Womens 2007 World Cup; match 22

Group C, 19/9/07 in Chengdu.

Australia v. Canada

Australia: M.Barbieri, D.Alagich, K.McShea, C.Salisbury, H.Garriock, C.McCallum, J.Peters (A.Ferguson 76), S.Shipard, L.Colthorpe (L.De Vanna 45), C.Munoz (J.Burgess 62), S.Walsh.

Canada: E.McLeod (T.Swiatek 79), C-M.Chapman, M.Franco, R.Hermus, T.Dennis, R.Wilkinson, D.Matheson, S.Schmidt, M.Tancredi (J-A.Robison 68), K.Lang (B.Timko 92), C.Sinclair.

This game promised to be one of the most dramatic of the competition and it certainly didn't disappoint. Canada needed to win this game to qualify instead of Australia who knew that a draw would be good enough.

With the sides equally matched there was every prospect of an exciting encounter.

The events of the first minue showed that the game would be eventful and set up proceedings perfectly. Australia went forward from the kick and got in a decent effort on goal but having survived that attack Canada instantly went up the other end and scored.

Christine Sinclair won a header down the right hand side and flicked the ball on to Melissa Tancredi who took a touch before sending a half volley looping over Melissa Barbieri from the edge of the box.

Game on.

Immediately the onus was now on Australia to score and they attacked in determined style. Canada remained dangerous when they pushed forward as well as both sides ignored the tension of the situation in search of goals.

Australia's Collette McCallum was having a big influence in the midfield and found Sarah Walsh with a fine through ball. Walsh shot early as the ball bounced into her stride and Erin McLeod had to make a superb save at full stretch to turn the ball onto the post.

Walsh then had another chance as the ball fell kindly for her after a prolonged spell of pinball inside the Canadian penalty area but McLeod came flying out to block the effort bravely.

Australia again came within inches of getting on terms when Joanne Peters sent in a sweet low drive that grazed the outside of the post from 25 yards but at half time Canada remained in pole position thanks to their 32 second goal.

Australia introduced their super sub Lisa De Vanna at the break as they looked to step up their attacking efforts and shortly after the restart they were level.

Randee Hermus barged rashly into the back of Walsh to concede a free kick just outside the penalty area and McCallum drove the dead ball firmly into the corner to put the Matildas back in the driving seat.

Australia nearly went ahead when a fine run by De Vanna ended with her playing in Walsh whose cross shot was perilously close to the far post.

Back came Canada and when Rhian Wilkinson whipped over a telling cross from the right the substitute Jodi-Ann Robinson threw herself into a header that clipped the outside of the post with Barbieri beaten.

Canada had to replace their keeper when McLeod's heroic bravery finally took its' toll but they continued to come forward in search of the goal they now desperately needed.

Five minutes remained when Canada forced a corner down the left which Wilkinson swung across and Candace-Marie Chapman produced a prodigious leap to get above Barbieri and head back across goal where Sinclair was waiting to pounce from a couple of yards out.

Now it was Australia's turn to attack desperately. With normal time almost up Heather Garriock, looking suspiciously offside, had a great chance to equalise but sent her shot over the bar from point blank range and it looked as though Canada must survive.

Not so. With two minutes of stoppage time played the Canadian defence allowed a long ball to bounce through to De Vanna on the left hand side of the penalty area and there was immediate danger.

De Vanna twisted past one defender and looked certain to shoot. Instead she turned back past another defender to put herself into an even better position. Still she refused to pull the trigger and Chapman slid in to take the ball from her toe.

Fortunately for Australia, however, the tackle sent the ball straight to Cheryl Salisbury who clipped a shot back into the corner of the net with Taryn Swiatek helpless.

There was no way back this time for Canada and as the Matildas celebrated joyously the despair of the Canadians was all to obvious.

It was impossible not to feel massive sympathy for the gallant Canadians but that is World Cup football I'm afraid. Someone's always left in tears.

Let's just hope it's not our turn on Saturday.

Full Time: Australia 2 Canada 2