Australia ruined a perfect start from Canada and beat off a late comeback of them here on Thursday, tying their last group stage game on 2-2 and making their first berth to the quarterfinals of the World Cup after finishing the second behind Norway in Group C.
The Matildas had been the pro-match favorites which need only a draw to advance, but were beaten to the underdog position soon after kicking it off, as Melissa Tancredi scored after just 42 seconds into the match to earn a 1-0 uphand for the Canadians.
Collette McCallum scored the equalizer on 53 minutes with a direct free kick, after Sarah Walsh was tackled down at a spot close to the penalty box to earn the chance for Australia.
The Canadians, however, could have seen a victory in sight companying with a berth to the quarters with only 5 minutes remaining on the clock for regular time, when skipper Christine Sinclair headed in a Candace-Marie Chapman pass after having been watching for a chance around the post after Canada earned the corner.
But it was the Australian captain Cheryl Salisbury who tapped in a powerful low shot to end up the dramatic show with a tie in the second minute of the stoppage time.
Leading scorer of Australia Lisa De Vanna, who are with three goals after coming off the bench for her team's all three games in China, broke the defense of Canada deeply into the penalty box and played smart to pass back to the field of the ball, which picked up Salisbury to make the fine goal.
With the draw, Australia followed group leaders Norway on a deficit of two points to make it through, after the latter team, which had 4 points as many as the Australian before Thursday's game but trailed on goal differential, won their last match 7-2 in Hangzhou to send Ghana home without a point.
After the game, the Australians were enrapt with starting defender Dianne Alagich rushed off the pitch and screamed towards their home fans in stand holding a banner for the Ocean side which joined the Asian federation last year, while the Canadians did not leave the pitch either but shed tears.
Tancredi's goal for Canada, however, marked the fastest one in this tournament so far.
It's just after the first attack made by the Australians who kicked it off but were stolen midway by the Canadian.
The 25-year-old midfielder received a fine pass while moving forward to the penalty box and made a join-up power shot without a hesitation, leaving all stunned both the audience in the stand and the rivals on the pitch.
Australia then pushed hard after conceding the early goal, but they were almost outplayed by the better organized Canadians.
Their best chance in the first half was denied by the post as quick forward Sarah Walsh's close-range low shot from the right wing was touched by goalie Erin McLeod and narrowly cleared by the left post in the 32nd minute.
The next minute saw goalmouth chaos in front of the Canadian goal, with several scoring opportunities coming up to The Matildas but none of them converting it into scoring.
Australia improved a lot in the following minutes, but again they just so missed their chance to level it as Joanne Peters' shot was narrowly wide in the first-half additional time.
Their attacks continued in the opening minutes of the second half, which forced Canada goalie McLeod, who was harshly challenged for several time by the aggressive Australians, to ask for treatment and to be substitute at 79. Taryn Swiatek took her place for the remaining quarter.
Source: Xinhua
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