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‘Real Aussie heart’ – Matildas ecstatic at comeback against Brazil
MONTPELLIER, France, June 14, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – For Australia, the come-
from-behind 3-2 victory over Brazil in Montpellier did not just keep their
World Cup hopes alive — it provided vindication.
“Real Aussie heart being shown,” said goalkeeper Lydia Williams. “It was
kind of do or die for us.”
Australia were mugged by Italy in the first game, taking a first-half lead
through star forward Sam Kerr only to lose to two second-half goals by
Barbara Bonansea, the second in the 96th minute.
On Thursday, they fell behind to two first-half goals. This time Australia
came back.
“Tonight is one of the finest Australian performances I have seen,” said
coach Ante Milicic.
Brazil took the lead after Elise Kellond-Knight dragged down Leticia Santos
in the 27th minute. Marta converted the penalty to increase her record
women’s World Cup goal total to 16.
Then Cristiane bullied Steph Catley before heading her fourth of this World
Cup and 11th in all.
Australia used the same methodical tactics that failed to turn possession
into goals against Italy.
This time they paid off in the last seconds of the first half when Caitlin
Foord volleyed in Chloe Logarzo’s flicked header.
“Early in the game, I feel the game was played in their half that gives you
a little bit of belief when you cop two goals,” said Foord.
Australia needed some help, and they got it.
Even though striker Sam Ellis failed to reach Logarzo’s long, low cross,
she distracted Brazilian goalkeeper Barbara and the ball bounced into the
net.
Shortly afterwards, Brazilian defender Monica’s attempted headed clearance
flew into her own goal.
“At times we were probably a little too direct,” Milicic said. “But I
thought the variation was good and we got the rewards.”
Logarzo was voted player of the game. She said the team was inspired by
their coach at half-time.
“Ante really goes in there and is able to lift us,” she said. “The
Australian mentality is to come out swinging when our back is against the
wall. We like a good fight.”
“It’s an unbelievable feeling for me to score any goal,” Logarzo added. “It
wasn’t a shot but I’ll take it. It was definitely a cross for Sam. But a
goal’s a goal.” – ‘Just got to cop it’ –
Brazil started with seven players over 30 and one, Formiga, over 40.
Milicic acknowledged that they might have been a good team for the way
Australia play.
“We’ve worked very hard in our conditioning,” he said. “The more the ball
is in play the better for us. We keep shifting the opponents, shifting the
ball. Today as the game went on we looked very strong but a couple of their
players had cramp.”
Kellond-Knight acknowledged that conceding “two goals is again a concern”,
and was torn over the penalty she gave away.
“Got to put everything on the line in a situation like that” she said.
“I’d like to review it again. I don’t think it was a penalty. In saying
that, you can’t hold shirt in the box. Just got to cop it.”
Catley said she could have done better on Cristiane’s goal.
“I should have attacked the ball,” she said.
“Obviously it sucks when a goal goes in like that, but the feeling was that
we were still on top.”
The second half, Catley said, was “just a fight. We were winning the
tackles we needed to be winning. We kept playing. We weren’t flustered. We
kept moving them around. It was a really mature performance.”
Victory over Jamaica in the last group game on Tuesday will probably see
Australia into the knockout phase. Jamaica, who play Italy on Friday, will
have less recovery time.
“That winning feeling is nice,” said Foord. “We want to have that again.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0825 hrs