Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Sao Paulo: The fastest goal in Olympic history and a late second half strike proved to be the difference as Australia lost 2-0 to Canada in their opening Women’s Olympic Football Tournament game in Sao Paulo on Wednesday (local time).
Janine Beckie’s record breaking effort after only 20 seconds and Christine Sinclair’s neatly taken 80th minute clincher at the Arena Corinthians will both live long in the memory, but so too will a determined Australian performance which saw the Matildas dominate the Group F clash for long periods without finding a breakthrough after Canada’s Shelina Zadorsky first half dismissal.
Alen Stajcic’s Australia side, now third in Group F after Germany's 6-1 demolition of Zimbabwe, will look to repair the damage when they face the European powerhouse at the same impressive venue on Saturday.
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On a busy day of Olympic football action, the Matildas, who have travelled to Brazil hoping to become the third Asian Football Confederation representative, after China and Japan, to claim a women’s Olympic medal, fell behind in the blink of an eye as Beckie turned home Sinclair’s cross following Australia defender’s Laura Alleway’s misplaced pass.
Beckie’s goal was to prove some ten seconds faster than that of Mexico's Oribe Peralta who had scored within 30 seconds of the 2012 men’s final against Brazil.
Despite the setback, Australia responded well and their revival was duly aided when Zadorsky, as the last defender, was shown a straight red card for hauling down Michelle Heyman who was in a promising attacking position.
With 2014 AFC Women’s Player of the Year Katrina Gorry excelling, Australia pushed hard for the equaliser but were unable to breach a resolute Canadian defence before half-time.
The pattern of the match continued after the break and yet it was Canada who came closest to finding the net when Beckie’s penalty – awarded after Caitlin Foord was adjudged to have handled the ball - was smartly saved by Australia goalkeeper Lydia Williams.
The sucker punch was, however, to come ten minutes from time when Jessie Fleming’s long ball found Sinclair who promptly rounded Williams before firing home into an empty net to seal a precious win for Canada.
Australia head coach Alen Stajcic: "This was not the result we expected and I am not happy at all with the outcome. The early goal disturbed the players. We were better in the first half, but not so good in the second. We kjnow the next game [against Germany] is not an easy one and that it will be a challenge."
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