Australian coach Tom Sermanni murmured repeatedly "really dramatic" in the mixed zone after his team tied Canada 2-2 on a dying-minute goal on Thursday to make it through to the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup in China.
"It's dramatic, really dramatic," said Sermanni. "With five minutes left, we were trailing 2-1, but my players all held on and finally scored after the regular time."
"Canada is a good team and a tough one, and the game was exactly what we expected," he commented.
The Matildas, which had been the pre-match favorites by leading Group C on goal difference to title racers Norway, were beaten to the underdog position soon after kicking it off as Melissa Tancredi scored a fastest goal in the tournament so far for Candada after just 42 seconds into the match.
And in the 85 minutes, Australia, having level it on a 53-minute free kick from Collette McCallum which directly netted in, again conceded a goal as Christine Sinclair headed in a Candace-Marie Chapman pass to light Canada's hope of winning the game and making the quarters.
But Sermanni's players would never die before the end come, and skipper Cheryl Salisbury tapped in a powerful low shot to tie it 2-2 in the second minute of the stoppage time.
With the draw, Australia finished second in Group C, following Norway to advance, as the Nodic team beat Ghana 7-2 in Hangzhou simultaneously.
"I've gotten my job done," said Sermanni breezily. "Our first goal was to win a game and the second was to make through to the quarterfinals, and now we're in the quarterfinals."
It's the first time that Australia move further than the first round after making the world cup finals for four consecutive editions. Now the Australians have set their target on the next step.
"We'll play Brazil in the next game," said Sermanni. "It will definitely be tough, very tough, but we'll move in it in a confident mood."
For his Super Substitute Lisa De Vanna, who lead the team's scoring rankings with three goals after just coming off the bench at every second half of Australia's three group matches, Sermanni insisted not to use her as a starter.
"She always have an impact on the game, but if we start her, she may not hold on for 90 minutes," he said. "She will have physical problem if being started."
Skipper Salisbury contributed their rapid progress to a strong mind to hold on while trailing.
"I think we owe it," she said. "Every player in the team really want to be successful in the tournament. The Canada played very well and made it tougher for us to earn it, bu we played very hard till the last minute and finally made it."
After the game, the Australians were enrapt with starting defender Dianne Alagich rushing off the pitch and screamed towards their home fans in the stands 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.
"It's hard for us to accept such a result," said Canadian skipper Christine Sinclair. "We felt that we should have it (a victory to make the quarters)."
"We have to make sure that next time we come well prepared," added a sobbed Erin McLeod, the injured goalkeeper for the exiting side who remained on the pitch for around 80 minutes before being substituted.
Source: Xinhua
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