Summary
Australian fans knew it would be tough - but few perhaps would have expected as dominant a performance as that from the visitors China.
Defensively, they were disciplined and resolute - well-marshalled by the skipper Wu Haiyan; offensively they were sharp in transition with Tang Jiali’s sharp finish for the go-ahead-goal as good as any you’d see in world football.
But having hurried and harried the Matildas for 90+ minutes, with scarcely a minute to go they were undone by some clever hold-up play from substitute Kyah Simon and a superb finish from the in-form Emily van Egmond.
A draw in the end enough for Australia to finish top of Group B and to book a two-legged playoff against Group A runners up Vietnam, with China to face South Korea.
The home leg of that will take place Friday 6 March in Newcastle with kickoff at 8pm.
Some concerns and question marks over the Matildas’ lack of fluency and disjointed play. At times they mislaid simple passes and turned over possession cheaply. Still, the scoreboard sometimes is enough - and in this instance, it secures the desired result.
Thanks for your company - we hope those of you supporting Australia still have fingernails.
Some interesting body language from the skipper Kerr and her teammate Foord post-game, shifting uneasily on their feet during media interviews. Perhaps still reflecting on a disappointing personal performance.
Ante Milicic speaks to the broadcasters post-match.
“It wasn’t an easy task to play through them, and we didn’t have all the solutions. We did have phases where we played through them, and shift them around.”
“Tonight as a team we were down. But Emily’s been in great form and we’re delighted for her. But all the girls worked very hard.”
Wowee. What a relief for Australian fans. The Matildas know they were in a real battle there. We saw China push top nations like Germany at the World Cup - and they were more than a handful, despite a terrible lead in to the tournament due to the coronavirus’ effect on their preparations.
Phil Withall’s msged in with his two pence.
@rrjparkin well, that was an interesting game. Feel for China, probably edged it but fair play to Australia for not giving up.
— phil withall (@phil_withall) February 13, 2020
Have to agree entirely, Phil. Great tenacity from the Matildas. And all credit to the Matildas.
Full-time: Australia 1-1 China
My oh my. How was the ending to this one! There’s the whistle, and that’s all she wrote. A pulsating finish - and Australia remain top of the group, and book a final playoff against Vietnam.
What a tournament van Egmond has had - she’s saved the Matildas once again. There have been question marks over the execution tonight, but you cannot fault the heart and the determination to draw level. Even after that late goal from Tang.
Hard luck on China - they must have thought they’d won it. They’d done everything and then some to do so, but the Matildas emerge with top spot.
Updated
Goal! Australia 1-1 China (van Egmond)
90 + 3 min: No! Can you believe this?! Australia pump the ball into the mix and it’s great strength from Simon to hold the ball. It’s laid off to Emily van Egmond on the edge of the box and thwack! She puts the boot through that and it flies into the back of the net! A terrific strike, and pure emotion from the women in gold. They’re back level. Right at the death!
90 + 2 min: It’s a long ball lumped forward.. and it falls at the feet of Kerr.. but she can’t get it out of her gait!
If ever there was a chance, was that it?
90 min: That’s the end of regulation time, but we’ll have four minutes added by the officials.
Simon comes together with a Chinese defender inside the box, at the expense of a corner. What can Australia muster?
Peng comes and claims. She’s been very good tonight, the Chinese shot-stopper.
88 min: So, a big five minutes if Australia are to finish top of Group B. They throw bodies into the box as a cluster of bodies compete for a Matildas free kick. But it’s cleared by China.
Goal! Australia 0-1 China (Tang)
86 min: Oh my. We thought it might take something special, but that was an effort from the very top draw from Tang Jiali. A smart pass inside from Ma, and the striker puts her left boot right through that; and it rockets past Williams!
What a strike, and what a moment for China. You can’t say they haven’t deserved this.
83 min: A freekick from long range, but it sails harmlessly over the bar. A cross into the mix might have been the better option for China there, but still - can’t fault the self-belief.
At the other end it’s Simon bearing down on goal, and she fashions a shot from an acute angle, but it’s off target.
81 min: The substitute Song Duan spins Carpenter with aplomb, before firing a fierce effort at Williams. Again though, it’s a narrow angle.
That’s five shots to two on target for the visitors. Remember, they did catch the corner of post and crossbar just before half-time.
79 min: What a finish to this one, we have in store! As so often happens as bodies tire, this one is opening up, and the chances are beginning to present themselves with increasing regularity.
The question is - who will take advantage of this better?
76 min: A dangerous ball into the box from China, but the faintest of touches from Kennedy at full stretch prevents it from reaching the striker.
Tang Jiali then hits a terrific shot from the edge of the box after a clever spin, and now the Chinese fans in the stadium have found their voice once again.
Wu rises highest for the header from the corner, but can’t send it goalwards.
73 min: second substitute, as Kellond-Knight makes way for Yallop. She slaps the hand of the assistant coach - perhaps with a little frustration there? It’s not been the experienced midfielder’s night either.
Foord with a sharp curling effort that just evades the far post. She hasn’t given up - perhaps haunted by the three times she struck the woodwork last time out.
71 min: Best chance of the match for the Matildas! It’s clever work from Simon down the right who finds a teammate centrally. Foord’s shot rebounds and falls, of all people, to Sam Kerr! But the ‘keeper Peng dives at the feet, at the expense of a corner. For just a second you thought that was it, for the home side.
68 min: And there is that first change - it’s Raso who gives way for Simon.
Meanwhile, China are through one-on-one - it’s Wang with the chance, but it’s Polkinghorne with a remarkable last-ditch tackle!
That’s better from the veteran, but Wang really did dwell too long on that. Another warning shot across the bow for Australia.
65 min: “It’s just unusual to see Kerr like this, and the Matildas [as well]”. That’s the word from commentary from a woman who would know - 61-cap former Matildas, Michelle Heyman.
She has been starved of decent supply, the skipper. But perhaps still adjusting to an injury-affected slow start to life in the UK.
62 min: Foord with a clever jink inside as she looks to tee up a far-post cross for Kerr, but it sails just a touch too high. The skipper applauds the effort.
That’s the hour mark - is it Kyah Simon time? Could she be X-factor off the bench?
59 min: With China defending in a 4-4-2 block there’s nominally an extra player for the Matildas in midfield, with Kellond-Knight, van Egmond and Logarzo squaring up against Ma and Yao.
A lovely combination as Foord releases Raso down the right, and the winger uses the decoy run of Kerr to remove a defender and cut inside - but her shot is well blocked.
55 min: A nice bit of orchestrated clapping from the home fans as they try to lift their team. For all the concerns that China are shading this contest, it remains 0-0 and the shooting opportunities have been reasonably limited for both sides.
52 min: A nice charge from Ellie Carpenter from right back. She looks up and sees the shooting chance - and it’s a decent connection, that just flashes past Peng’s right-hand post.
50 min: I’m hard-pressed to remember a less fluid performance from the Matildas in recent years. China are hurrying and harrying, and the passes - from experienced players with 50+ caps - are going astray.
A close up of Ante Milicic on the sideline, who cuts a pensive figure at this stage.
48 min: It’s China out of the blocks, as Tang Jiali pinches the ball of Polkinghorne once again, before fashioning a shot from an acute angle. Williams saves well.
Second half!
45 min: Ooph. I’ve hardly had time for my HT ablutions and herbal tea.. but we’re back!
No changes to my knowledge from either side.
Here’s a man who knows a thing or two about playing international football in Asia, and he’s not exactly overwhelmed by the display from the home side thus far.
Pretty uninspiring first half from the @TheMatildas. Granted they don’t need to take any risks going forward but can only see China pressing more in the 2nd half.
— Rob Cornthwaite (@robcornthwaite) February 13, 2020
Sloppy and lack of ideas playing out through midfield.
Full credit China 🇨🇳 @FOXFOOTBALL
So. Your thoughts on that opening stanza?
Are the Matildas fortunate to still boast a share of the lead, or is the draw the fair reflection?
Remember, as it stands - should it finish equal Australia will finish top of the group. This fact could force China to play a little more proactively in the second half.
Half-time: Australia 0-0 China
And there is the whistle! A dramatic end to the half. You’d have to say that neither side deserves to be behind, but had China taken a sneak lead late on you could hardly begrudge them for the willing work and effort across that first forty-five.
Updated
45 min + 1: There’s two minutes added and in the shadow of half time we have the closest we’ve come to a goal!
Wang Shanshan lines up with a long-range effort as she looks to loop over a backpedalling Lydia Williams - but it catches the vertex of the post and crossbar!
44 min: China with an attacking freekick from a wide area, but it’s driven hard and flat into the mixer, and the Matildas’ centre back pairing scrabble it clear.
41 min: Raso looks to break onto a swift counter, but her pass can’t pick out Kerr centrally. It’s been far from fluid from the Matildas so far - but credit the lift in opposition from the opening two games for some of that.
38 min: Again the flag is up, and this time it’s the fullback Zhai caught offside. These have all been marginal calls, to the obvious chagrin of China’s head coach, Xiuquan Jia. Australia will have to be wary - they only have to get it wrong once to be punished.
35 min: And another big let off, as the Chinese striker Wang bursts through on goal one-on-one, only to be flagged for offside. Replays suggest that was perhaps not the case though. A touch of fortune for the home side.
Updated
33 min: China earn a corner down their right-hand side, and a fair contingent of fans inside the stadium raise their voices.
It’s a scrabble inside the box as the Matildas fail to clear on two or three occasions, before a fierce ricochet fires past Williams post!
That was a real scare for the Matildas - that could have just as easily bustled in the net.
30 min: A bit of niggle between Logarzo and Tang Jiali. She’s a “spirited” competitor, Chloe, and apparently not enjoying the close attention from her Chinese counterpart.
A better contribution from Logarzo, who joins the play late from midfield and gets on the end of a cross - but her headed effort flies wide!
27 min: Headed effort from Kerr! But it arcs just wide of Peng’s right-hand post. A nice ball in from Carpenter - both she and Catley will look instinctively for the skipper in the box.
Meanwhile an email from Don:
How times have changed. At my age of 64, who thought I would know more names of the Matildas players than the Socceroos.
Ha. Cheers Don - in terms of top-end talent you have to say the Matildas do boast some internationally regarded names. None less than Sam Kerr who, as you’ll recall, was voted the world’s best female player last year in the Guardian’s top 100 poll.
26 min: Some nice interplay down Australia’s right as Carpenter, Kellond-Knight and Raso link passes. A little patch of sustained pressure and some positive play from the Matildas.
24 min: Freekick to the Matildas, again in a useful central area, about 25m out. This time Kellond-Knight lines it up - and she goes top left corner, but Peng moves well to execute the save!
Best chance of the match so far - fine football from both.
21 min: Australia enjoying a lot of the early possession, but mostly at the back. As expected it’s a disciplined and organised Chinese team without the ball. Kellond-Knight and Van Egmond failing to see much of the action in central positions.
A rare chance as Carpenter whips in a cross, but it evades Foord at the far post.
18 min: Nervy moments at the back as Polkinghorne has her pocket picked by one of China’s strikers.
It’s a concern we’ve seen before at the World Cup - the new approach is comfort on the ball, but for some of the Matildas it’s not always an adaptation that can happen overnight.
15 min: Another whistle as Raso is caught late Zhai Qingwei. Watch that space - and early booking and the fullback could be in trouble over the next 75 minutes.
13 min: A break in play as we stop for a blood bin with Hayley Raso copping a trailing arm from the Chinese left back. Just me or has this been a rugged start from the Steel Roses?
It’s a terrific name, by the by - capturing the grace and the bite of this Chinese side. We’ve seen a bit more of the steel so far though, you’d warrant.
Updated
10 min: The Matildas with very little time on the ball - it’s a noticeably more high-octane first ten minutes than we’ve seen over the opening two clashes from Campbelltown, but as we know you can’t press for 90 minutes.
7 min: It is Kennedy who takes it, but it’s gathered well by Peng, despite scooping up the effort on the bounce. She might be disappointed with that, the central defender - she does fancy herself as a threat from set piece.
Updated
5 min: The whistle blows against Wang who catches Williams in goal with a trailing leg as she looked to run down an overhit pass.
Logarzo now goes down after a heavy contact with China’s skipper, Wu. Kennedy stands over a free kick from a useful area, around 25m out.
3 min: Huge cheers as Sam Kerr gets her first touch - it’s a lovely ball from Catley down the left, but the skipper is adjudged to have been offside. A tight one, replays suggest.
It’s a great combination between the vice-captain and captain, look for that play to feature prominently tonight.
A frenetic few moments as play breaks both ways, before Caitlin Foord peels off the first shot of the evening but it drifts harmlessly wide.
Kick off!
1 min: And we’re away! No rapid attack from Australia this time, as the Matildas enjoy possession in the back and middle thirds. China press and look lively without the ball.
Our players are out on the field - where there’s a nice moment as dignitaries from Australia and China exchange presents and confirm a mutual friendship between the two nations.
The anthems are observed, and there’s some decent noise from the crowd inside Parramatta Stadium. What a stadium for football. Just lovely.
You may recall China made it to the final 16 (the same stage that Australia exited the competition) at last year’s World Cup in France, going down to Italy - a team that also shocked Australia.
Some of their leading stars from that tournament won’t be here, notably, Paris St Germain’s Wang Shuang, but there’s still plenty of experience out there for the Steel Roses. Wang Shanshan boasts 130+ caps, with skipper Wu Haiyan approaching 120.
And here’s the starting XI for China:
Peng Shimeng (GK), Lin Yuping, Wu Haiyan, Luo Guiping, Zhai Qingwei; Zhang Xin, Ma Jun, Li Ying, Yao Lingwei; Wang Shanshan, Tang Jiali.
Li Ying, Tang Jiali and Wang Shanshan all boast three goals already across the past two matches, so those three will be the immediate dangers. It’s a strong, well-organised XI that’s been preparing for some years for these Olympics - so they’ll be definitely more than competitive.
An early goal - or at least not conceding - could be key for the Matildas.
So, first to team news - specifically Australia’s XI to start, where it’s a return to what you’d have to say is Ante Milicic’s strongest eleven. He’s rotated and chopped and changed across the tournament - wise given the context of three games in quick succession and given most of his outfielders the chance to impress.
But it’s seven changes from the XI that took on Thailand, spearheaded by none other than Captain Fantastic, Sam Kerr.
STARTING XI | Here's how we line up against China PR!
— Westfield Matildas (@TheMatildas) February 13, 2020
📺: 7:30pm AEDT kick-off LIVE on Fox Sports, Kayo, My Football Live app, or ABC iview. #AUSvCHN #WeAreMatildas pic.twitter.com/9lE02px7vP
I’m still chasing details on China’s XI, but we’ll have those details through as soon as they emerge.
Updated
Hi all! A best of greetings to you wherever around the world of WoSo you’re following our coverage tonight.
Are you a Matildas fan stuck in a far flung corner of the globe? Or are you hotel-bound in Wuhan, climbing the walls for a lack of outdoor adventure? No doubt there will plenty of interested parties watching this one around the world - not just the scouts from Korea or Vietnam.
We’d love to hear from you whatever your circumstances might be - fire us an email or tweet to join the conversation. First topic: predictions!
Preamble
After two emphatic results against Chinese Taipei and Thailand the Matildas’ journey towards the Tokyo Olympics faces a final group stage test tonight - the might of the globe’s most populous nation. Ranked 16th in the world, China contested the 1999 Women’s World Cup final - they’re no slouches in the women’s game, and thanks to a recent directive from the premier, football is once again on the rise. The outbreak of the coronavirus may have denied China the rights to host these preliminary qualifiers, and then disrupted the team’s travel and training plans significantly. But coming off 6-1 and 5-0 wins respectively, they’ve already shown themselves to be in fine fettle. On the line is top spot in Group B - a draw or a win will see Australia book a home-and-away double date with Group A runners up Vietnam next month. A loss and the Matildas will face the more fancied South Korea, as Asia decides its final two spots to take on the world in Japan.
Updated
