The Qantas Matildas have been defeated 2-1 by world number ten Denmark in Suwon, South Korea in their final group match at the 2006 Peace Cup.
The result sees Australia finishing third in their group behind Denmark and the USA, with the latter to take on Canada in the final on Sunday after defeating the Netherlands 2-0 earlier today.
Australia made a tentative start and conceded on the quarter hour with Maja Juliussen heading in at the near post from a corner.
Australia slowly started to the come into the match in the dying stages of the first 45 minutes creating a couple of goalscoring opportunities. Speedy striker Sarah Walsh came closest to scoring firing narrowly over as she burst into the penalty area after being set up by Caitlin Munoz. Joanne Peters’ long range effort which just cleared the crossbar also notable.
Five minutes after the interval an inswinging Collette McCallum corner caused chaos in the penalty area with Cheryl Salisbury and Kate Gill having shots blocked from close range.
Play opened up as the match wore on with the respective goalkeepers kept busy throughout the second period.
Australia drew level at the mid-way point of the second period with Caitlin Munoz neatly lifting the ball over the advancing goalkeeper after a sublime backheel from Salisbury unlocked the defence in the middle of the pitch.
McCallum twice fired spectacularly on goal from 30 metres forcing Danish goalkeeper Heidi Johansen into fingertip saves.
Denmark grabbed the winner nine minutes from full time with Johanna Rasmussen converting from close range after a raid down the left flank.
The Qantas Matildas increased the pressure on the Danish goal in the dying stages of the match with Australia outshooting their opponents 18-14.
Australia had a final chance in the last minute of regulation time with skipper Salisbury shooting wide from an acute angle after Heather Garriock provided the pass.
“We started slowly, looked sluggish and jaded,†said Qantas Matildas coach Tom Sermanni. “But we slowly grinded our way back into the contest and we were hitting our stride by the end of the first half.
“I thought for most of the second half we dominated both territorially and for chances on goal, but unfortunately we got caught on the break. I’m disappointed with the result, but their were lots of good signs in the performance and we must now put both together if we want to get among the best teams in the world.
“We are matching teams fairly comfortably and controlling possession and what we learnt from this tournament is we now finding ourselves vulnerable to counter-attacks, which is relatively new for us.
“Our main goal from the this tournament was next years Olympic Games qualifiers and World Cup and this tournament gave me the chance to look at players that are on the fringes an opportunity to show what they can do against quality opposition. From that point of view, it was beneficial.â€
The USA finished atop the group on seven points ahead of Denmark on goal difference with Australia on three points and Netherlands zero. Australia having earlier in the week recorded a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands and then suffering a 2-0 defeat against the USA.
The Qantas Matildas have a busy year ahead with their 2008 Olympic qualifying campaign commencing in February with Australia drawn alongside Chinese Taipei, Myanmar and Uzbekistan in the first stage of qualifying.
Match Statistics:
Australia 1 (Caitlin Munoz 68’)
Denmark 2 (Maja Juliussen 15’, Johanna Rasmussen 82’)
Australian line-up:
Emma Wirkus (gk), Kim Carroll (Rhian Davies 77’), Karla Reuter, Cheryl Salisbury, Heather Garriock; Collette McCallum, Joanne Peters (Joanne Burgess 52’), Danielle Small (Alicia Ferguson 65’); Kate Gill, Sarah Walsh, Caitlin Munoz (Lisa De Vanna 77’).
Unused substitutes: Melissa Barbieri (gk), Lana Harch, Clare Polkinghorne, Lauren Colthorpe, Kate McShea
Cautions: nil
Referee: Shin Hwa Yeon (South Korea)
Official crowd: 8,909
Denmark 2 Matildas 1
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