|
|
|
|
The Qantas Matildas lost 2-0 against an improved China overnight in Qingdao, China in the second match of their Pre-World Cup Tour. China fielded a stronger lineup than that which defeated Australia by the same scoreline three days ago, including veteran superstar Sun Wen, and the class and pace of the home side showed from the outset as China took the early lead. A number of Qantas Matildas were still affected by the gastric infection which has swept through the Australian camp. Australia fought hard throughout the match, and the defence stood up to the challenge well. China, ranked fourth in the world, combined well with flowing movement on and off the ball, and denied the Australians any clear strikes on goal. "We worked hard in the conditions against a very good side – it was a great experience for our team," said National Coach Adrian Santrac after the match. "In the first half especially, China showed themselves to be a very good side, very fast and very skilful." Santrac summed up, "These two games have been very important for the beginning of our preparation for the World Cup – exactly the type of matches we needed. It was of great benefit to play a team of this quality, the test it provides, the lessons picked up. Against one of the best in the world, it provided us a good perspective of where we are." "I had no reservations about playing these games (before we play each other in the World Cup). It was important for us to see China’s qualities, as we haven’t seen them play since the Olympic Games. It was a first-class hit-out, a lot of positives have come out of this game. Now we need to carry them to England and then beyond, and continue to improve into the World Cup." Midfielder Bryony Duus played no part in the match, after spending a day in hospital with the gastric condition. Several others were still recovering from the illness or significantly weakened by its effects. Co-vice captain Joanne Peters, too sick to play in the opening match, celebrated her 50th A-international appearance last night. China wasted no time pushing into attack, and opened their account after just four minutes. An attempted through-ball was deflected into the path of Xie Caixia who converted with a rising shot from the right edge of the box. Played at a furious pace, China continued to control proceedings for the majority of the first half. Qu Feifei’s raids down the left flank were thwarted by the athletic work of Australians Rhian Davies and Gillian Foster. Midway through the first half, a Chinese through-ball set up Sun Wen whose fantastic strike was deflected wide by Qantas Matildas goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri. Australia’s most promising chance of an equaliser for the half came in the 35th minute, but April Mann’s cross was just beyond the reach of Kelly Golebiowski who had come in off the bench eight minutes earlier to replace an ill Danielle Small. China remained dangerous in attack early in the second half, before the pace of the game fell away. Twelve minutes in, Sacha Wainwright’s cross flew just past Australian teammate Hayley Crawford, and China quickly turned the loose ball into a counter-attack which was again covered well by the Qantas Matildas defence. China finally broke through for their second goal with a well-worked move with eight minutes remaining, Zhang Ouying’s cross from the right finished by a Teng Wei header. Both Australia and China are drawn together in Group D of next month’s Women’s World Cup, and scheduled to face each other on 25 September in the second of the three group matches. The Qantas Matildas travel to Tokyo today where they will spend the night before flying on to England tomorrow. Australia continues their World Cup preparations with a match against England on Thursday night (UK time), the first time the two nations have played each other in a senior women’s international. MATCH DETAILS : CHINA 2 (Xie Caixia 4m, Teng Wei 82m) Date : Sun 31 August 2003, 7.45pm kickoff AUSTRALIA Lineup : Gillian Foster, Sacha
Wainwright, Dianne Alagich, Cheryl Salisbury (c), Rhian Davies, April Mann (Hayley
Crawford 36’), Joanne Peters, Heather Garriock, Melissa Barbieri (gk), Tal
Karp, Danielle Small (Kelly Golebiowski 27’). China Lineup : Sun Rui (Yu Weimin 79’), Gao
Hongxia, Fan Yunjie, Pu Wei, Sun Wen (Han Duan 56’), Xie Caixia (Zhang Ouying
65’), Pan Lina, Wang Liping, Teng Wei (Liu Ying 85’), Han Wenxia (gk), Qu
Feifei (Chen Jinyu 85’). Qantas Matildas Schedule – Pre-World Cup Tour
: The FIFA Women’s World Cup USA 2003 is scheduled for 20 September to 12 October. The Qantas Matildas open their campaign on Sunday 21 September against Russia in Los Angeles, followed by China on Thursday 25 September in Los Angeles, then Ghana on Sunday 28 September in Portland.
This page is produced by Women's Soccer in Australia All Enquiries should be directed
to: Ph (02) 6281 7999 or Fax (02) 6281 7975 |