Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Sao Paulo: Australia produced a magnificent display to draw 2-2 with Germany on Saturday (local time) and keep their Women’s Olympic Football Tournament aspirations well and truly alive.
Needing to avoid defeat to stand any realistic chance of progressing to the Rio 2016 quarter-finals following their opening day Group F defeat to Canada, goals from Samantha Kerr and Caitlin Foord appeared to have handed Australia all three points, but subsequent strikes from Sara Danbritz and Saskia Bartusia proved enough to earn Germany a share of the spoils.
The result leaves Australia third in the group and looking to beat Zimbabwe on Tuesday to retain any hope of finishing either second or – more likely – grabbing one of the berths available to the two best third-place finishers.
Rio 2016 Women's Tournament: Results, Fixtures, Standings
After a bright start to proceedings at the Arena Corinthians, it was a lively Australia who drew first blood in the sixth minute, Kerr giving Germany goalkeeper Almuth Schult little or no chance with an angled drive following Foord’s magnificent counter-attacking run from deep.
Germany striker Alexandra Popp went close with a header shortly after, before Laura Alleway responded for Australia with a fine shot from 20 yards that flashed narrowly wide of Schult’s goal.
Matildas custodian Lydia Williams then produced superb saves to deny both Anja Mittag and Melanie Behringer as Germany pressed hard for an equaliser in what was proving to be a highly entertaining encounter.
Two goals in two frantic final minutes then put the seal on a pulsating first period. Australia doubled their lead on the stroke of half time when the recalled Lisa De Vanna’s expert run and pass from the left found Foord who made no mistake from close range.
However, with two minutes of additional time on the clock, Danbritz reduced the deficit with a magnificent chipped shot to leave the game well and truly in the balance.
With Foord looking lively yet again, Australia threatened to add to their tally after the break when substitute Michelle Heyman’s effort forced Schult into a magnificent save on 73 minutes, and Kyah Simon fired wide just moments later after being set up by Heyman.
Three-time bronze medalists Germany, though, had chances of their own and Williams was on hand yet again to maintain her side’s lead as she kept out Tabea Kemme’s effort with 14 minutes remaining.
As Australia defended valiantly in numbers, Germany’s resilience eventually paid off and they grabbed an 88th minute equaliser through Bartusiak, the three-time bronze medalists’ captain bundling the ball home from a Behringer free-kick to deny Australia a famous victory.
Australia head coach Alen Stajcic: “It was frustrating to lose a victory in this fashion. We had a lot of chances in the first half and were playing well. Beating Germany would have been a big boost after what was a bad second half against Canada. We played well and we got a lot of chances and we could have finished the game off. Now we have to concentrate and focus on beating Zimabwe to claim one of the best third place sports.”
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