A jubilant Chinese team poses for photos after winning the AFC Women’s Asian Cup against Australia at the Hindmarsh Stadium on 30 July 2006. AFC photo by Tom Miletic

By Etsuko Miyazaki

ADELAIDE: China defeated Australia 4-2 on penalties on Sunday to lift the AFC Women’s Asian Cup for the eighth time after extra-time ended 2-2 in a match which will surely go down as one of the most thrilling encounters in the history of Asian women’s football.

A bad case of nerves hit the Matildas, who were playing in their first ever major tournament final, as Collete McCallum and regular time scorer Joanne Peters missed from the spot, leaving Han Duan to slam home the winning goal.

The victory marked China’s return back to their winning ways after a two-year interregnum in 2001 and 2003 when they lost in the semifinals and final respectively to DPR Korea. Otherwise they had won every championship from 1986 to 1999.

China came from behind to neutralise a two-goal deficit through Han Duan (68) and Ma Xiaoxu (73), who was named the Most Valuable Player, to force the match into extra-time after Caitlin Munoz had scored the first goal for Tom Sermanni’s side on 28 minutes and Peters made it 2-0 on 33 minutes.

The Matildas were determined against the seven-time champions and, riding on a wave of popular support at the Hindmarsh Stadium, went on to prove why they are already being considered a major threat to the traditional Asian superpowers of the women’s game.

Before today’s final, Australia had played China 26 times and come away as the losing side 16 times, with seven games ending in a draw. The last two clashes between the two, as recently as last month, ended in favour of China.

China had the better start with Ma Liangxing’s side coordinating more purposefully than the hosts. But Australia managed to sneak ahead against the run of play when Munoz deftly controlled a throw-in from the right to turn and fire a speculative shot from 30 metres. Goalkeeper Han Wenxia managed to get a hand to it but the powersoaked shot ripped into the net.

Five minutes later Sermanni’s charges had doubled the advantage. Collette McCallum’s corner floated tantalisingly into the box to Peters who, under pressure from defender Liu Yali, nodded home powerfully.

Australia, egged on by a capacity crowd, then swamped their rivals with ferocious raids in a bid to increase the two-goal cushion even as the Chinese tried to hit back and find their rhythm.

The Matildas should have made it 3-0 in the 55th minute when McCallum’s powerful volley off Sarah Walsh flew over the crossbar. Four minutes Xiaoxu showed why she’s the find of this tournament with a 30 metre missile which was kept out only by some energetic goalkeeping by Australian custodian Melissa Barbieri.

China continued to test the Matildas’ defence and were rewarded when a beautiful backpass from Xiaoxu set up Duan for a low shot to the left of the goal out of a diving Barbieri’s reach, botching up Australia’s clean slate.

With the arrears reduced, the momentum swung China’s way and five minutes later Xiaoxu turned scorer with a solo zig-zag run which mesmerised the defence and ended in a strong unstoppable shot, sending the large contingent of Chinese fans into raptures. The last 10 minutes of normal play saw the Chinese establish control over the game.

Extra time failed to break the deadlock but Xialing, rightly anticipating a spotkick decider, changed goalkeeper Weixian with Zhang Yanru with two minutes left on the clock. In the shootout McCallum, Peters missed while Sally Shipard and Alicia Ferguson found the net. For China, Xiaoxu, Bi Yan, Li Jie and Duan were on the mark.

“I can’t believe that we came back from two goals down but I never lost confidence in my players,” said China coach Liangxing after the match.

“This victory will be very important in increasing the confidence of my players. It will be very positive,” added Liangxing, no doubt referring to next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup which will be hosted by China.

About Australia, Liangxing said the AFC newcomers needed more playing time against other Asian teams. “I think Australia is one of the good teams in the AFC but they need more opportunities to play against Asian teams.”

Liangxing’s counterpart drew the positives. “Someone said the final would end in penalties but I didn’t believe him. Tonight two great teams played. The people who came here really enjoyed. I am really proud of the effort of my players…the way they hung on when could have easily folded,” said Sermanni.

“When the game goes to penalties, it is a lottery.”

“We still have to catch up with some of the teams in Asia. It’s a good platform for us to build on.”

On the quality of teams in the championship, Sermanni said: “Honestly any team in the semifinals could have gone to the final, even Korea Republic. I think the women’s game is very healthy here (in Asia) and any of these teams can do well against other teams in the world.”

“I was told this tournament would be very hard for us. Undoubtedly the AFC Women’s Asian Cup is of a high level and we have made an impact through our result,” said Sermanni.

Another award going China's way was the AFC Fair Play award which is given to the team with the least number of cautions.

RESULT

China 4-2 Australia (penalty kicks)

China goalscorers - Ma Xiaoxu, Bi Yan, Li Jie, Han Duan Australia goalscorers - Sally Shipard, Alicia Ferguson (Collette McCallum, Joanne Peters missed)

(Regular time, extra time) China 2 (Han Duan 68, Ma Xiaoxu 73)…Australia 2(Caitlin Munoz 28, Joanne Peters 33)