Australia beats Equatorial Guinea 3-2 at Women’s World Cup

BOCHUM, Germany — Australia kept alive its chances to reach the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup by beating Equatorial Guinea 3-2 on Sunday in a game that will be remembered for a penalty that wasn’t called.

Australia’s Leena Khamis, who scored the first goal, hit the post in the

16th minute. As the ball bounced back, Equatorial Guinea defender Bruna grabbed it with both hands, held it, then casually dropped it again. Australians threw out their arms in amazement when Hungarian referee Gyoengyi Gaal failed to call a penalty.

Anonman scored in the 21st minute for Equatorial Guinea, before Australia took the lead for good with two goals early in the second half by Emily Van Egmond and Lisa De Vanna.

Anonman, as on her first goal, stole the ball from Servet Uzunlar to score, pulling Equatorial Guinea within one in the 83rd minute.

Australia held on, and the penalty incident had no impact on the final result.

It left Equatorial Guinea with two losses and on the brink of elimination. Australia is in better shape for a quarterfinal spot after an opening loss to Brazil. Norway plays Brazil for the lead in Group D later Sunday.

Australia got off to a fast start when Khamis pounced on a rebound goalie Miriam should have held and scored in the eighth minute.

Early in the second half with the score tied, Khamis set up Van Egmond to score from about 10 yards out with a blistering volley in the 48th. As the inexperienced African team sought to regroup, De Vanna gave her team a cushion, running onto a deep pass from Collette McCallum and slipping it past the out-of-position Miriam.

Equatorial Guinea, ranked 61st and the biggest outsider in the tournament, found it tough to switch from its defensive posture and attack to get back into the game. Anonman was the leading force and, after getting her nation its first two World Cup goals, she almost earned it a first World Cup point as well.

Australia now plays Norway in a decisive game Wednesday.