Matildas beat China in front of 52,000 people

What a fantastic result for The Matildas and what a fantastic crowd for women's football.



The Matildas are on track for a strong World Cup after two wins against the number ten side in the World, China.

Read the FFA report below.

MATILDAS DEFEAT CHINA AGAIN IN FINAL INTERNATIONAL PRIOR TO WORLD CUP

The Matildas have shocked World Cup hosts China for the second time in three days comfortably winning 3-1 overnight before 52,000 spectators at Tianjin’s Olympic Center Stadium.

The result ensured a clean sweep of the two-match series for the Matildas after the world number 11 was defeated 3-2 on Thursday in what is Australia’s final international matches prior to next month’s 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup.The Matildas held a 3-0 lead until the dying minutes of an action-packed match following first half strikes from Heather Garriock and Caitlin Munoz and a third from Collette McCallum soon after half time.

The result could have been even more emphatic with Australia having two goals controversially disallowed while Munoz was inches away from making the scoreline 4-0 when her powerful strike hit the frame of the goal mid-way through the second half.

“It is a great result and I am absolutely delighted with the performance of the team especially considering the difficult circumstances,” said coach Tom Sermanni.

“The players were backing up after three days, while some injuries to key players meant some adjustments to the line-up and also positional changes but the team responded admirably.”

“The matches have been superb preparation on a number of levels and once again the depth amongst the squad has been proven to be significant.”

Australia stunned the locals who turned up in numbers to mark the public opening of the 60,000 capacity stadium to be used at the World Cup and also next year’s Beijing Olympic Games.

The Matildas though were not overawed despite many playing in front of the biggest crowd of their careers with Australia racing to a two-goal lead ten minutes prior to the interval.

Firstly Garriock scored after 12 minutes when she fired a low angled shot inside the goalkeepers near post after Joanne Burgess had been the provider. Munoz then doubled the advantage when she tucked away a rebound after McCallum’s shot was parried by the oalkeeper.

McCallum then increased the advantage once again with a solid finish at the back post after Cheryl Salisbury’s free kick had eluded the defense. The result once again achieved despite Australia being shorn of a number of experienced players with Thea Slatyer, Rhian Davies, Dianne Alagich and Joanne Peters all unavailable.on September 19 in Chengdu.

The top two teams in Australia’s group will progress to the quarter finals and meet the top two teams of Group D which features China, Denmark, Brazil and New Zealand.

Match Details:-Australia 3 (Heather Garriock 12’, Caitlin Munoz 34’, Collette McCallum 51’) China 1 (Pu Wei 90’)

Australian line-up: Melissa Barbieri (gk); Lauren Colthorpe, Cheryl Salisbury, Kate McShea, Clare Polkinghorne, Sally Shipard, Collette McCallum, Heather Garriock (Alicia Ferguson 66’), Joanne Burgess (Danielle Small h/t), Caitlin Munoz (Kate Gill 84’), Sarah Walsh (Lisa De Vanna 74’)

Cautions: McCallum 23’, Polkinghorne 79’, McShea 88’, Colthorpe 91’Unavailable: Thea Slatyer, Rhian Davies, Dianne Alagich, Joanne Peters