Westfield Matildas suffer narrow defeat to no1 rank Germany
The Westfield Matildas have suffered a narrow defeat to World number 1 ranked side Germany
The Westfield Matildas have been narrowly defeated by World Champions Germany in a physical encounter at the Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg in Germany's north.
After Australia took the lead by a fine goal from Samantha Kerr in the middle of the first half, the hosts were able to equalize just eight minutes later through Inka Grings.
After a lot of pressure the German team was able to get the lead in the middle of the second half. The Westfield Matildas had the chance to equalize just one minute later, but Kyah Simon's shot missed the goal just narrowly. The hosts also missed some chances in the dying minutes.
Germany, as the incumbent World Champions, went into the match as favourites and started the match with a lot of pressure, especially through the flanks lead by the pace of Fatmire Baramaj, who caused a lot of trouble for the Australian defense.
Early on in the 5th minute Melissa Barbieri was forced to make a fine save to keep the Germans at bay. A lively Samantha Kerr worked diligently down the right where Australia looked most dangerous.
In the 18th minute Germany had the best chance of the match following a fine cross from Babett Peter that found Inka Grings who headed into the crossbar.
Kerstin Garefrekes had to be withdrawn from the match after a collision in the middle of the pitch in the 22nd minute with Sally Shipard.
Just six minutes later Collette McCallum found Samantha Kerr with a fantastic pass and Kerr delicately chipped the ball immediately over the German keeper to put the Aussies into the lead.
Germany continued to put the pressure on the Australian defense and after some misses the hosts finally scored in the 36th minute. Birgit Prinz passed to the right flank to Fatmire Bajramaj whose cross to the middle found Inka Grings. She turned and scored with her left foot leaving Melissa Barbieri no chance.
Just before half-time Germany were denied another major chance. Inka Grings was free in front of Barbieri and forced another fine save from the Australian number one.
In the second half, Germany started where they left off in the second half. But the Australian defense still was able to avoid major damage.
In the 70th minute Kyah Simon-s shot could not find the target after some good work from substitute Teigen Allen.
Just one minute later the hosts were able to finally take the lead. Martina Müller released a shot from short distance after a cross from Simone Laudehr. Barbieri was able to parry the first one, but finally Martina Müller scored in front of her home crowd.
There was one final piece of action in the dying minutes and it took the hosts to produce it. Most of the 7,229 people in Wolfsburg thought it was a goal, but Simone Laudehr's header went narrowly behind the goal.
Westfield Matildas Head Coach Tom Sermanni was pleased with the overall performance.
"We played against the best team in the world. I am happy with the effort. I am happy with the commitment. But there was a significant gap between both teams. We wanted to be competitive and get experience. We showed a good overall performance and I am pleased with the way things went."
"Germany are a very good team, definitely. They are really class,” said Westfield Matildas striker Kate Gill.
“The football here is very different to Asian Football. They are more physical in Europe.
“You get a very different experience from these matches and we have to learn how to better adapt to these conditions over the next 9 months.”
ABC TV will broadcast this match on delayed telecast at 3.00pm AEDT Saturday, 30 October, as part of their commitment to women-s football.
The Westfield W-League will follow on next Saturday with the Match of the Week being broadcast live and exclusive on ABC1 and ABC1 HD every Saturday at 3.00pm AEDT for the entire Westfield W-League season.
Thursday, 28 October 2010 Germany v Westfield Matildas Volkswagen-Arena, Wolfsburg Referee: Tanja SCHETT (Austria) Assistant Referees: Inka MÜLLER and Christina JAWOREK (both Germany) Crowd: 7,229 Germany 2 (Inka GRINGS 36', Martina MÜLLER 71') Australia 1 (Samantha KERR 28')
Germany line-up: Ursula HOLL (gk), Sandra BARTUSIAK, Babett PETER, Sonja FUSS (46' Verena FAISST), Lena GOESSLING, Simone LAUDEHR, Kim KULIG (46' Martina MÜLLER), Kerstin GAREFREKES (25' Célia OKOYINO DA MBABI), Fatmire BAJRAMAJ, Inka GRINGS (69' Dszenifer MAROSZÁN), Birgit PRINZ (69' Ariane HINGST)
Substitutes not used: Nadine ANGERER (gk), Josephine HENNING, Tabea KEMME, Melanie BEHRINGER, Anja MITTAG, Alexandra POPP
Westfield Matildas line-up: Melissa BARBIERI (GK), Clare POLKINGHORNE (Caitlin MUNOZ 63'), Kim CARROLL, Lauren COLTHORPE (Teigen ALLEN 57'), Servet UZUNLAR, Collette MCCALLUM, Sally SHIPARD (Aivi LUIK 88'), Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, Kate GILL (Leena KHAMIS 80'), Kyah SIMON, Samantha KERR
Substitutes not used: Lydia WILLIAMS (gk), Thea SLATYER