Australia-Ghana Preview

GROUP: D

Australia looks to keep its slim chances of advancing to the quarterfinals alive as they take on Ghana in their final match of Group D play.

The only way Australia can advance is with a win, a China loss to Russia, and then outperform China in goal differential. China has outscored its opponents 2-1. Australia has been outscored 3-2.

Heather Garriock scored in the 28th minute to give the upstart Australians a 1-1 tie with China on Thursday.

The Australians are ranked 15th in the world, so their coach was pleased with the tie against No. 4 China.

``For our team, it has been quite an experience,'' Australia coach Adrian Santrac said.

Australia remains winless in World Cup play, going 0-6-2 in three appearances.

Santrac hasn't gotten any production from six-foot team captain Cheryl Salisbury, who is Australia's all-time leading goal-scorer in internationals with 28 goals in 89 matches.

A former midfielder turned defender, Salisbury played for the New York Power of the WUSA. Australia fields a team of young players with experience in the WUSA league.

Although it has lost in the first rounds of its two last appearances at the World Cup, Australia is determined to earn their first win in a major tournament.

After losing 3-0 to Russia on Thursday, Ghana has no chance at advancing to the quarterfinals.

Ghana has yet to score a goal, losing 1-0 to China on Sunday in its first match.

Ghana, too, is winless in World Cup play, going 0-4-1 in two appearances.

HOW THEY QUALIFIED: Australia - 1st place, OFC. Ghana - 2nd place, CAF.

STANDINGS: Australia - 1 point, 3rd place, Group D. Ghana - 0 points, 4th place, Group D.

RED AND YELLOW CARDS: Australia - Kelly Golebiowski and Dianne Alagich, yellow. Ghana - Mavis Dgajmah, yellow.

TEAM LEADERS: Australia - Garriock, 1 goal and 2 points; Danielle Small, 1 assist. Ghana - none.

GOALKEEPERS: Australia - Cassandra Kell (0-1-1, 0 SO, 1.50 GAA). Ghana - Memunatu Sulemana (0-2-0, 0, 2.00).

ALL-TIME WORLD CUP RECORDS: Australia - 0-6-2, 3 appearances. Ghana - 0-4-1, 2 appearances