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Caretaker coach brings changes to Matildas squad
Caretaker National Coach Chris Tanzey has made several changes to the National Squad with a year remaining before the Olympic Games kick off.
The selections for both the AIS Scholarship group and Olympic Athlete Program (OAP) Squad will be confirmed upon Tanzey's return from England next week.
Queensland's 16-year old defender Kate McShea is the one new player to gain selection, offerd an AIS Scholarship following impressive performances in the Australian Youth Team. The Brisbane Year 11 student recently returned from the U-21 Nordic Cup in Iceland, toured Holland last year with the U-18 National Team, and has consistently stood out over two seasons of Ansett Australia Summer Series.
OAP members Peta-Claire Hepper1in and Amy Wilson have been promoted to AIS Scholarship status, along with Dianne Alagich and Tracy Wheeler who had both forced their way into the Wor1d Cup Team from outside the OAP Group.
Recalled into the OAP Squad are Sacha Wainwright and Katrina Boyd, both of whom make their comeback after a year or two away from the international game.
This current squad will resume full time training at the A1S for the phase commencing September 1 until mid-December. Their first international commitment is the Australia Cup in December featuring the two most successful women's football nations, USA and Norway.
Tanzey has kept the options open with one AIS Scholarship and one OAP berth yet to be named, the two to be added during the course of the national league. The permanent replacement National Coach is expected to be finalised in three weeks.
Australia's National Coach resigns
The coach of the Matildas, Mr. Greg Brown, has resigned after almost two and a half years in charge. The former Socceroo said, "I have not been happy in the job for the past few months and after the team's poor showing at the recent World Cup in the USA I feel it would be better if someone else took over. I would like to thank my Assistant Coach Chris Tanzey for his support over the last few and wish him and the team the best of luck."
Tanzey takes over as caretaker National Coach while a decision on a permanent replacement is made by the Board. The National Coach position is expected to be filled within three to four weeks.
The Matildas finished 11th at the World Cup and under Brown, the Matildas put together a record sequence of 14 international matches without loss, from November 1997 to March 1999.
Chief Executive of Australian Women's Soccer, Mr. Warren Fisher, said, "Greg has made his decision in the absolute best interests of the team and the sport. The Matildas benefit from a unique program structure compared to our seven rivals in Sydney 2000. We now have 13 months to turn this advantage into a medal. The assistance of the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Institute of Sport remains pivotal -- not least infinancial terms but, as importantly, in maintaining the partnership approach we have taken to identifying areas to improve the program."
Door opens for Australian Under-21 Nordic Cup Team
Australia's U-21 Team members will be aiming for senior selection when they contest next month's prestigious Nordic Cup in Iceland, following the Matildas' disappointing performance at the recent World Cup.
A new National Squad and the next intake of 20 Australian Institute of Sport scholarship athletes will be announced on 13 August, five days after the conclusion of the Nordic Cup and thirteen months out from the Olympic Games.
"My plans of how to approach this tournament have not changed, but the players themselves may perceive that the door has opened a little more than before," said National Assistant Coach and National Youth Coach Chris Tanzey.
Australia will field a very young and inexperienced team in Iceland, the World Cup players deemed not available for selection in two events. A total of eight Under 21 players competed in the recent World Cup in the USA.
He emphasizes that the youth team philosophy is to provide a stepping stone to senior National Team selection, and the technical development of players at the international level.
"Our youth program is about getting players up to the next level and giving them that international experience -- it's not about results as such. I'd like to see one or two players stepping up to that next level."
The U21 team assembles in Canberra tomorrow with just four days' preparation at the AIS before the team departs for Reykjavik on Tuesday morning, with the tournament scheduled for 2-8 August.
NSW striker Sarah Walsh has been a late withdrawal from the team. The 16-year-old will undergo reconstructive surgery on the knee she injured a fortnight ago. The news has come as a tragic blow, Walsh unavailable for selection for last October's Youth Team tour to Holland after reconstruction on her other knee.
Standby forward Kim Channing, age 17 from the ACT, received the call-up as Walsh's replacement.
This is the first time Australia has been invited to compete in the annual Nordic Cup, widely considered the unofficial world youth tournament. Australia is drawn in Group 1 with Iceland, Sweden, and Norway; whilst Group 2 is comprised of the USA, Germany, Denmark, and Finland.
The 17 member Australian U21 team (with two overage players allowed) is -- Rachael ALLEY (NNSW, age 16), Louisa BISBY (VIC, 20), Megan BOND (QLD, 18), Joanne BUTLAND (QLD/AIS, 20), Michelle CARNEY (NSW, 16), Alician CAVANAGH (NSW, 19), Kim CHANNING (ACT, 17), Jessica HALFPENNY (SA, 18), Cassandra KELL (NSW, 18), Georgette LEAKE (QLD, 23), Tracie McGOVERN (NNSW, 21), Kate McSHEA (QLD, 16), Kimberley MORRIS (SA, 17), Anna RUOTOLO (SA, 17), Kim REVELL (QLD/AIS, 24), Danielle SMALL (NNSW/USA, 20), Natalie THOMAS (SA/AIS, 21)
Results of Round Ten of Ansett Summer Series
ANSETT AUSTRALIA SUMMER SERIES 1998/99
Saturday 20 February 1999 - Round Ten
SASI PIRATES 5 (Jessica Halfpenny 5m, 20m, 32m, 62m, 68m) defeated NORTHERN NSW HORIZON 0 at Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
NSWIS SAPPHIRES 2 (Alicia Cavanagh 85m, Thea Slatyer 90m) defeated QAS STING 1 (Megan Bond 5m) at Lions Stadium, Brisbane
Sunday 21 February 1999
SASI PIRATES 2 (Louise Bisby 38m, Sharon Black 111m) defeated NORTHERN NSW HORIZON 1 (Alison Forman 27m) at Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
QAS STING 1 (Alicia Ferguson 7m) drew with NSWIS SAPPHIRES 1 (Joanne Peters 60m) at Lions Stadium, Brisbane
Saturday 28 February 1999
ANSETT AUSTRALIA SUMMER SERIES 1998/99 - GRAND FINAL
SASI PIRATES 2 (Sharon Black 13m, 41m) defeated CANBERRA ECLIPSE 0 at Ainslie Football Club, Canberra
Results of Round Eight of Ansett Summer Series Saturday February 6, and Sunday February 7, 1999
ANSETT AUSTRALIA SUMMER SERIES 1998/99
Saturday February 6, 1999 - Round Eight
CANBERRA ECLIPSE 9 (Sarah Cooper 3m, Angela Iannotta 17m, 53m, Sacha Wainwright 34m, Lisa Casagrande 62m, 71m, 78m, Kim Channin 75m, Amy Kilpatrick 85m) defeated NORTHERN NSW HORIZON 0 at Johnson Park, West Wallsend
SASI PIRATES 3 (Jessica Halfpenny 73m, Anna Ruoloto 80m, Lia Matto 85m) defeated QAS STING 0 at Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Sunday February 7, 1999
NORTHERN NSW HORIZON 1 (Cheryl Salisbury 54m) drew with CANBERRA ECLIPSE 1 (Amy Wilson 26m) at Budgewoi Oval, Budgewoi
SASI PIRATES 2 (Kristy Moore 71m, Sharon Black 83m) defeated QAS STING 0 at Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide
Results of Round Seven of Ansett Summer Series Saturday January 30, and Sunday January 31, 1999
Saturday
CANBERRA ECLIPSE 1 (Lisa Casagrande 49m) defeated SASI PIRATES 0 at Ainslie Football Club, Canberra
NSWIS SAPPHIRES 5 (Alicia Cavanagh 42m, Tracey Thomas 68m, Julie Murray 83m, Amanda Parker 87m, Kelly Golebiowski 89m) defeated NORTHERN NSW HORIZON 2 (Cheryl Salisbury 12m, 81m) at Jack McLaughlin Oval, Newcastle
Sunday
ANSETT AUSTRALIA SUMMER SERIES
Round Seven
CANBERRA ECLIPSE 1 (Angela Ianotta 79m) defeated SASI PIRATES 0 at Ainslie Football Club, Canberra
NORTHERN NSW HORIZON 1 (Shelly Youman 3m) drew with NSWIS SAPPHIRES 1 (Kelly Golebiowski 73m) at Jack McLaughlin Oval, Newcastle
Australia Wins Australia Cup With 1-0 Win Over Depleted Italian Team
Midfielder Cheryl Salisbury gave the lead to Australia at the 19 minute mark, heading in a cross from a corner kick by Lisa Casagrande, and in spite of many close chances Italy was never able to penetrate the Australian defense.
Italy were without Tesse, Panico, and Fiorini who were red carded in their previous game with the Maltildas. Ironically referee Tammy Ogston was in the middle for this game as well but did not red card anyone.
In the other game beat the Australia "B" Team 1-0 with another fine volley by Charmaine Hooper.
Australian midfielder Alison Forman was named MVP of the Match for her physical presence and work level at midfield.
| Wednesday, January 13, 1999 | |||
| Attendance - 2,979 | Temperature - 88 degrees, Hot and Sunny | ||
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| Referees
Referee: Tammy Ogston |
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Australia 4 Canada 3 as hosts hang on in a flurry of goals to reach final game with Italy
Australia Cup
Sunday 10, 1999
Bruce Stadium, Canberra
The Matildas took a two goal lead within 16 minutes. Julie Murray volleyed on the turn from a long ball by Joanne Peters after 9 minutes, and Angela Iannotta put away a loose ball from close range at the 16th minute.
14 minutes later Geraldine Donnelly scored for Canada, and in the second half at 59 minutes Charmaine Hooper curled the ball around the wall and inside the post from a perfectly taken free kick from 19 yards. Just 2 minutes later newly substituted Lisa Casagrande regained the lead for Australia by heading home a cross from Iannotta. 7 minutes later Hooper shows her skills again with a world class goal from a free kick taken in almost the same place as before.
With extra time looming Anissa Tann-Darby sent the crowd into raptures with a brilliant, curling free kick into the top left corner at the 90th minute.
Coach Comments
Canadian Coach Neil Turnbull
"The difference between our Italy game and tonight is we played much, much better. It was a fine performance, but disappointing we haven't won a game."Australian Coach Greg Brown
"We had talked about how Canada might score against us, yet that's exactly how they did score, so yes, I'm disappointed. Hooper is a class act, and will shoot from outside the box if given room, and we didn't deal with it."
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Wednesday's schedule: Bruce Stadium, Canberra
4:30pm Canada versus Australia "B " Team
7:00pm Final Australia versus Italy
Italy 1 (wins on penalty kicks 4-3) against Australia 1
Friday January 8,1999
Marconi Stadium, Sydney, Australia
In a game that went to extra time, and despite three red cards received by Italian players, their depleted team won in a penalty kick shootout thus ensuring their place in the Final next Wednesday.
Game Report
Italy took the lead at the 60 minute mark when an attempted clearance was collected by Patrizia Panico who calmly slotted the ball past the keeper. Australia equalized with just five minutes remaining when Bridgette Starr despatched a long ball from deep in her own half, and Natalie Thomas soared above her marker to flick the ball on, to Cheryl salisbury who turned and shot in one move as she volleyed the ball into the back of the net.
A Red Card were shown to Manuela Tesse at the 38th minute for an elbow infraction. Antonella Carta received her second yellow card for illegally charging an Australian free kick in the 90th minute. Silvia Fiorini was shown the Red in overtime for a crude tackle.
Emotions ran high in the game.
Coach comments