The Qantas Matildas have bowed out of the FIFA Women's World Cup in disappointing fashion, losing to Ghana 2-1 tonight in Portland, and thereby dropping out of the tournament at the end of the group phase.
A win tonight would have been Australia's first ever at a Women's World Cup, and would have kept them in with a chance to qualify for the quarterfinals pending the result between China and Russia.
Australia played a poor first half, out of the contest for the vast majority of the opening forty-five minutes of the do-or-die clash. The Qantas Matildas picked up their performance in the second half but it was insufficient to come back from the two-goal deficit.
Ghana, also seeking their first ever World Cup win, showed all the initiative in the first stanza, their natural attacking instincts dominating the lethargic Australians.
The creative Ghanaians looked dangerous from the opening whistle whether up the right flank or through the middle, and had two fantastic opportunities a minute apart on the quarter-hour. Mavis Dgajmah was released behind the Australian defence and Australian goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri, in her first game for the tournament, made a great fingertip save to divert the ball up against the crossbar and out to safety. Dgajmah was then provider for teammate Adjoa Bayor who from 15 metres had Barbieri beaten but hit the crossbar.
Ghana denied their opponent possession of the ball and never stopped looking to add to the goal tally before the break, the Australian defence under consistent threat. Barbieri again made a fabulous save in the 29th minute, just managing to claw out over the crossbar a thumping drive by Alberta Sackey. A minute later, Barbieri denied Alberta Sackey once again with a low reflex save.
Australian Coach Adrian Santrac made two first-half substitutions, bringing in midfielder Bryony Duus and later striker April Mann together with some reshuffling of positions.
Ghana were rewarded with the opening goal in the 34th minute, Alberta Sackey intercepting an Australian pass, shaking off her marker and finishing with a fantastic drive into the top right corner of the goal from the edge of the 18-yard box.
Five minutes later, Ghana doubled their lead. A freekick deep on the right was sent into the far post. Alberta Sackey's 12 metre effort was cleared off the line by Australian defender Dianne Alagich but the loose ball fell in the path of Alberta Sackey and she made no mistake on the second attempt, slotting home from 8 metres on the left.
Lifting up a gear or two from the start of the second half, Australia created the greater opportunities but were now up against a Ghana now intent on protecting their lead, who ventured little in attack in comparison to the first stanza, but remained dangerous on the break.
Australia's Heather Garriock, Danielle Small, and Kelly Golebiowski combined well to push forward on goal, and a plea for a penalty went unanswered after Garriock went down in the box six minutes in. After a couple of further attacks, Australia pulled themselves back into the game with a goal in the 61st minute. Golebiowski turned inside her opponent on the edge of the 18-yard box and slipped an angled ball for Garriock unmarked on the right. Garriock secured her second goal of the tournament with a clinical first-time strike placed inside the near post.
Australia sought the equaliser but were unable to create many more clear opportunities on goal. Ghana then came back into the game with 15 minutes remaining, Alberta Sackey with their best chance for the second half with a cracking drive which was parried up by the keeper and saved.
Defender Cheryl Salisbury was pushed up front in a last ditch effort for Australia and laid off a ball for Golebiowski in stoppage time, but the shot flew just wide.
"Obviously we're very disappointed at the result and the performance," said National Coach Adrian Santrac. "The first half was particularly disappointing. Ghana as we expected came out and played with pride and passion and were committed. We were waiting for our team to begin to play. And as so often is the case, when you start to chase the game, it can be extremely difficult to try to turn things around."
"I'm still scratching my head wondering what happened in the first half and where our players were."
"The disappointment here tonight was the wasted opportunity. We had the opportunity to finish the highest position ever for an Australian women's team at the World Cup, we had the chance to finally win a game, and to put us on the map well and truly in Australia with the result we should have achieved tonight. It's a long line of disappointments - a missed opportunity."
In the later Group D match tonight, an improved China defeated Russia 1-0 to finish top of the group. China now plays Canada and Russia face Germany in Thursday's quarterfinals.