Edmonton, Canada
Saturday 27 June 2015
The Westfield Matildas’ phenomenal run at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015™ is over at the Quarter Final stage after succumbing to reigning world champions Japan 1-0 in hot conditions at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.
A gritty Westfield Matildas outfit created some decent chances and managed to hold out a quality Japan but just when the game seemed destined for extra time, substitute Mana Iwabuchi struck to keep Japan’s World Cup defence alive.
It was a shattering way for the Westfield Matildas to bow out of the tournament, but with the average age of the squad just 23, which includes veterans Lisa De Vanna and Melissa Barbieri, the future is bright for this team that has captured the imagination and attention of many back home.
The character and never say die attitude of the Westfield Matildas was epitomised by arguably Australia’s best performer throughout the tournament, Elise Kellond-Knight, as she produced two crucial goal saving tackles in the final ten minutes to keep them level.
But with three minutes to go in regulation time a scramble in the penalty area from a Japan corner proved the defining moment in the match as Iwabuchi struck to extinguish the Westfield Matildas’ hopes of a spot in the semi finals.
Obviously gutted by the result, Head Coach Alen Stajcic praised his team’s courage and dedication but admitted the first 20 minutes of the contest, which Japan dominated, was a telling factor and in the end they were deserved winners.
“Today I thought the better team won. They kept the ball and had a lot more patience and technique than us, especially in the first 20 minutes of the match, and I think we expended a lot of energy chasing the ball during that period,” Stajcic said.
“Even though they (Japan) scored from a set piece and a scrappy sort of goal they were probably better at more aspects of the game than we were.”
“It’s a heartbreaking experience for all of us but in saying that we’ve got such a good base to build from now, it was a good learning experience for everyone and it’s our job to get better – we don’t want to compete with the best, we want to beat the best.”
The majority of the squad will head their separate ways from Edmonton while the contingent heading back to Australia are scheduled to depart tomorrow at 7.50pm local time and are scheduled to arrive in Sydney on Tuesday 30 June at 8.15am.
Match Details
Westfield Matildas 0
Japan 1 (Iwabuchi 87’)
Referee: Kateryna Monzul (Ukraine)
Crowd: 19,814 @ Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton
Westfield Matildas starting line-up: 1.Lydia WILLIAMS (gk), 5.Laura ALLEWAY, 7.Steph CATLEY, 8.Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT, 9.Caitlin FOORD, 10.Emily van EGMOND, 11.Lisa DE VANNA (c) (2.Larissa CRUMMER 67’), 14.Alanna KENNEDY, 17.Kyah SIMON (3.Ashleigh SYKES 89’), 19.Katrina GORRY (23.Michelle HEYMAN 76’), 20.Samantha KERR
Substitutes not used: 4.Clare POLKINGHORNE, 6.Servet UZUNLAR, 12.Leena KHAMIS, 13.Tameka BUTT, 15.Teresa POLIAS, 16.Hayley RASO, 18.Melissa BARBIERI (gk), 21.Mackenzie ARNOLD (gk), 22.Nicola BOLGER
Yellow cards: Nil
Red cards: Nil
Japan starting line-up: 18.Ayumi KAIHORI (gk), 3.Azusa IWASHIMIZU, 4.Saki KUMAGAI, 5.Aya SAMESHIMA, 6.Mizuho SAKAGUCHI (10.Homare SAWA 90’), 8.Aya MIYAMA (c), 9.Nahomi KAWASUMI, 11.Shinobu OHNO (16.Mana IWABUCHI 72’), 13.Rumi UTSUGI, 17.Yuki OGIMI, 19.Saori ARIYOSHI
Substitutes not used: 1.Miho FUKUMOTO (gk), 2.Yukari KINGA, 12.Megumi KAMIONOBE, 14.Asuna TANAKA, 15.Yuika SUGUSAWA, 20.Yuri KAWAMURA, 21.Erina YAMANE (gk), 22.Asano NAGASATO, 23.Kana KITAHARA
Yellow cards: Iwashimizu 27’
Red cards: Nil
