THE Matildas have had to settle for a point after conceding a late equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Germany in their second Olympic group stage match at Corinthians Arena.
Australia put a disastrous first-up loss to Canada behind them with Kardinya-raised Samantha Kerr easing her side’s nerves with a goal in just the sixth minute.
The assist for the early strike, a tidy finish from Kerr, was supplied by her Perth Glory teammate Caitlin Foord.
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READ NOWFoord was able to hit the scoresheet herself in the opening half after being set up by Australia’s captain, Spearwood’s Lisa De Vanna.
But their 2-0 buffer did not last long.
German Sara Dabritz breached Australia’s defence in first-half stoppage time to give the second-ranked German’s a massive boost at the change of ends.
Germany’s match-levelling second goal came from a set-piece; a swinging ball from the left bundled over the line by Saskia Bartusiak after a tussle with Clare Polkinghorne in the 88th minute.
Australia was unable to re-take the lead in the dying minutes.
Australia will play Zimbabwe at 3am on Wednesday hoping for a big win.
The best positioned third-placed teams go through to the knockout stages.