By Ivan Yeo
With each passing day Australia is starting to look more and more formidable.
The 10th ranked Aussies sent the word on Sunday afternoon in Moncton that they are not mere foils in the knockout stages. Kyah Simon’s goal late in the scone half enabled to score a 1-0 win over seventh-ranked Brazil.
The win is the first ever for Australia in the knockout stages of a World Cup women or men. The Matildas now await the winner of Japan-Netherlands. Brazil meanwhile fails to win a game in the in knockout stages of the tournament in consecutive terms.
The moment came for Australia in in the 80th minute. Katrina Gorry won a ball at midfield, then split the defense with a through ball that sent Lisa DeVanna for the penalty spot. DeVanna fired a shot that was saved by keeper Luciana, but she couldn’t hold onto the ball and Simon fired the rebound shot into the back net to give the Matildas the lead.
Australia did a masterful job throughout the match of stifling the vaunted Brazilian attack. It wasn’t until the 62nd minute that Brazil started mounting scoring chances. The first scoring chance came in the 62nd minute, when Cristiane played a ball wide to Marta on the left side into the penalty area. Marta immediately shot for the near post, but keeper Lydia Williams parried the ball out for a corner. A minute later, Andressa Alves sent the ensuing corner into the six-yard box and Formiga headed the ball on target, but it hit off the left post and Australia eventually cleared the danger.
