Aussies overcome controversy to edge E. Guinea

Sports Network

July 3, 2011, 7:18 a.m.

Bochum, Germany — 

Australia overcame possibly the worst non- call in Women's World Cup history to defeat Equatorial Guinea, but the obvious uncalled handball may still come back to haunt the Aussies. 

Emily van Egmond and Lisa De Vanna both scored in the first six minutes of the second half and Australia downed Equatorial Guinea, 3-2, on Sunday despite not being awarded an obvious penalty kick in the first half. 

Leena Khamis put Australia in front after 8 minutes, and after she sent a shot off the post in the 16th, Equatorial Guinea defender Bruna picked up the ball when the play was still alive. Australia's players appealed for a handball - which should have been called by referee Gyoengyi Gaal or one of her assistants - but Bruna instead dropped the ball and Equatorial Guinea goalie Miriam scoped it up and play continued.

 

Genoveva Anonman scored five minutes later for Equatorial Guinea, a first-time World Cup qualifier, but Van Egmond and De Vanna helped put the controversy at Ruhrstadion out of the spotlight - for now. After hitting the crossbar late in the first half, the Aussies had no trouble finding the net early in the second half after the introduction of De Vanna. 

De Vanna scored four goals in the 2007 World Cup and although she didn't score the first goal after half, her presence made a difference. Khamis helped set up the first goal after half as she sent a cross in from the left end line and, although it missed a teammate in the middle of the area, it found Van Egmond on the far side and she scored from 12 yards in the 48th. 

Collette McCallum set up the next goal in the 51st when she played a long ball down the middle of the field that De Vanna ran under and with two defenders on her heels and Miriam coming off her line, calmly scored inside the right post. 

McCallum found the crossbar later in the half as Australia missed another good chance, and Anonman made the closing minutes interesting after she scored her second goal of the match in the 83rd. Anonman, in an instant replay from her first goal, won the ball from Australia defender Servet Uzunlar just outside the area and scored inside the right post from just inside the area. 

Australia held on to move even on points with Brazil and Norway ahead of their match later Sunday. Australia is currently third on goal differential, leaving the uncalled penalty - and potentially another goal - a factor on the last day in Group D on Wednesday. The Aussies play Norway on Wednesday, when Equatorial Guinea plays Brazil. The African country will be eliminated later Sunday unless Norway beats Brazil.