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Quite a debut Australia defeats Kazakstan in first Olympic gameLatest: Monday October 09, 2000 11:52 PM
RYDE, Australia (CNNSI.com) -- Australia won't the first-ever women's Olympic water polo match on Saturday. Bridgette Gusterson scored a pair of first-half goals to the lead the host Aussies to a 9-2 win over Kazakstan. Gusterson finished with three goals and Yvette Higgins had two for Australia, which should get a tougher game Sunday from Russia, which was tied 7-7 by Canada. "I never get emotional, I didn't think I would," said Australia's Bridgette Gusterson. "I never cry before a game. I did today." "For me it was an absolute experience," said Australia"s Debbie Watson, who is 35 and unretired to take part in history. "I feel very lucky to have been here." The game was as much a celebration for Australia, serving host to the first women's tournament in a sport that that has been men only at the Olympics since its debut in Paris a century ago. Both teams stepped into the pool while a Shania Twain recording said, "Let's go girls" and fans clapped along. There were about 4,000 people at the Ryde Aquatics Leisure Center. About 50 of them wore green and yellow frizzy wigs with shirts saying "Giddy Up, Aussies," on the front and "Australian Women's Water Polo Olympic Cheer Squad," on the back. They broke into Aussie chants and sang "Waltzing Matilda" as their team took control. When it was over, the crowd stood and cheered. Players from both teams waved back. Kazakstan led 1-0 on Olga Lechshuk's goal only 45 seconds into the game. That would be one of Kazakstan's few highlights. "We started very strong in the first quarter, which we knew we had to against Australia," said Rezeda Aleyeva of Kazakstan. "Once we found the first goal, we knew we had to keep at it." Australia wouldn't let them. Higgins tied the game four minutes later and Gusterson put Australia ahead for good on a penalty shot with 1:53 left in the first period. Kazakstan had chances to get back in it. But goalkeeper Danielle Woodhouse, a second-half replacement for Liz Weeks, made several close-in stops to keep Kazakstan off the board during the final two periods. Watson embraced teammates at the final horn. She remembered how she was certain, after being told other sports would have to downsize to get hers in, she would never compete beneath the Olympic rings. "We heard maybe in '84 or '88, then '92 and '96," she said. "I didn't think it would happen for me." When she learned in 1998 that her homeland would host, she dragged herself back into a sport she left about 2 1/2 years earlier and earned a spot. Ann Dow had three goals to lead Canada, which rallied after Natalia Koutouzova put Russia ahead with five minutes to go. Cora Campbell lobbed a long cross-pool pass that Johane Megin used to tie the score 30 seconds later. Both teams failed to capitalize on late opportunities. Ioulia Petrova and Sofia Konoukh led Russia with two goals apiece. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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