jenny Streiffer drive.
The Americans were happy with a draw against such a top nation, matching the 1-1 result last time the top US players faced Sweden in March 1999.
Progressive Points Ladder : USA 4 pts, Sweden 4, Australia 3, Czech Republic 0.
Last Matches - Thursday 13 January -
Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
5.30pm Sweden v Czech Republic 7.30pm Australia v USA
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