WSW FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship

Match Schedule

Tickets

Team rosters

Commentary

Championship results

1st FIFA Under-19 Women’s World Championship Canada 2002

Championnat du Monde de Football Feminin U-19 de la FIFA

NEWS

August 22, 2002

England and Australia draw 0-0, but "Poms" must wait

by Colin A. Aldis

Match 13: Group C: ENGLAND v AUSTRALIA, Victoria, August 21, 2002

With both teams on identical points and goals, this would be a winner takes all situation, although a draw might send both teams into the knockout stages, the drawing of lots was then be required to decide who would be second and third in the group. Depending on results elsewhere, 4 points and a zero goal differential should be enough to see the third placed team go through. After her expulsion in the previous match, Australia would have to manage without captain Kate McShea.

On another pleasant day in the Centennial Stadium, Australia had the better of the early stages, but were unable to a create a clear cut opening. Hayley Crawford did volley over from 10 metres, following a cross from the left, but there was real drama in the England penalty area, when keeper Toni-Anne Wayne played the ball out of her area and continued forward to clear the danger. She was tackled strongly, and left proned on the turf, while play continued, and a series of shots rained in, several on target, and the England defenders did a great job to block them and protect the goal. Play was soon stopped and the England keeper was able to resume after treatment. England responded with Ellen Maggs getting some space for a shot, but she pulled it wide of the left post.

Just before the break, England produced their best move, with Leanne Champ getting forward on the right, and a superb cross was met by the head of Emily Westwood, and the ball was going towards the top left corner of the goal, until Luisa Marzotto brilliantly pawed it out for a corner.

England often look dangerous at set plays, and early in the 2nd half, a corner on the left by Kelly McDougall found Ellen Maggs in a perfect position to head the ball goalwards, but she directed it just over the bar. Despite changes on both sides, and the 3 games in 5 days problem starting to affect the play, there were few chances at either end. Australians struck a couple shots off target, and Ellen Maggs could not beat the keeper in a 1 v 1 situation. Towards the tense closing minutes, Kelly McDougall sent over a cross from the left, but Laura Bassett headed the ball over the bar.

So at their first ever meeting, at any level, the match ended goal-less, and there was no option but to use a non-soccer decider. There was joy for Australia as the match commisioner from Bolivia pulled out their name from the crisp FIFA bag, sending the players wild, while the England players had to leave with heads bowed.

It was certain that Australia would be heading for Vancouver to play Brazil (winners of group B, after winning all their matches, including a 1-0 win over Germany and 4-0 against France), which suggests that this may be the short straw.

England with 4 points, would still be well placed to move into the quarter-finals, but such is the complexity of the 12 team tournament, that the full layout of opponents would only become clear after the last group game was played in Edmonton, some 24 hours later. With France surprising losing two matches, and letting in so many goals, it would need surprise results in group A, to send the ‘POMS’ home, ie. wins for both Japan and Nigeria and with several goals.

One area where England lead is on discipline, with no cautions recorded to date, although USA have also played 3 matches without cards.