Substitute Kyah Simon scored in the dying moments as the Matildas’ defeated fifth-ranked Asian soccer heavyweights DPR Korea 3-2 at Ballymore Stadium in Brisbane.
After recording a 2-2 draw with the DPR Koreans just three days earlier, the Australians were desperate to hold out the visiting side in the second game of the series.
The Matildas dominated for much of the opening half, however despite their threatening attacks were unable to finish against a tough Korean defensive line.
Australia’s opening goal came when a Lauren Colthorpe free kick found a heavily marked Katie Gill at the edge of penalty box .
Gill clinically directed her header down to Sarah Walsh who burst into the area and drove the ball past the helpless DPR keeper.
In the 33rd minute DPR Korea fought back when a Ye Gong Re cross found an unmarked Yun Mi Jo who met the ball with a diving header to level the scores.
In the 44th minute Australia were awarded a penalty much to the chagrin of the DPR team whose officials ordered them to the sideline impeding the progress of the match.
After a delay of five minutes with the DPR Koreans refusing to return to the field, officials managed to bring order to the match once again and a clearly unfazed Katie Gill slotted the resulting penalty kick.
In the 53rd minute the Matildas’ Kim Carroll was unable to stop an explosive Yong Ae Kim who took the ball into the box and expertly finished past the fully stretched arm of Melissa Barbieri.
For the remainder of the match Australia’s defence held firm following a wave of attacks from the dogged DPR Korean team while the Koreans themselves were more than capable of breaking up the Matildas’ play.
With the match looked destined to end in a draw, Gill, involved in all three of the Matildas’ goals, received the ball 30 yards out and with a precise first touch played the ball to Collette McCallum who dinked it into the area for late substitute Simon who, in a display of sheer determination, fought past the Koreans tight defence to wrap her foot around the defender guide and the ball over the rushing goalkeeper Myong Hui Hong.
“I thought we defended exceptionally well and to beat a team of DPR Korea’s caliber I think shows great credit to our players ability and character, said coach, Tom Sermanni.
“The players all did well and a result like that is another great step on our road to China.”
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