2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup: Waltz On, You Waltzing Matildas

I'm an honest sportswriter of my word. And honestly, I am not a Tom Sermanni fan.

I say this because of his inability to get the Australia women's national soccer team to win anything major.

You see, outside of their days in Oceania, the Matildas haven't mustered up something that they could hold their heads proud of in international competition.

These days, I'm starting to wonder, to rethink, to reconsider my stance.

Because anytime a manager strikes it rich by getting the results needed from the players he or she coaches, the reputation becomes a little pronounced, a little emphatic, a little respectable.

In a match that evoked shades of the penalty shootout between their male counterparts and Uruguay in that fateful November 2005 contest, the Matildas threw an 800-pound gorilla off their backs.

Australia prevailed 5-4 in a shootout. The match had shades of the USA's 5-4 win over China in a similar lottery in Pasadena, more than a decade ago, at the Women's World Cup.

Both Australia and North Korea already qualified for the 2011 Women's World Cup in Germany. However, Sermanni's Matildas were up against a staunch Chollima side, coached by Kim Kwang Min. Chomilla was ranked fifth in the world and first in the region.

The road to redemption would be tough, as torrid conditions at the Chengdu Sports Centre gave way to a muddy pitch, reminiscent of Estadio Algarve in Faro, Portugal.

Australia finished second in their group to China, who they lost to in the last match of group play. The Matildas shut out Vietnam 2-0, with goals by Leena Khamis and Kylie Ledbrook from the spot.

Khamis and Ledbrook were members of the Sydney FC team that won the Westfield W-League crown earlier this year.

The Washington Freedom's Lisa De Vanna was on hand to team up with fellow Perth Glory player Samantha Kerr and Kim Carroll in the 3-1 victory over Korea Republic.

In the semifinals, a goal by LdB Malmö's Kate Gill—formerly of the Newcastle Jets—gave Australia a 1-0 victory over Japan.

That set up the match between the Matildas and Chollima at the Chengdu Sports Center on May 30.

Melissa Barbieri was tested early in this match, as Korea DPR's ferocious attack made things difficult for the Melbourne Victory keeper.

But 19 minutes into the match, Kerr gave the Australians a 1-0 lead going into the halftime break. A breakaway on the right side found the #22, who received the pass from Claire Polkinghorne. She wasted no time finishing the chance.

For the next several minutes, both teams were engaged in an endless ball scramble on the muddy surface.

Korea DPR could not make the most of drawing players forward. As for the Matildas, the chances from Collette McCallum, Heather Garriock, Kerr, and Polkinghorne never materialized.

Those in the Green & Gold Army who made the courageous trip up north waited for the minutes to tick down. But those who supported the Chollima were simply biding their time, knowing, hoping, praying that the equalizer would finally come.

That chance came in the 73rd minute. A cross on the right side by Yun Song Mi found Jo Yun Mi in the six-yard box.

Danger alert. Mayday, mayday.

The match seemed destined to be 2006 revisited. In that edition, held in Australia, the Matildas surrendered a 2-0 lead, and lost 4-2 on penalties to China.

And the match would indeed go to penalties.

The question was ringing in the ears of the Green and Gold. Would the Matildas learn their lesson from four years ago? Or would Tom Sermanni's reputation take a deeper dive into futility?

Jo Yun Mi was the first to take the spot kick. Barbieri went to her left, but could not make the save. Then it was Sally Shipard, the Australia Institute of Sport prodigy, with her spot kick.

Bang. Slot it without any problems.

Yun Song Mi was next to take a chance. To her horror, Mi missed wide right. She couldn't hide the look of anguish—and possible backlash from the Dear Leader himself— from her face.

Barbieri didn't need to make an effort at the save, as she watched the ball sail to her left.

The reprieve gave way to Kylie Ledbrook, another product of the successful club that was Sydney FC. She didn't miss much from her spot kick against Vietnam, and Korea DPR keeper Jong Myong Hui went the wrong way.

Now Choe Yong Sim was next to take her chance at the spot. Choe had to get some traction for the ball before taking her shot, which escaped Barbieri's reach.

Kate Gill was next to go for broke. Once again, Jong Myong Hui went the wrong way, and it was a well-taken spot kick.

Yu Jong Hui's spot kick managed the top left corner, simply out of reach for Barbieri. No way was she going to reach that. Garriock responded with a coolly-slotted shot past Jong.

As a matter of fact, the shootout could have ended there. But it didn't. Mun Chol Mi's blast down the right side was out of Barbieri's reach.

But Australia had the advantage, and it all went down to Kyah Simon. A member of the Central Coast Mariners in 2008, Simon had the dishonor of watching her club finish sixth before joining Sydney FC.

Simon did not want to play second fiddle to anyone. Not to Korea DPR, and certainly not to herself.

This was her chance.

This was her opportunity, her shot at redeeming this proud sporting nation of all its woes in women's football.

And she got it done. A blast to her right resulted in a dogpile that Australia had desperately waited four years to happen.

Australia had finally won the AFC Asian Cup.

They will no longer need to be referred to simply as Tom Sermanni's Matildas. They are now Tom Sermanni's Waltzing Matildas.

And these green and gold darlings are dancing their way—albeit in the mud—to Germany.

Start the music.