China looked lethargic for a second straight time at the finals, drawing underdogs Australia 1-1.

The Matildas opened the scoring in Carson, California through Heather Garriock midway through the first half. The fine goal gave the Australians some hope for three points against USA 1999’s losing finalists. But striker Bai Jie slotted home to even the score just after the break and scrape a share of the spoils in an uninspired effort.

Australia slammed the door shut during the second period. With everyone behind the ball, and led by central defensive bastion Cheryl Salisbury, Sun Wen and her Asian mates were simply unable to pick the lock.

China started the match the brightest with Bai Jie back up front partnering Sun Wen and looking dangerous as ever. But the first real chance of the match fell to Liu Ying, whose long blast skimmed just past the right post (8’).

But, with no shortage of defenders at the back, the Australians were well organised and far from overrun, and just a minute later Kelly Golebiowski tried her luck from 18-yards out (9’). However, it was ten minutes later that the Matildas made their giant-killing intentions very clear.

After soaking up vast amounts of Chinese pressure, Danielle Small brought the ball out of her own half and laid a perfectly weighted pass into the path of the streaking Garriock. With goalkeeper Zhao Yan charging at her feet, the Queensland midfielder took her sliding left-footed shot with composure to give the Aussies an improbable lead (0-1, 28’).

Stung into action, the Group D favourites, Sun Wen launched an almost inch-perfect free kick from deep on the left, picking out Pu Wei unmarked at the far post, but the midfielder couldn’t direct her volley on the net (32’).

Sun Wen almost pulled the Chinese even before the break when she redirected a cross towards the Australian net. With the goalkeeper out of position and the ball seemingly destined for the goal, captain Cheryl Salisbury threw her body into the post and cleared the ball off the line (40’).

But coming out immediately after the break, the Chinese pulled back the equaliser. Zhang Ouying was the instigator from the right, as goalkeeper Cassandra Kell could only parry her cross into the path of Bai Jie. The former Washington Freedom player settled it and made no mistake with her left foot from eight yards out (1-1, 46’).

Obviously shaken by her role in the goal, Kell was lucky not to see her net bulged again in the next minutes as she dropped cross from both the left and right. She was not helped by the fact that China began to play their best football of the tournament so far.

However, the Oceania Champions held on for all they were worth, defending with nine players around their box at all times. China pushed forward and moved the ball well, but all they could show for it were a series of corners and menacing crosses.

Liu Yali’s gorgeous dummy on Zhao Lihong’s corner perfectly set up Liu Ying to shoot from 18-yards out, but as was the pattern of the second half, the shot was cut out by Australian legs (78’). Liu Ying again went close from 25 yards as Chinese nerves began to get frazzled (84’).

The brave Australians held on, despite the fact that they were outshot nine to three and conceded 11 corners without winning a single one. And, in the end, the FIFA Women’s World Cup USA 2003 had its first draw.

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