australia reach last eight as simon sinks norway published: wednesday 6 july 2011, 20.45cet
two kyah simon goals helped australia come from behind to qualify for the fifa women's world cup quarter-finals at norway's expense in an engaging encounter in leverkusen.
australia are through to the fifa women's world cup quarter-finals after coming from behind to beat norway and reach the last eight at their opponents' expense.
the matildas looked as though they had missed out on a place when elise thorsnes put norway – requiring a win to go through – ahead after 56 minutes, but australia hit back within a minute courtesy of kyah simon's equaliser and the striker was on target again three minutes from time to secure a quarter-final encounter against brazil or sweden. norway, meanwhile, exit at the competition's group stage for the first time.
norway began the match brightly enough and but for the intervention of kim carroll, would have taken the lead on the quarter-hour mark when cecilie pedersen's goalbound shot was deflected over by the defender. ingvild stensland brought the best out of goalkeeper melissa barbieri, when her long shot was well held on 32 minutes, while two strikes from distance by the lively thorsnes were also smothered by the australia captain.
all australia had to show for a restrained first 45 minutes was a snapshot by lisa de vanna, but coach tom sermanni's tactics were doubtless influenced by the knowledge that a point would suffice to reach the knockout stage. those tactics changed 11 minutes after the restart when a mix-up in the australia rearguard allowed thorsnes the easiest of goals.
within 60 seconds, though, eli landsem's side conceded as the tireless de vanna won the ball on the left and teed up simon to finish with aplomb. buoyed by their goal, it was australia who looked most likely to score again, and although trine rønning struck the bar with a free-kick eight minutes from time, simon pounced again late on after norway failed to deal with a corner and carroll picked out the 20-year-old with a pinpoint cross.
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