Matildas 2 New Zealand 1

Canberra's Amy Chapman scored her first goal for the Matildas in their 2-1 win over New Zealand this afternoon on the Sunshine Coast.

"Collette McCallum collected the ball and drove in a great cross and I came in at the far post and volleyed it in. It felt great to score my first goal and I can't wait to tell my family," said an excited Chapman after the game.

"I started in right midfield, and to get my second cap and first goal was great. It's great to show that even with so many players missing we can still compete at this level. We want to finish with a big win on Wednesday to show we are better than New Zealand."

Kate Gill scored the other Australian goal.

The Matildas play their third game on Wednesday.

FFA Report below





The Matildas claimed a series win over trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand with a 2-1 victory today in the second outing of a three-match series on the Sunshine Coast.

Despite the narrow scoreline Australia were deserved winners laying siege to the Kiwi goal for lengthy periods of the second half and were unlucky to not claim a greater winning margin.

Kate Gill opened the scoring in the 22nd minute before New Zealand's Emma Kete equalised five minutes before the interval. Canberra-based striker Amy Chapman scored the winner and her first goal for the national team two minutes into the second half.

Inspirational midfielder Collette McCallum was the provider for both goals. Gill finishing with a neat low 20 metre drive, and then Chapman scoring with a smart close-range volley from a pinpoint McCallum cross.

The second half saw Matildas striker Sarah Walsh twice denied by the woodwork, while Kiwi goalkeeper Jenny Bindon made a number of outstanding saves including a fingertip effort to prevent a Cheryl Salisbury header from crossing the line.

Coach Tom Sermanni was again limited with the amount of experienced players available and seven players took the field with two caps or less for the Matildas to their name. Notable amongst these was the only debutant, late call-up from the Queensland Academy of Sport Brooke Spence, who last year captained Australia to the Softball World U-19 Championship. Spence following in the footsteps of Ellyse Perry who debuted for the Matildas last August and has since represented Australia in cricket.

Absent from today's match through injury were Heather Garriock and Lisa De Vanna, while several other World Cup stars are absent from the series including Di Alagich, Kate McShea, Thea Slatyer, Alicia Ferguson and Joanne Peters amongst them.

"I'm very happy to win the game, though I felt we should have scored more goals given the number of chances we had and I also felt that the score didn't reflect the quantity of goalscoring opportunities we created," said Sermanni.

"However I'm very pleased with the way we performed considering the number of changes to the team and the number of young players on the field.

"These games continue to be of great benefit, and allowed some players the opportunity to show me what they can do at this level."

Australia, who the first match on Saturday 2-0, will meet New Zealand again in the final match of the series on Wednesday.

The Matildas are preparing for the 2008 AFC Women's Asian Cup which will be held from May 28 – June 8, 2008, in a venue yet to be decided.

Match Details:
Australia 2 (Kate Gill 22', Amy Chapman 47')
New Zealand 1 (Emma Kete 40')

Matildas line-up: Melissa Barbieri (gk); Clare Polkinghorne, Cheryl Salisbury, Sally Shipard, Caitlin Munoz, Amy Chapman (Victoria Balomenos 75'), Amber Neilson (Renee Rollason 62'), Collette McCallum (Brooke Spence 84'), Elise Kellond-Knight (Tameka Butt 59'), Sarah Walsh, Kate Gill
Substitutes not used: Lydia Williams (gk); Karla Reuter, Joanne Burgess
Unavailable: Heather Garriock, Lyndsay Glohe, Lisa De Vanna
Cautions: Salisbury 58',

New Zealand: Jenny Bindon (GK), Ria Percival, Abby Erceg, Maia Jackman, Ali Riley, Annalie Longo (Emma Kete 30), Hayley Moorwood (Captain), Emily McColl, Kirsty Yallop (Simone Ferrara 60), Renee Leota, Merissa Smith (Wendi Henderson 70 / Hannah Bromley 85).
Substitutes not used: Rachel Howard (RGK)


The Matildas squad for the three-match series against New Zealand on the Sunshine Coast is:

Goalkeepers – Melissa Barbieri (Melbourne), Lydia Williams (Canberra)

Defenders – Lyndsay Glohe (Sydney), Karla Reuter (Brisbane), Cheryl Salisbury (Newcastle), Clare Polkinghorne (Brisbane)

Midfielders – Tameka Butt (Gold Coast), Heather Garriock (Sydney), Elise Kellond-Knight (Brisbane), Collette McCallum (Perth), Amber Neilson (Newcastle), Renee Rollason (Sydney), Sally Shipard (Brisbane)

Forwards – Victoria Balomenos (Adelaide), Joanne Burgess (Brisbane), Amy Chapman (Canberra), Lisa De Vanna (Perth), Kate Gill (Newcastle), Caitlin Munoz (Canberra), Sarah Walsh (Sydney)
(current home city)


Fixtures:
Australia v New Zealand 2-0
Saturday 1 March

Australia v New Zealand 2-1
Monday 3 March

Australia v New Zealand
Wednesday 5 March, 3.30pm

All matches at Stockland Park, Sunshine Coast (320 Nicklin Way, Bokarina)
Entry to the matches is free.