On this day 12 September 2007 (Exactly 13 years ago today)The Black Queens of Ghana were hammered 4-1 by Australia in the opening match of Group C at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in China.
In so doing, the Matildas scored its first World Cup win in 10 attempts
Striker Sarah Walsh opened the scoring after 15 minutes which gave the Matildas a 1-0 edge in an evenly balanced first half.
After the break superior fitness paid off with two goals from second-half substitute Lisa De Vanna (57 and 81) and another from Heather Garriock in the 69th minute.
Ghana’s exciting 18-year-old striker Anita Amankwa fired one back for the Black Queens in the 70th minute.
Ghana had taken points from Australia in 1999 and 2003 but they struggled to subdue the pacy Walsh and it was after two earlier near misses that the 24-year-old broke the deadlock, firing left-footed off the inside of the post.
She then teed up De Vanna to double Australia’s lead and the outcome was settled when Heather Garriock headed home the pick of Australia’s goals.
The match is the first of a Group C double header which sees Norway and Canada meet at the same stadium later Wednesday.
The Matildas have played in three World Cups before – in 1995, 1999 and 2003 – but have failed to get beyond the group stage, a dismal record that they want to fix.
Their form in the lead up has been good, and their first ever win will boost confidence.
Norway, ranked fourth in the world, and Canada, ranked ninth are the favourites to pass into the knockout round ahead of Australia, who are 15th in the FIFA rankings.
The lowest ranked team in the current tournament at 47, Ghana have appeared in two previous World Cups without getting beyond the group stage.
Match Summary
Venue: Dragon Stadium, Hangzhou
Attendance: 30,752
Referee: Adriana Correa (Colombia)
Score: Ghana 4-1 Australia
Goals Scored
Ghana
Anita Amankwa(70)
Australia
Sarah Walsh(15)
Lisa De Vanna(57,81)
Heather Garriock(69)
Elsewhere;
On this day 12 September 1984 (Exactly 36 years ago today) Anane Kobo scored twice as Real Tamale United returned to their fluent best with an impressive 5-0 victory over Cornerstones in their League match played in Tamale. Alex Agyekum, Kwame Danger and Ahmed Dauda were the other goal scorers.
On this day 12 September 1920(Exactly 100 years ago today)VII Summer Olympic Games was officially closed in Antwerp, Belgium with the United States topping the medal table with a total of 95 medals including 41 gold, followed by Sweden 64 (19 gold) and Great Britain 43 medals including 15 gold.
On this day 12 September 2004 (Exactly 16 years ago today) Roger Federer produced an outstanding performance to beat Lleyton Hewitt and win his first US Open title.
The world number one was at times unplayable and withstood a Hewitt fightback to win 6-0 7-6 (7-3) 6-0.
Hewitt came into the final on a 16-match winning streak but Federer took control with a stunning first love set.
Hewitt battled superbly in the second but faltered in the tie-break, and Federer powered through the third for his fourth Grand Slam title.
Federer becomes the first man in history to win his first four Grand Slam finals, and the first man since Mats Wilander in 1988 to win three Grand Slams in a year, following victories in Australia and at Wimbledon.
“I’m very happy, I still can’t believe what I’ve done this year,” said Federer.
“It’s always very important to play well in the finals, in the matches that count, and to win the first set 6-0 was a perfect start.”
On this day 12 September 2011(Exactly 9 years ago today) Novak Djokovic confirmed his status as the world’s best player with a stunning victory over defending champion Rafael Nadal to lift his first US Open title.
The top seed from Serbia gave a display of breathtaking quality to triumph 6-2 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 6-1 in four hours and 10 minutes on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
On this day 12 September 1936 (Exactly 84 years ago today)Englishman Fred Perry won his 8th and final Grand Slam event before turning pro; beat American Don Budge 2-6, 6-2, 8-6, 1-6, 10-8
NB: Prior to Andy Murray in 2012, Perry was the last British player to win a men’s singles Grand Slam title, until Murray won the 2012 US Open.
On this day 12 September 1970 (Exactly 50 years ago today)Margaret Court of Australia became the first woman during the Open era (and the second woman in history after Maureen Connolly) to win the singles Grand Slam (all four major tournaments in the same calendar year), after beating American Rosemary Casals 6-2, 2-6, 6-1in the US Open final.
On this day 12 September 1976(Exactly 44 years ago today) Jimmy Connors won his second US Open title; beat Björn Borg of Sweden 6-4, 3-6, 7-6, 6-4
On this day 12 September 1982(Exactly 38 years ago today) Jimmy Connors won his 4th US Open title; beat Czech star Ivan Lendl 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
On this day 12 September 1993 (Exactly 27 years ago today)Pete Sampras won his second US open title; beat Frenchman Cédric Pioline 6-4,6-4,6-3
On this day 12 September 1999(Exactly 21 years ago today) Andre Agassi won his 2nd and final US Open title; beat fellow American Todd Martin 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2
On this day 12 September 2009(Exactly 11 years ago today) Belgian Kim Clijsters became first unseeded player and wildcard to win the US Open; beat Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 7-5, 6-3
On this day 12 September 2015 (Exactly 5 years ago today)In an all-Italian final Flavia Pennetta won her only Grand Slam title; beat Roberta Vinci 7-6, 4-7, 6-2 to become first Italian to win US title
By George Mahamah
