Matildas Wallop Queens 4-1
Ghana Black Queens' FIFA Women's World Cup campaign got off to a possible worst start when they slumped 1-4 to Australia in their opening Group C game at the Hangzhou Dragon Stadium.
The scoreline appeared deceptive considering the fact that the Queens dominated play but failed to put the ball past their opponents—something the Australians did with cheeky ease and could have recorded an even higher margin but for the heroic saves of goalkeeper Memunatu Sulemana.
The result was the worst since the Queens' 0-7 loss to China in their maiden appearance in 1999. It was the Australians' first ever win since their debut in 1995.
Goals from fast-paced Sarah Walsh (15th), Lisa De Vanna(57th, 81st), and Heather Garriock(69th) ended the Queens' dominance over the Matildas.
Determined not to lose again to the Queens for the second successive time in as many WWC meetings, the Matildas came out strongly in the opening minutes and tried long range shots, ostensibly to test the Ghanaian defence and goalkeeper Sulemana.
The Queens also responded appropriately, exhibiting some quality touches and passes but fumbled in front of goal.
However, the Ghanaian defence failed to click this time, and in no time the Australians found the Ghanaian defence, built around Aminatu Ibrahim, Olivia Amoako, Yaa Avoe, Lydia Ankrah and Mavis Danso, flat-footed and thus switched the game into a fast pace from the wings.
Well-fed passes from Collette Mc Callum who ended up as the Player of the Match, always found speedsters Walsh and Garriock in the Queens goal area virtually unmarked and putting so much pressure on goalkeeper Sulemana.
Between the 12th and 14th minutes, Memunatu was called to duty to save two point-blank shots, but there was very little she could do when in the 15th minute Walsh latched onto a ball from a clumsy clearance from the Queens' defence to slot in the opening goal.
Young Anita Amankwaa, who was making her debut at the world stage, could be pardoned for her inexperience, but not for the way she wasted chances. Twice in the closing stages of the first half, she could have carved a niche for herself and saved her team's dream with only an empty net in front of her.
Fast becoming her trademark, she cleverly rounded up her markers, turned the last defender inside out, but instead of tapping the ball in, she chose to dribble past the goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri who was too experienced for such an exploit.
The pattern in the second half was no different as the Queens probed for the equaliser, but their quest turned nightmarish when the Australians upped their tally following a slow reaction from the Ghanaian defenders.
Coach Isaac Paha pulled out sluggish Yaa Avoe for Hamdyia Abass and Anita Amenuku for Belinda Kanda, but that had no effect on the team.
However, a minute after Garriock had netted the Aussies' third goal, Amankwaa made up for her earlier misses when after she had received a pass from Florence Okoe, she turned beautifully and unleashed a shot that beat goalie Barbierri.
Two minutes later, Anita almost made it two but her markers this time thwarted her solo efforts.
When the Queens were having the better of the exchanges, they were stunned by the Australians with another goal which could have been cleared by Ankrah.
De Vanna nearly scored a hat-trick and her side's fourth goal, but brave goalkeeping by Sulemana denied her.
The result was disappointing for the enthusiastic fans who turned up in their numbers to support the Ghanaians. The Queens now have no choice than to win their second game against Canada on Saturday to keep their dream alive.
“We still have two matches to play. Losing the first match has put us under some pressure, but in football anything can happen. We can only go back to the drawing board, correct our mistakes and psyche ourselves up for the matches ahead,” Coach Paha said in a post-match interview.
But his Australian counterpart, Tom Sermanni, thought it would be a daunting task despite the fact that the Queens are quite skilful.
“Winning our first-ever match against no other team than Ghana eases the pressure on us, but I must say that my Ghanaian friends have been pushed to a must-win corner. They are no pushovers, though, as our score line may suggest. It is a difficult task, but they must not lose confidence,” he said.
Story by Rosalind Amoh