Westfield Matildas draw with Italy

It was a special match for Australia?s most-capped player and Westfield Matildas captain, Cheryl Salisbury, who played her final match for the national team following the announcement of her retirement earlier in the week.
Australia and Italy both had opportunities to score before the first drinks break, taken at the 20th minute, but neither side were able to convert and the first half remained goalless.
Both teams increased the intensity of play in the second half with some exciting passages of play which saw Australia with a number of shots on goal as well as some opportunities missed.
Lisa De Vanna?s dummy over the ball and race down the pitch finished with her sending the ball curling into the back of the net in the 54^th minute for Australia?s first goal.  Just three minutes later, it was Italy?s turn to score with Pamela Conti stealing her way through the Australian defense to slot the ball in goal underneath the advancing Melissa Barbieri.
In what looked like Australia?s next chance at goal, Sarah Walsh was brought down in the box by the Italian keeper which saw a penalty awarded in Australia?s favour.  The crowd were brought to their feet as captain, Cheryl Salisbury stood up to take the penalty shot.  Salisbury converted in the 65^th minute much to the delight of her adoring fans.
Both teams continued to attack until Italy once again penetrated the Australian defence in the 78^th minute.  Barbieri managed to get a hand to the ball but it was not enough to deflect the strike from Alessia Tuttino which leveled the scores once again.
The 85^th minute marked a poignant moment and the end of an era when Cheryl Salisbury was subbed off for Danielle Brogan who was making her debut for the Westfield Matildas.
?The game in general was good.  However, we would have liked to come out of it with a win,? said head coach, Tom Sermanni.
?From a crowd perspective, it was a thoroughly entertaining match and in the end, a fair result.
?Of course this match was also significant for us with the passing of an era in Cheryl?s last game at international level.  It was a fitting send off in front of a passionate home ground,? concluded Sermanni.
The next match in the two-match series will take place on 7 February at Canberra Stadium with kick-off at 4.00pm AEDT.  Tickets available from Ticketek. 
Australia          2 (Lisa De Vanna 55?, Cheryl Salisbury 65? (pen))
Italy                  2 (Pamela Conti 58?, Alessia Tuttino 78?)
Parramatta Stadium
Saturday 31 January 2009
Referee:  Jacqui Melksham
Assistant Referees:  Sarah Ho, Airlie Keen
Fourth official:  Kirralee Gardener
Crowd:  2,921
Australia line-up:  1.Melissa BARBIERI (gk), 2.Kate McSHEA, 3.Karla REUTER, 4.Claire POLKINGHORNE (14.Collette McCALLUM 56?), 5.Cheryl SALISBURY (c) (19.Danielle BROGAN 85?), 6.Amber NEILSON (17.Lana HARCH 79), 8.Caitlin MUNOZ (9.Sarah WALSH 56?), 11.Lisa DE VANNA, 12.Katie GILL, 16.Lauren COLTHORPE, 20.Elise KELLOND-KNIGHT (7.Heather GARRIOCK 12?)
Substitutes not used:  13.Tameka BUTT, 18.Lydia WILLIAMS (gk), 22.Ellie BRUSH
Yellow cards:  Cheryl Salisbury 45?
Red cards:  Nil
Italy line-up:  1.Chiara MARCHITELLI (gk), 2.Sara GAMA, 3.Roberta D?ADDA, 4.Alessia TUTTINO, 5.Elizabetta TONA, 6.Viviana SCHIAVI, 8.Melania GABBIADINI (19.Marta CARISSIMI 83?), 9.Patrizia PANICO (c), 10.Tatiana ZORRI, 18.Pamela CONTI (11.Silvia FUSELLI 71?), 20.Giulia DOMENICHETTI
Substitutes not used:  7.Venusia PALIOTTI, 12.Anna Maria PICARELLI (gk), 13.Giorgia MOTTA, 14.Ilaria MAURO, 16.Laura NEBOLI, 22.Sara PENZO (gk)
Yellow cards:  Chiara Marchitelli 65?
Red cards:  Nil