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January 7, 1999
News Flash: Italy 1 (Goal by Panico) Canada 0 on first day
of Australia Cup 1999
Game report
Italy beat Canada 1-0 in front of approximately 2,000 spectators (mostly of Italian origin) in the Australia Cup currently underway in Sydney. Italy's goal was scored by Patrizia Panico in the 2nd half. The Cup consists of a four-team tournament: Australia, Canada, Italy and the Marconi Women's team.
CANADA: Wright, Joly, Dion, Walsh B. (Yarmen in the 2nd half), Nuir
(Harvey in the 2nd half), Franck, Walsh A., Smith (O'Neil in the 1st
half), Burtini (Glaskovich in the 2nd half), Rosenow, Hooper.
COACH: N. Turnbull.
ITALY: Brenzan, Deiana, Duò, Tavalazzi, Frollani, Tesse (Guarino in the
2nd half), Marchio (Miniati in the 2nd half), Carta (Zanni in the 2nd
half), Sberti (Panico in the 2nd half), Ciardi (Fiorini in the 2nd
half), Tagliacarne (Pallotti in the 2nd half).
COACH: C. Facchin
Sunday, October 18
Australia Advance
To Women's World Cup Finals
by Jeremy Ruane
Australia advanced to the 1999 Women's World Cup Finals in the USA after beating New Zealand 3-1 in the final of the Oceania qualifying series at Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland, on October 17.
2000 people witnessed Australia sweep to a two goal lead inside the first thirteen minutes of the match. Julie Murray, making her fiftieth appearance for the Matildas, opened the scoring in the second minute with a superbly struck curling effort which left SWANZ goalkeeper Rachel Howard beaten all ends up.Howard was beaten again eleven minutes later, this time by a seemingly harmless Bridgette Starr grasscutter which left the SWANZ with a mountain to climb as they sought to get back into the match.
With the wind at their backs, and two goals to the good, Australia looked to press home their advantage, with Murray going close again soon after as the SWANZ reeled from the early setback.
They regrouped, however, and, while left to feed on the scraps Australia allowed them, did their best to reduce the deficit, with a fine move featuring Wendi Henderson, Amanda Crawford and Michele Cox the closest the host nation's representatives came to scoring before the first half concluded.The early stages of the second spell saw the SWANZ pressing for a goal, with Pernille Andersen and Henderson both seeing their driven free-kicks charged down by the defensive wall.
Andersen, meanwhile, had been denied in the act of shooting by a desperate Sarah Cooper tackle, after the tournament's leading goalscorer had pounced on some defensive hesitancy shown by Australia's most-capped international, Anissa Tann-Darby.
At the other end, Howard saved from Alison Forman, and was relieved to see Natalie Thomas blaze the ball wide of the mark when put through on goal by the impressive Sharon Black in the 56th minute.Seven minutes later, Australia came closer still, Murray seeing her fifteen yard shot cleared off the line by Sacha Haskell. But the Matildas didn't have long to wait before they clinched the game, Lisa Casagrande's twenty yard drive crashing into the net off the underside of the crossbar in the 66th minute.
The SWANZ fought back, with the long throw-ins of Melissa Ruscoe causing any number of problems in the Australian rearguard. One, in the 77th minute, wasn't cleared, allowing Nicky Smith to stride through and drill home from ten yards.
But it was too little, too late, for the host nation, who gained some compensation for their efforts throughout the tournament by way of the Fair Play Trophy. The prize they wanted most though, was beyond them, Australia holding onto their 3-1 advantage to book their place at the 1999 Women's World Cup Finals.
Australia 3 (J. Murray, B. Starr, L. Casagrande), New Zealand 1 (N. Smith). HT 2-0
Australia: Kitching; Bartlett, Tann-Darby, Cooper (Taylor, 90), Starr; Casagrande (booked, 9) (Boyd, 71), Salisbury, Forman, Black; Murray (booked, 29), Thomas (Ianotta, 81).
New Zealand: Howard; Ruscoe (booked, 61), McCahill, Jarden; Crawford (Jackman, 76), Cox, Haskell, Smith, Oliver; Henderon, Andersen (booked, 60), (Evans, 70).
Referee: Massimo Raveino (Tahiti)
Hat-Tricks For Two As PNG Finish Third
by Jeremy Ruane
Papua New Guinea routed women's soccer newcomers Fiji 7-1 in the third place play-off at the Oceania qualifying series for the 1999 Women's World Cup Finals at Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland, on October 17, with Nellie Taman and substitute Kekeyato Ella scoring hat-tricks in the process.
The opening quarter hour of the game saw a very even affair unfolding, with Fiji's Alumeci Vecena and PNG's Taman exchanging efforts on goal during this time.
Five minutes later, Taman opened the scoring, heading over the advancing Makelesi Moce after Fiji's defence had allowed a teasing Tabitha Suwae cross to bounce in the danger zone.
This sparked PNG to life, with Sandra Pasco hitting the crossbar soon afterwards, while Moce parried a Taman shot to safety after the speedy striker had been sent through Fiji's square defence by Cathy Davani.The experienced campaigners extended their lead in the 29th minute, Taman again the markswoman. Pasco, Margaret Aka and Katrina Salaiau combined to set up the striker, who evaded a tackle before drilling the ball past the unsighted Moce from the edge of the penalty area.
Fiji immediately set about reducing the deficit, primarily through substitute Kelea Vetuku. An early replacement for the injured Losana Kubulala, she led many a promising raid on the PNG goal, one of which, in the 36th minute, resulted in her being brought down in the penalty area by Wanting Yagum. Unfortunately for the Fijians, Naomi Regu fired her spot-kick over the crossbar.
Vetuku and Regu combined to cause merry hell in the PNG goal area two minutes later, but the defending team somehow held out, and had the last say in the half, Taman shooting straight at Moce when through on goal with just the 'keeper to beat.A thirty-five yard free-kick from Yagum was fumbled over the line by Moce in the 53rd minute to put PNG 3-0 in front, followed two minutes later by two crossbar rattling efforts from Taman and Salaiau, both hitting the woodwork within twenty seconds of each other.
Moce then saved from Davani, but was helpless to prevent PNG netting a fourth goal in the 58th minute. Taman led a three-pronged charge with just the 'keeper to beat. The ball was unselfishly slipped to Ella, who slotted home through Moce's legs, much to the shot-stopper's frustration.
Ella struck again in the seventieth minute, beating Moce at her near post, while Taman unleashed a twenty-yarder through the crowd five minutes later, after the goalkeeper had punched clear following a PNG corner.This made the score 6-0, but it stayed that way for just three minutes, as Vecena broke down the right for Fiji and crossed to Vetuku, who bundled the ball home to generate the biggest cheer of the game.
Patricia Underwood went close to adding a second for the Fijians soon after, but the final word fell to Ella, who scampered through to slot home past a wrong-footed Moce, thus confirming third place, and a 7-1 win, for Papua New Guinea.
Papua New Guinea 7 (N. Taman (3), K. Ella (3), W. Yagum), Fiji 1 (K. Vetuku). HT 2-0
PNG: Ume; Siwin, Lanta, Yagum (booked, 36), Ronoc (Kora, 40); Salaiau, Suwae, Pasco, Davani (Ella, 56); Taman, Aka.
Fiji: Moce; Yaulu (Malai, 46), Regu, Lota, Kabu; Valutu (Underwood, 60), Chambers (booked, 50), Wise, Ratu; Kubulala (Vetuku, 25), Vecena. Referee: Tammy Peacock (Australia)
Saturday, October 17
Australia Qualifies
For World Cup'99
beating New Zealand in Final game 3-1, Papua New Guinea takes third place with 7-1 win over Fiji
Trans-Tasman
Showdown Beckons After SWANZ Win
by Jeremy Ruane
New Zealand set up a trans-tasman showdown in the final of the Oceania qualifying series for the 1999 Women's World Cup Finals at Mt. Smart Stadium on October 17 following their 5-0 victory over Papua New Guinea in the October 15 semi-final at the same venue.
The SWANZ started in fine fettle, two Pernille Andersen crosses for Wendi Henderson in the first three minutes resulting in the most-capped player in New Zealand's squad twice being denied by the impressive Macedelyn Ume, who again excelled in goal for PNG.
She was beaten in the fourth minute, however, Henderson cracking home the rebound after Andersen's shot, following Michele Cox's run and low cross from the right, had been parried at close quarters by Ume.
The goalkeeper saved a twenty yard missile from Nicky Smith in the tenth minute, before the SWANZ gained a margin of some comfort in the fourteenth minute, courtesy Cox.A fine move down the left flank which involved the scorer broke down upon Henderson overhitting the cross, but Amanda Crawford gathered the loose ball on the right flank and turned it inside to Cox, who evaded a challenge before drilling a left-footed shot past Ume.
This sparked a string of SWANZ attacks in the next six minutes, to all of which Ume and her colleagues stood firm. Cox's fifteenth minute corner picked out Terry McCahill on the far post, the captain heading the ball across to Kelly Jarden, who volleyed narrowly over the top.
A minute later, Smith sent another snapshot hurtling wide, while Henderson shot into the hands of Ume after pouncing on the resulting goal-kick. And Andersen, in the twentieth minute, shot narrowly wide after taking on and beating two opponents on the edge of the PNG penalty area.
PNG weren't overawed by their more vaunted opponents, and began to cause the SWANZ a few problems in the next fifteen minutes. Jarden was booked for a meaty challenge on Tabitha Suwae, while Melissa Ruscoe's mistimed lunge conceded a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area in the 32nd minute, which Fredica Siwin fired over the crossbar.
This stirred the SWANZ from their slumbers, and the remainder of the half saw Ume's goal the target of any number of attacking surges. The goalkeeper saved the first of them, from Henderson in the 34th minute, after Andersen had scampered past three opponents on PNG's right flank.
A minute later, Henderson slipped a pass to Cox down the left, and the midfielder flighted a delightful cross for Andersen, whose header was well saved by Ume.
The goal of the game was struck in the 38th minute. McCahill sparked it, slipping the ball to Jarden, who fed Rachel Oliver. Henderson and Cox were next to play a part, the latter cutting in from the left before drilling a shot against Henderson.
Gathering the rebound, Cox spotted Jennifer Carlisle's run in support to her right, and laid the ball into the midfielder's path some twenty-five yards out from goal. On the run, Carlisle cracked home a screamer - Ume barely moved as the ball ripped into the bottom right-hand corner of her goal to put the SWANZ 3-0 up.
After McCahill's header from a Cox corner had been headed off the line by Rickie Salo, the SWANZ struck again five minutes before the interval through Andersen. Cox and Crawford combined on the right to engineer the opening, and the striker's juggling skills left two defenders bemused before she cracked home number four.
Ume saved a Ruscoe drive immediately before the interval, and pulled off some splendid saves early in the second spell to deny Henderson, Cox and McCahill, the last-mentioned a reaction save of the highest order, as defenders blocked her view of the New Zealand captain's shot till the last second.The goalkeeper brought Andersen down as she burst through in the 55th minute, and the striker netted her second goal of the game from the penalty spot before being withdrawn by coach Maurice Tillotson, who, with the scoreline at 5-0, clearly had the final in mind.
Much of what was good for the SWANZ in the remaining half-hour featured Cox and Henderson. Together with Crawford, they set up a scoring chance for Melissa Wileman in the 68th minute, and the midfielder was barely a foot away from scoring her first goal for her country.
Two minutes later, Jo Evans came even closer still to marking that milestone. Slipped through by Cox, she rounded Ume and fired goalwards from the edge of the penalty area, only for Wantig Yagum, racing back, to complete a goal-line clearance.
A couple of long-range efforts from Henderson tested Ume in the 80th and 82nd minutes, moments after Rachel Howard, New Zealand's goalkeeper, produced her first save of the tournament to foil a twenty-yard drive from Suwae.
Crawford and Henderson combined to release Cox wide on the right in the 86th minute, and her inch-perfect cross picked out Carlisle with the goal at her mercy. Unbelievably, she headed narrowly over, while Evans, in stoppage time, headed narrowly wide of the target on receipt of a Crawford cross.
5-0 it remained, however, and the 1999 Women's World Cup Finals beckon for the host nation. Standing in the way, though, is the old foe from across the Tasman once again. The SWANZ last beat The Matildas four years ago, but have had no luck in the six encounters since. Their desire to put an end to that run is insatiable, and on Saturday, that desire will be there for all to see.
New Zealand 5 (Andersen (2), Carlisle, Cox, Henderson), Papua New Guinea 0. HT 4-0
SWANZ: Howard; Ruscoe, McCahill, Jarden (booked, 30) (Jackman, 65); Crawford, Cox, Carlisle, Smith (Wileman, 59), Oliver; Henderson, Andersen (Evans, 60).
PNG: Ume; Lanta, Salo (Kora, 49), Yagum, Zemo (Niangi, 81); Siwin (Salaiau, 57), Suwae, Pasco, Davani; Taman, Aka. Referee: Massimo Raveino (Tahiti)
Australians
Romp Into Oceania Final
by Jeremy Ruane
Australia romped into the final of the Oceania qualifying series for the 1999 Women's World Cup Finals with a 17-0 hiding of nine-man Fiji at Mt. Smart Stadium on October 15.
The Australians took control of the game in the first seven minutes, Julie Murray lobbing Makelesi Moce in the third minute before Angela Ianotta scampered through from half-way to virtually decide the semi-final within minutes of it's starting.Any hopes Fiji harboured of mounting a fightback followed Mereilisoni Aoireki up the tunnel in the eighteenth minute, the midfielder having been sent off for taking retaliatory measures against Joanne Peters which did not meet the approval of referee Neil Fox.
After Alison Forman had seen her 22nd minute header rebound of the angle of post and bar following a delightful Sharon Black cross, the same source provided a cross for Katrina Boyd to guide home on the far post in the 23rd minute.
Murray, making her 49th appearance in the green and gold, scored a superb fourth barely a minute later, executing a perfect hip-turn volley from fifteen yards out into the bottom corner of the net for number four.
It was one-way traffic from here on in, although when pressed, Australia's rearguard looked far from bulletproof, stray passes when under pressure earning Fiji their fair share of corners in the first half.Black curled home a 32nd minute free-kick to put The Matildas five-up, and after Moce had parried a Boyd drive to safety, the right flank player gained the ultimate revenge in the 39th minute, heading home stylishly to cap off a fine Australian move, which also featured Ianotta and Black.
Within seconds, it was 7-0, Moce fumbling a long-range effort to Black, who coolly chipped the goalkeeper. Naomi Regu bravely attempted to head the ball off the line, but succeeded only in directing it into the net via the upright.
Ianotta went close soon after, and fired home through the crowd in the 43rd minute following a Peters free-kick, which had come about as a result of a foul by Julia Mathias, which earned the defender her second yellow card of the half.
With Fiji now down to nine, the subject of an assault on the record score for women's soccer internationals was raised. Australia have only themselves to blame for failing to add more than nine goals to their 8-0 half-time lead in the second spell - their finishing, at times, left a great deal to be desired.
By the same token, Moce had a splendid second half between the sticks for the Fijians. Any number of Australian attackers were frustrated by the goalkeeper's agility, most notably Boyd, who saw Moce save her 52nd minute penalty.
By which time Australia had entered double-figure territory, Murray unleashing a twenty-yarder in the 47th minute to complete her hat-trick, followed two minutes later by a similar strike from Peters, her first of the match.
Her second, from 25 yards, followed in the 53rd minute, while Black slotted home from far closer two minutes later to complete her hat-trick, after working an intricate manoeuvre with Ianotta to evade the Fijians' challenges.
Peters completed her hat-trick in the 58th minute with another twenty-yard strike, before Australia went off the boil, introducing far too many complicated, over-elaborate manoeuvres rather than sticking to the preferred 'Simplicity Breeds Success' approach.The remaining half-hour saw just four goals scored. Alicia Ferguson chested home in a goalmouth scramble following a break down the right by fellow substitute Cheryl Salisbury in the 69th minute, and scored again with a deflected twenty-yard effort three minutes later.
Peters scored a delightful sixteenth goal for The Matildas, curling a shot into the top far corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area in the 81st minute, while Salisbury completed the scoring from the penalty spot two minutes later, after being unceremoniously upended as she honed in on goal.
Australia 21 (Peters (4), Black (3), Murray (3), Boyd (2), Ferguson (2), Ianotta (2), Salisbury), Fiji 0. HT 8-0
Australia: Kitching; Bartlett, Swaffer, Starr; Boyd (Ferguson, 56), Forman (Tann-Darby, 59), Cooper, Peters; Ianotta, Murray (Salisbury, 66), Black.
Fiji: Moce; Mathias (booked, 32, 42 - sent-off), Regu (booked, 70), Lota, Kabu; Vetuku (booked, 21), Aoireki (sent-off, 18), Selau (booked, 4), (Ratu, 46), Wise (Malai, 55); Vecena (booked, 26) (Underwood, 61), Kubulala. Referee: Neil Fox (New Zealand)
Fiji and Papua New Guinea qualify for Oceania Qualifying Tournament semi-final games
Auckland, New Zealand -Tuesday, October 13, 1998
Fiji 5 Samoa 0 Papua New Guinea 9 American Samoa 0 As predicted Australia will play Fiji, and New Zealand go against Papua New Guinea in the semi-finals on Thursday, October, 15.
Leading Scorers
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October 2, 1998
Australian Team Selected For World Cup Qualifiers
20-Member Australian Team to contest the upcoming Oceania World Cup Qualification Tournament in Auckland announced by National Coach Greg Brown
They- will be competing to become the Oceania region's sole representative at the third FIFA Women's World Cup to be hosted by Olympic gold medalist nation USA in June/July 1999.
Australia's National Squad has been in full-time training at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra since July. Their preparation was enhanced with the recent tour to North Korea resulting in a series win over a team which has already qualified for 1999.
There are two changes in the team from that which toured North Korea. Midfielder Lisa Casagrande comes in, replacing Kim Revell who has a back injury. Goalkeeper Tracey Wheeler has gained selection over young Joanne Butland who has yet to make her international debut.
"Selections should always be a tough decision as the squad is ever improving," said Brown. "The team in North Korea acquitted themselves tremendously well, and this is reflected in selections this time. Lisa Casagrande has improved since prior to that tour, and Kim Revell is suffering an injury. Jo Butland has had a thumb injury, and the experienced Tracey Wheeler has improved since being here (at the AIS) which has given her the edge."
New Zealand will be Australian's main threat among the record six nations competing at Auckland's Mt. Smart Stadium. The Kiwis will present as big a challenge as ever with the stakes so high despite their lower ranking. New Zealand will be charged with enormous passion against traditional rivals Australia whilst also enjoying home advantage.
The smaller nationsPapua New Guinea, American Samoa (both in Pool B with Australia), Fiji and Samoaare all expected to be tough, fast, and very physical.
If results go according to expectations, Australia will clash with New Zealand in the one-off, do-or-die final. "We're not really focusing on the final at this stage," said Brown. "We're concentrating on peaking at the right time. We don't want to focus on New Zealand too early on. However, we do know they've been working very hard, and we expect them to be much improved from when they were here last November."
New Zealand defeated Australia on goal difference back in 1991 at the Qualifiers for the first World Cup. Eight members of this current team have first-had memories of that major disappointment. Australia did qualify for the 1995 World Cup in Sweden, where they finished in twelfth position.
The Matildas play their last game in preparation tomorrow night (Wed) against the over-35 men's team, who have been valuable regular opponents. Kickoff time is 6:30 pm at the AIS soccer pitch. They will then train heavily for the first few days in Auckland before relaxing in readiness for their first match on Friday week against American Samoa.
The Australian Team travels by road from Canberra to Sydney this Sunday (4 Oct) before departing on Air New Zealand flight NZ104 at midday. The team arrives back in Australia on Sunday 18 October.
Australian Team - World Cup Qualifiers Player State Hometown DOB Position Caps Traci BARTLETT ACT Sydney 17/05/72 Defender 22 Sharon BLACK SA Adelaide 04/04/71 Midfielder 23 Katrina BOYD NSW Sydney 12/12/71 Forward 15 Lisa CASAGRANDE ACT Lismore 29/05/78 Midfielder 42 Sara COOPER ACT Darwin 08/10/69 Midfielder 37 Alicia FERGUSON QLD Brisbane 31/10/81 Forward 6 Alison FORMAN (Denmark) Newcastle 17/03/69 Midfielder 34 Sonia GEGENHUBER QLD Adelaide/Bris 28/09/70 Defender 49 Sunni HUGHES (Japan) Newcastle 06/06/68 Forward 43 Angel IAONOTTA (Italy) Albury 22/03/71 Forward 15 Belinda KITCHING QLD Ipswich 15/07/77 Goalkeeper 17 Julie MURRAY NSW Canberra/Syd 28/04/70 Forward 45 Joanne PETERS NSW Leeton/Syd 11/03/79 Midfielder 11 Cheryl SALISBURY NNSW Newcastle 08/03/74 Midfielder 31 Bridgette STARR NNSW Newcastle 10/12/75 Defender 23 Kristyn SWAFFER SA Adelaide 13/12/75 Defender 19 Anissa TANN-DARBY NSW Sydney 10/10/67 Defender 54 Amy TAYLOR ACT Canberra 11/06/79 Defender 9 Tracey WHEELER WA Sydney/Perth 26/09/67 Goalkeeper 32 Shelley YOUMAN NNSW Newcastle 22/07/67 Midfielder 11
Oceania Women's Qualifying Tournament 1998 Pool A Pool B 1. New Zealand 1. Australia 2. Samoa 2. Papua New Guinea 3. Fiji 3. American Samoa
Round 1 -- Friday, October 9, 1998
Pool A Pool B 6 pm New Zealand vs. Samoa 4 pm American Samoa vs. Australia Fiji bye Papua New Guinea bye
Round 2 -- Sunday, October 11, 1998
Pool A Pool B 2 pm Fiji vs. New Zealand 4 pm Australia vs. Papua New Guinea Samoa bye American Samoa bye
Round 3 -- Tuesday, October 13, 1998
Pool A Pool B 4 pm Samoa vs. Fiji 6 pm American Samoa vs. Papua New Guinea New Zealand bye Australia bye
Semi-Finals -- Thursday, October 15, 1998
4 pm -- Winner Pool B vs. Runner-up Pool A 6 pm -- Winner Pool A vs. Runner-up Pool B
Finals -- Saturday, October 17, 1998
12 noon -- Losers semi-final 2 pm -- Winners semi-final All games to be played at Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
September 19, 1998
Oceania Women's World
Cup '99 Qualifier Latest
From J.R.
The latest news is that Tonga have withdrawn from the Oceania qualifiers, leaving six teams to contest the lone place up for grabs at USA '99.The draw, with local kick-off times, is:
Group A: Oct 9 6pm New Zealand v. Western Samoa Oct 11 2pm New Zealand v. Fiji Oct 13 4pm Western Samoa v. Fiji
Group B: Oct 9 4pm Australia v. American Samoa Oct 11 4pm Australia v. Papua New Guinea Oct 13 6pm American Samoa v. Papua New Guinea
Semis: Oct 15 4pm Winner Group B v. Second Group A 6pm Winner Group A v. Second Group B Third Place: Oct 17 12 noon Losers of Semis Final Oct 17 2pm Winners of Semis For the semis and final, extra-time of fifteen minutes each way will be
played if necessary, using the 'Golden Goal' method. If one doesn't
eventuate in the extra half-hour, penalties will be used to determine
the winner. In the third place play-off, if the scores are level after ninety
minutes, the teams go straight to a penalty shoot-out.
September 4, 1998
Australia Wins
Series With Victory over North Korea
Sept 4, 1998 - Pyongyang, North Korea. The Australian Women's Soccer Team won their three game series against North Korea with a 1-0 victory tonight in Pyongyang, after battling to a scoreless draw in both of their earlier matches.
Julie Murray, of New South Wales, scored the winning goal with a scorching drive from 20 meters in the 72nd minute. Sweeper Traci Bartlett and Defender Anissa Tann-Darby were outstanding throughout the match, while Murray was creative and dangerous despite the close attention of Korean defenders. A thigh inhury to Cheryl Salisbury and Kim Revell's continuing problem with back strain had caused a reshuffling for the Australian squad, but the team worked hard to win against a physical opponent despite many controversial refereeing calls.
A crowd of 22,000 watched at National Stadium as North Korea played well in the first half, pushing forward more than in the two previous matches. The Australian defense absorbed the pressure and dominated play after half-time, initiating attacking moves from the back.
"I am really pleased with today's win and winning the series against a very good team," said National Coach Greg Brown. "This victory was especially sweet because of the way the players ignored the distraction of poor refereeing decisions and focused on the job at hand. We defended strongly again and held possession of the ball well."
Playing for Australia in this game were: Kitching, Bartlett, Gegenhuber (capt), Tann-Darby, Starr, Cooper (Peters 55), Forman, Youman, Iannotta (Black 68), Murray (Taylor 83), Boyd (Hughes 55). The roster of players for North Korea is not available at this time.
The two nations are scheduled to meet again in April of 1999, when North Korea visits Australia.
August 30, 1998
NORTH KOREA 0 AUSTRALIA 0
August 29,1998
Venue: Pyongyang National Stadium, North Korea
Weather: Hot and Humid
Attendance: 58,000Australia
Kitching
Bartlett
Tann-Darby (Swaffer 75)
Gegenhuber
Starr
Salisbury
Youman (Forman 64)
Peters (Revell 64)
Cooper
Boyd (Hughes 70),
Murray (Ferguson 75)
Game report
Fairly tall, verystrong and physical, the host team was fast, and technically good on the ball. The disciplined North Korean side played the offside trap well, catching Australia many times.
Australia struggled in the heat and humidity early in the game, but settled in after a sluggish start. North Korea won several free kicks around the goal area but Kitching stayed in command. In the second half Australia substituted five players as planned by Coach Greg Brown, who has said that the use of players off the bench will continue with all twenty players, to gain as much time on the pitch as possible as Australia prepares for the World Cup qualifiers in October.
The match marked Captain Sonia Gegenuber's 50th international cap, placing her second behind teammate Anissa Tann-Darby, the all-time Australian record holder.
Coach comments
Brown was happy with the performance in their first match since last November. "Our biggest opponent was the heat," said Brown. "It was a good physical battle, and in the end it was great competition for us in trying conditions and in front of a big crowd."
"North Korea is a really good side. I can see why they gave China a run for their money, they'll be a force in the World Cup `99. We need to use the ball a lot better, and close their players down quicker," he said".
August 29, 1998
Australian Team expected to attract huge crowds in North Korea
The Australian Team has been advised by the North Korea organizers that
between 60,000 to 70,000 spectators are expected for the first game at National
Stadium, Pyongyang on Saturday. This team represents the first Australian
athletes to travel to North Korea since diplomatic ties were severed in
1975. They have settled comfortably into the five star Koryo Hotel, after
being welcomed at the Pyongyang airport by the Swedish Ambassador and the
DPR Korea Football Association. In spite of the famine present in much of
the country they have been embarrassed with an abundance of food.
Training mornings and afternoons at the National Stadium. "They've
been watching us train, so they know all about us," said Coach Brown.
"We haven't been able to catch sight of their teams, as they are in
camp elsewhere. Apparently, they also have a full time training structure,
but haven't played any games since the Asian Championships last December."
August 26, 1998
Oceania Qualifying
Tournament In Auckland In October 7-17, 1998
The Tournament Is Taking Place At Mt. Smart Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand Between October 7 And 17. There Are Two Groups.
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Western Samoa American Samoa Fiji |
Australia Tonga Papua New Guinea |
The top two teams advance after round-robin play to the semi-finals, where the group winners play the runners-up in the opposite group, the winners advancing to the final, with the winner of that match qualifying for USA '99.
Australia wanted, and initially got, a two-legged arrangement for both the semis and final, due to having been humbled by New Zealand in the one-off final for qualification to the Under-17 Junior World Cup qualifiers in 1995. But Oceania President Charlie Dempsey has told them where to go, and normal knockout arrangements have been reestablished.
Australia are currently touring North Korea, while New Zealand's preparations resume at the National Tournament, which takes place in a province called Wairarapa between September 6 and 12.
The Oceania Qualifying Tournament will take place from October 3 - 18, 1998, in Auckland, New Zealand. The likely participants are: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, Tonga, and Western Samoa.