Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Salvador: Australia qualified for the quarter-finals of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament on Tuesday (local time) as a 6-1 demolition of Zimbabwe saw the Matildas finish as one of the best third-placed sides and set up a meeting with host naton Brazil in the last eight.
On what would prove to be a day of high drama in Group F, Australia were three up at the break through Lisa De Vanna, Claire Polkinghorne and Alanna Kennedy, with Kyah Simon and Michelle Heyman's brace sealing the victory after the break. Zimbabwe's late consolation came through Emmaculate Msipa.
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ** **Canada Q | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 9 |
| Germany Q | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| **Australia Q ** | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Zimbabwe | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 15 | -12 | 0 |
At a hot and steamy Arena Fonte Nova, it took Australia less than two minutes to open their account, 2014 AFC Women’s Player of the Year Katrina Gorry bursting into the box before squaring the ball to de Vanna who fired home past Zimbabwe goalkeeper Chido Dzingirai.
With Australia dominating possession, it was little surprise when they doubled their lead courtesy of defender Polkinghorne’s neat finish from close range following Elise Kellond-Knight’s pinpoint corner on 15 minutes.
The lively De Vanna then hit a post with a fierce volley, and Emily van Egmond’s 24th minute free-kick was expertly turned away by the diving Dzingirai.
As Zimbabwe continued to wilt under the Matildas’ onslaught, Caitlin Foord lashed a shot into the side netting when well placed, before – in the first half’s last meaningful action - Kennedy made it 3-0 to Australia on 37 minutes with a thumping header from another accurate Kellond-Knight corner.
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/australia3_zimbabwe_jpg.html
www.the-afc.com/en/more/photo/australia_startingxi_zimbabwe_jpg_1.html
