Australia edges France in penalty drama to reach first FIFA Women’s World Cup semis

BRISBANE, Aug 12 – Co-hosts Australia beat France 7-6 in a dramatic penalty shootout to succeed in the final 4 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup for the primary time after their quarterfinal completed deadlocked at 0-0 following further time on Saturday.

Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold saved three French penalties and missed one herself within the shootout however it was teenager Vicki Becho hitting the publish with the twelfth spot-kick that opened the door for the hosts.

Cortnee Vine confirmed nerves of metal when she stepped as much as fireplace the ball previous Solene Durand into the underside proper nook of the web and ship the Matildas right into a semi-final in opposition to England or Colombia on Wednesday.

The substitute winger raced again in direction of the centre circle to rejoice together with her staff mates because the stadium and fan zones across the nation exploded in delight.

Arnold hit the publish with what would have been the successful spot-kick earlier than the shootout went to sudden loss of life, however she saved her focus to twice save penalties from Kenza Dali, seeing the primary scratched off as a result of she moved off the road.

“It’s unreal,” mentioned Arnold. “At the end of the day, it’s my job to keep the ball out of the net. And thankfully I could do that for them. But we all do it for each other out there, and they have my back 100%.”

Spain will play Sweden on Tuesday in Auckland for the opposite spot within the last.

“GOLIATH OF A GOALIE”

France, who have been seeking to attain the semi-finals for the second time after 2011, had the higher of the primary half and additional time and can rue a number of probabilities ignored on the pitch as they head residence.

“I would like to congratulate my players for the performance they pulled off today against the entire nation,” mentioned France coach Herve Renard.

“We came up against a goliath of a goalie. What a game, in normal time, in extra time and then during the penalty shootout.”

France had the most effective of the early probabilities with Maelle Lakrar fluffing a golden alternative to offer Les Bleues the lead from a nook within the twelfth minute.

Australia’s solely early probabilities got here in opposition to the run of play from set items however ahead Mary Fowler had as many as six as the sport opened up round halftime, the most effective stopped by a sensational block from defender Elisa de Almeida.

Matildas striker Sam Kerr, nonetheless fighting a calf damage, got here on within the fifty fifth minute and her first cost ahead gave Hayley Raso area for a shot that France’s beginning goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin did properly to push over.

France weathered the storm triggered by the introduction of the Australia skipper, nevertheless, and their 19-year-old substitute Becho was quickly threatening down the opposite finish.

The final quarter of an hour of regular time was a tense however ragged affair with half probabilities at each ends, a theme reprised within the first half of additional time.

Australia’s Alanna Kennedy headed the ball into her personal internet within the a hundredth minute underneath the attentions of Wendy Renard just for the France captain to be penalised for a foul on Caitlin Foord.

France had the higher of the second interval with Becho lashing a shot from the sting of the field within the 107th minute that goalkeeper Arnold saved properly in a precursor to her heroics within the shootout. 

—Reuters