Sally Shipard - Most popular for 2010
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Australia defeated DPR Korea in the final of the AFC 2010 Asia Cup. With the scores locked at 1-1
after the Aussies had led early, extra-time saw no further goals and the Aussies won the final on
penalties.
And remarkably in the worst sodden penalty spot perhaps ever seen for a Continental final all five
Aussie penalty takers scored.
Australian teams play with spirit, often over skill or so it's said, but anyone who follows the
World Game know England, Italy and even Brazil can dig out a victory with character and tactical
nous move evident than skill when required.
This Matildas performance had loads and loads of the former.
The latest news on the squad that is set to start the 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup opener for
Australia is this, Lydia Williams in goal, Melissa Barbieri on the bench. Defender Thea Slatyer
will wear the captain's armband. And two wonderful stories in that Aivi Luik will play, completing
the journey she set out to when she came back to Australia from America at the end of last year,
with a goal to get into the Matildas, and so will Sally Shipard, who is back on the international
stage after a two-year-break and a W-League season where she signed for Canberra United but
couldn't play at all due to an international transfer hold-up.
So the squad is out and isn't it an interesting one! Certainly pretty different from the players
who attended the training camp in Canberra a few weeks ago and one that actually isn't as
inexperienced as perhaps thought. Helping that is a few players back in the line-up, like Sally
Shipard and Kylie Ledbrook, who have both been out of the set-up for two years.
The DPR Koreans are nobs of the highest order. When the Matildas gained a penalty at the end of the
first half, the Koreans walked to the sideline on masse and delayed the game for a further five or
more. Each one starting with the Keeper should have been booked. Why weren't they?
Or the penalty be taken without a keeper.
Well we beat Vietnam with a second string or part thereof. It wasn't that pretty and at times it
wasn't that comfortable, but only because we couldn't completely kill the game.
Thought Sally Shipard was immense, Sam Kerr looked lively when she came on. We failed to hold the
ball enough for my liking, particularly in the final third.
So the Matildas kickstarted their 2010 AFC Asian Women's Cup with a win! And even more interesting,
in the other match in Group B, Korea Republic and China played out a 0-0 draw. That has two great
benefits, that Australia already have three points while the two teams they really have to beat to
get into the finals only has one and the Matildas already have a better goal difference.
Socceroos, Socceroos, Socceroos are everywhere. Even kicked the Super 14 final, Canberra Raiders
and AFL off the front page of the Canberra Times, in winter, and the World Cup hasn't even started,
or maybe it has!
But more importantly all the football writers are already in South Africa it seems and as a result
only the Australian, hardly reknown for its coverage of men's football never mind womens', seems
interested in the Matildas.
The Half-Time Heroes have pulled out all the stops for their World Cup edition. Sally Shipard talks
about the Matildas' Asian triumph, with Shane Davis and Russ Gibbs providing some related analysis,
and all the regulars contribute some World Cup-related material. Yours truly commemorates some
great own goals from the competition's history.
A 2-1 defeat to current FIFA World Cup winners Germany is certainly not a bad thing, but I think
the most interesting point to come from this is just how different it was from playing in Asia. Cue
Kate Gill's comments,
"The football here is very different to Asian Football. They are more physical in Europe," she
said.
Went to watch the mighty Canberra United take on a Brisbane Roar side famous for their quality but
pumped by Sydney FC in their first game.
The Roar needed to lift and get something from this game and they did. It ended 1-1 with their goal
coming in the seconds before half-time. Great time to score.
With new signings and strong performances in the past two season United fans expected even more
this season. Better performances if not results.
We're getting neither.
Canberra United conceded a very late goal to Melbourne Victory yesterday. Having chosen to sit
near, very near, ABC Commentator Peter Wilkins during the game I felt a sense of inevitably as
Wilko called the last corner of the game in the 94th minute.
Canberra United thumped lowly Adelaide United 4-0 on the weekend, no surprise there, but maybe
Coach Ray Junna has found a solution to the teams surprisingly low-key performances this
season.
Under Coach Robbie Hooker and last season under Junna United performed well. Reaching the final
four each time, playing some entertaining football in both seasons, while missing it seemed just a
ruthless finisher to go one step forward.
