Van Egmond’s screamer opens up path to Tokyo for Matildas

Matildas star Emily van Egmond has struck an added-time screamer to salvage a 1-1 draw in their Olympic qualifying clash.

Emily van Egmond is mobbed by her teammates after scoring the equaliser against China at Bankwest Stadium on Thursday night Picture: Getty Images

Matildas star Emily van Egmond has struck an added-time screamer to salvage a 1-1 draw in their Olympic qualifying clashwith China in Sydney. When the Steel Roses broke the deadlock in the 86th minute through Tang Jiali, Australia was staringdown the barrel of a shock loss at Bankwest Stadium on Thursday night.

But fresh off a maiden international hat-trick in Monday’s 6-0 rout of Thailand, van Egmond came to Australia’s rescue byblasting a 20-yard belter into the top left corner in the second minute of injury time.

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It means the Matildas finish above China on goal difference in Group B, thus avoiding a dangerous home-and-away play-off againstworld No 20 South Korea. As the top seed, they’ll now face second-place Group A finishers Vietnam to clinch a spot in Tokyo.

Not in the mood to muck around, Matildas coach Ante Milicic opted for a full- strength side as he swung six changes.

Back in the starting line-up and wearing the captain’s armband, Sam Kerr showed no lingering signs of the troublesome quadthat reduced her to bench cameos in Australia’s routs over Thailand and Chinese Taipei.

The Chelsea superstar broke loose on goal in the third minute with a deft touch, playing a deft cut back to Caitlin Foordwho sprayed her shot wide. Bristol City signing Chloe Logarzo soon went down clutching her face after a heavy challenge fromWu Haiyan. It earned Australia a free-kick but van Egmond couldn’t produce a long-range effort to test shot-stopper PengShimeng.

Despite imposing themselves as the aggressor in the initial stages, the Matildas had nothing to show for it.

China was slowly working their way into the match and striker Wang Shanshan would have been clean through on goal if not foran incorrect offside call. Not to be denied, Wang struck the woodwork with a wobbly long-range effort before half-time.

China continued to cause the Matildas’ trouble after the break, with Tang leaving a trio of defenders in her wake before producinga low save from Lydia Williams.

Kerr picked Yao Lingwei’s pocket to start a promising Australian counter-attack but Raso couldn’t breach China’s defence.With half an hour left, the visitors butchered a three-on-two chance as Wang skied her shot over the bar. Desperate lungingblocks from Polkinghorne and Catley in quick succession prevented Australia from falling behind.

But their resistance was broken as Ma Jun teed up Tang for a blistering 86th- minute strike from outside the box before vanEgmond found one of her own to save the Aussies.

AAP