The Matildas have shocked many in becoming the first Australian senior football team to make it through a knockout match at a FIFA World Cup.
But one person who is not shocked is Australian coach Alen Stajcic, who has remained optimistic throughout the entire tournament and has kept to his plan to play exciting attacking football. His tactic to hold Katrina Gorry and Kyah Simon until the later part of the match was superb, and when they eventually entered they made an impact, an impact that the South Americans frustratingly could not counter.
An 80th minute strike from substitute Simon was enough to seal it for the Matildas after some courageous play from goalkeeper Lydia Williams denied the South Americans earlier on.
Once again it was Lisa De Vanna who caused Brazil all sorts of problems, making an expert angled run to get in behind the defense and latch onto a perfectly weighted pass from Gorry, who had only been on the field a short time herself. Brazilian keeper Luciana could only parry away De Vanna’s shot, but Simon was on the spot and cooly found the corner of the net to take the Australians to the lead.
Some are calling this an easy tap-in, but it was more than that. Firstly, she had the vision and fortitude to get there first, plus a ball parried off the keeper’s gloves at speed and in wet conditions is no easy tap-in from that angle under pressure.
Simon’s goal was her third of the tournament, putting the world’s seventh ranked team out of the World Cup and on a plane home.
Even though the Matildas matched it with the Brazilians in possession, the South Americans had more shots on net and a spirited back line kept them scoreless with some solid defending, and a little bit of luck after early chances went begging.
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What has been clear throughout the tournament, has been the amount of depth that Stajcic has to call on and also the superb balance between attack and defense. He has managed to turn the shaky doubtful players that donned the green and gold into a force to be reckoned with.
In what he described as his greatest moment in football, Head Coach Alen Stajcic could not have been prouder of his team.
“It’s a big moment, I don’t think it’s the biggest moment yet, we’re all super proud and excited…but there is still more to come.”
“I think we’re a dangerous team, I think we’re one of the most dangerous teams at the World Cup if not the most dangerous team going forward,” said Stajcic.
The Matildas will play the winners of Wednesday’s round of 16 match between the Netherlands and reigning world champions Japan.
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