We're through!!

Australia 2 Canada 2

What drama!

Captain Cheryl Salisbury scuffed a shot into the Canadian goal with one minute to go as Australia gained the draw they needed to qualify for the Quarter Finals of the World Cup for the first time.

It wasn't pretty, not in the second half.




Australia made a horror start in their crucial final group game of the World Cup in Chengdu, China.
Melissa Tancredi scored with a great volley inside the first minute. Again the Matildas found themselves with a uphill battle.
The Aussies didn’t panick and started to play themselves into the game.
Caitlin Munoz started strongly creating havoc in the Canadian defence. Sarah Walsh was working hard and the midfield was pushing forward well.
But Canada were confident and sat back in the heat waiting for their chances to get forward. Lang hit the bar with a freakish shot and Australia stayed in the game.
Then the Aussies lifted, They started to control the play switch around the back and make the Canadians chase.

The wonderfully gifted Collette McCullum got on the ball and released Sarah Walsh on a number of occasions. With the best chance Walsh hit the post.

Munoz, Sally Shipard and Walsh all went close form a scramble in the box but still the Aussies couldn’t break through.
Coach Tom Sermanni has the pocket rocket Lisa De Vanna to come on.

At half-time the Aussies can still do it. Come on Australia we cried.

Collette McCullum scored a sensational free-kick early in the second half, but from then on the Aussies made very hard work of it.

At 1-1 they were through but Sinclair scored for Canada with five minutes to go. 2-1 Australia were out until De Vanna twisted and turn late inside injury time and Salisbury shot home.

But didn't they give the ball away.

Time and time again Australia lost possession. They were looking long when they should have kept the ball.

Were they tired? Were the tactics to keep hitting long.

But it wasn't working as Canada started to press and press again.

Salisbury and Di Alagich the most experienced played on the pitch kept playing the ball to the Canadian midfield making it harder and harder for Australia to moved forward.

The Aussies hung on, until Sinclair scored at the back post.

Surely Australia were out, but the priceless smile of Cheryl Salisbury, Australia's most capped player ever, told the story.

It's Brazil next.

Well done Matildas.