China overcome Matildas in a thriller

[admin]

Whipped up a quick match report.
Admin.


China were crowned Women's Champions of Asia when they came from behind to overcome the spirited Matildas in a thriller at Hindmarsh Stadium today.

The Matildas opened the scoring in the first half with Munoz hitting a sensational drive from outside the box to beat Chinese keeper Wenxia Han.

The Matilda's doubled the score when McCallum's corner was flicked on then cleared only for Peters to nod home the rebound.

The scorline could have been 3-0 a few minutes before half time when good work down the flank saw the ball crossed in to Peters who smashed her shot high and wide from close range.

In the second half China took the match to Australia and grabbed a goal 22 minutes in to drag themselves back into the game. The Chinese put together a string of good passes before a brilliant backheel split the Matilda's backlines giving Han space just inside the box and she smashed the ball past Barbieri.

As the second half wore on the Matildas were copping an increasingly physical barrage from the Chinese players and began to tire.

China levelled the score when Mar rounded substitute Rhian Davies on the goal line and smashed the ball past Barbieri from an seemingly impossible acute angle.

The two teams slugged it out for the remaing fifteen minutes of normal time and then the 30 minutes of extra time but neither side was able to deliver the crucial winning goal.

The Chinese pulled a shock late substitution when they changed goalkeepers in the last minute of extra time. They brought on the 6 foot plus 19 year old Yanru Zhang specifically for the penalty shoot out - a move that would prove to be a match winner.

The tired Matildas were no match for the Chinese from the penalty spot. The spider like Yanru Zhang saved two penalties to give China a 4-2 penalty shootout victory.

The game was a magnificent advertisement for Womens football and the Matildas. The boisterous 5000 plus fans witnessed one of the most exciting football matches played at Hindmarsh Stadium in recent times.