Australia has accomplished it — making the World Cup semi-finals for the primary time with a heart-stopping penalty shootout win over France at Suncorp Stadium.
After a scoreless attract 120 minutes, the shootout was as tense because it may very well be.
It was the longest shootout in World Cup historical past — males’s or girls’s — going 10 rounds with Australia popping out on prime 7-6. The earlier longest was the Sweden-USA shootout earlier on this World Cup which went seven rounds, whereas the longest males’s shootout was six rounds between West Germany and France within the 1982 semi-final and the 1994 quarterfinal between Sweden and Romania.
With Mackenzie Arnold developing enormous between the pipes, saving 4 photographs, together with a replayed shot, it got here all the way down to Cortnee Vine slotting what is going to immediately go into Australian sporting folklore.
John Aloisi was on feedback for Channel 7 and when advised he’d be relegated to the second most epic penalty shootout in historical past for his aim that ended the Socceroos’ World Cup drought, he mentioned: “I’m happy to be relegated. We’re in a semi-final.
“This is what a World Cup does on home soil it brings everyone together. The nation together. Everyone’s following the Matildas. Everyone’s behind them. Everyone’s believing they can go all the way and just this, this winning penalty from Vine, it gives you that belief that they can go all the way.”
Channel 7’s David Basheer mentioned it the consequence was “unbelievable” and described Arnold’s efficiency as “spine-tingling”.
Aloisi added: “Wow. I don’t think I have ever seen a penalty shootout like that before. It ebbed and flowed. Drama, drama. This is what sport does, though.”
Matildas star Elise Kellond-Knight mentioned: “I’m speechless. What have we just witnessed? I don’t have words. How everyone just stood up right there, I don’t think I have seen a penalty shootout go to 10 penalty-takers at this level before.”
The consequence means the Matildas will now play the winner of England and Colombia in a while Saturday night time, with the semi-final on Wednesday night time at 8pm from Stadium Australia in Sydney.
It comes after a wild 120 minutes which nearly had all of it besides targets.
There have been two golden probabilities every within the first half nevertheless it was Australia’s Mary Fowler who had one of the best.
A desperation aim line save from French defender Elisa De Almeida denied Fowler an successfully empty web late within the first half because the Matildas turned the momentum.
Sam Kerr got here off the bench within the fifty fifth minute and appeared to spark the Matildas nevertheless it was to avail as Australia performed out the primary scoreless draw after 90 minutes in our World Cup historical past.
It regarded as if France had scored in extra-time when Alanna Kennedy appeared to go the ball into our personal aim after a dodgy name handed France a nook, nevertheless it was denied after French captain Wendie Renaud was pinged for dragging down Caitlin Foord.
8.20pm — Shootout: Australia 7-6 France (after 10 rounds)
France — Miss!
Mackenzie Arnold, you hero! Taking on France’s Selma Bacha, she picked the precise path and made the save.
Australia — Scores!
Caitlin Foord scores! Solene Durand picked the precise path however the ball snuck previous low into the underside left nook.
France — Scores
Kadidiatou Diani cooly slots it within the backside left nook
Australia — Miss!
Steph Catley has been saved as Durand selected the precise path.
France — Scores
Wendie Renard slots it as Arnold picks the unsuitable manner.
Australia — Scores!
Sam Kerr cooly slots it down the center.
France — Scores
Eugenie Le Sommer unsuitable foots Arnold and slots the aim.
Australia — Scores!
The youngest participant within the World Cup, Mary Fowler blasts it into the underside left.
France — Miss!
Mackenzie Arnold has touched it onto the publish — what a second!
Australia — Miss!
Mackenzie Arnold takes the shot however hits the publish herself. It’s now sudden demise.
France — Scores
Grace Geyoro scores however Arnold protests after the Frenchwoman stuttered in and appeared to cease. Not allowed to do this nevertheless it’s cleared by VAR.
Australia — Scores!
Katrina Gorry’s shot was touched nevertheless it’s nonetheless at the back of the web.
France — Scores
Sakina Karchaoui scores, blasting it off the crossbar and in.
Australia — Scores!
Tameka Yallop slots it in the precise aspect of the web as Durand went the unsuitable manner.
France — Scores
Maelle Lakrar slots it regardless of Arnold doing her finest to play mindgames by dummying a technique.
Australia — Scores!
Ellie Carpenter off the publish and in.
France — Miss!
Mackenzie Arnold made two enormous saves on Kenza Dali after she was judged to have come off the road. But she saves the second as properly.
Australia — Miss!
Clare Hunt is barely simply blocked by Durand. This is ridiculous.
France — Miss!
Mackenzie Arnold has been enormous all recreation however Vicki Becho made it simple, firing the ball into the publish after Arnold picked the unsuitable manner.
Australia — Scores!
Cortnee Vine has accomplished it! Australia is into the World Cup semi-finals!
7.37pm — And we’re going to penalties
Australia, cross your fingers — we’re going to penalties.
If you are nervous, you are not alone.
Elise Kellond-Knight mentioned: “I’m a wreck. No-one likes penalty shootouts or equal chances. We’ve ended up here. Do we? We love the excitement. I’m torn here. We love it. I don’t know if I can actually watch this unfold.”
7.33pm — ‘France’s Graham Arnold second’
France have made an enormous change in extra-time damage time.
With the sport seemingly headed for penalties, the French have exchanged Pauline Peyraud Magnin for Solene Durand.
It’s Durand’s third ever cap for France they usually’ll be hoping she will be able to do a “Grey Wiggle”.
You bear in mind — Andrew Redmayne subbed in for the penalty shootout and profitable Australia into the World Cup?
“It may be a Graham Arnold-type move for France,” David Basheer mentioned on Seven.
Let’s hope not.
7.07pm — ‘Never should have happened’: France aim denied
Australia have been given a lifeline after France appeared to attain off a nook they by no means ought to have had.
After France took a ball out over the aim line after which have been inexplicably given a nook, Les Bleus appeared to have scored off Wendie Renard’s header.
But it was denied after Caitlin Foord was dragged down — as Australia set free a collective sigh of aid.
“Can you believe it?! The France captain. And it’s going to be denied. No goal,” David Basheer mentioned on Seven.
“The referee’s intervened. And relief for Australia. On a corner that should never have happened. Wow! High drama at Brisbane Stadium.”
Grace Gill added: “And as you mentioned, a corner that should have never been a corner that should have never been a corner. Those wrongs have been righted in that moment.”
Basheer replied: “Nowhere to hide with technology these days. But, certainly, perhaps they need to have a look at glaring errors like that.”
6.52pm — And we’ve additional time
After 90 minutes, we now have additional time.
There’s been mountains of photographs however none have come off thus far.
Incredibly, it’s the primary goalless attract Australia’s World Cup historical past.
For these uninitiated, the match may have two 15 minute durations of extra-time, regardless if a aim is scored.
But after that, we go to the dreaded penalty shootout and each nail in Australia will likely be bitten all the way down to the short.
6.38pm — ‘There is contact’: Huge World Cup drama
Should Australia have been handed a penalty shot?
It’s now contained in the final 10 minutes however Caitlin Foord was taken down within the field.
While she was taken down, the commentators questioned if there was a bit of an excessive amount of contact from French defender Lakrar.
Grace Gill on 7: “There’s certainly a little tug on the shirt from Lakrar. There’s a bit of contact. Mentioned a little nick on the hair from the trailing boot of Wendie Renard.”
While there have been loads of probabilities, a chunk of luck like a penalty there would have been simply what the physician ordered.
6.24pm — Can France odor an opportunity?
The second half has been almost all Matildas however France have made an attacking transfer with striker Vicki Becho coming in for midfielder Sandie Toletti.
Can France odor an opportunity to counter-attack?
6.14pm — Sam Kerr is in
It’s Tony Gustavsson’s earliest substitution of the event and Sam Kerr is within the recreation for Emily van Egmond within the fifty fifth minute.
And her first contact confirmed she is in truth the tremendous sub.
Her first contact noticed her run from midway to the sting of the field earlier than passing again in.
An unbelievable save was all that stopped a Hayley Raso bullet.
Sam’s entrance was in contrast to the rest.
“I have never heard a roar like that!” David Basheer mentioned on Seven.
“Goosebumps. That one gives you goosebumps,” Grace Gill agreed.
6.10pm — Another probability goes begging
The Matildas are making loads of probabilities early within the second half.
Mary Fowler was tripped and it allowed a free kick on the sting of the field.
But Alanna Kennedy’s shot fired into the wall.
Minutes later, Fowler once more had a shot after operating rings across the defenders nevertheless it was deflected vast.
If solely she’d handed again to the far publish — Caitlin Foord was vast open.
5.48pm — Fowler ‘not going to get a better chance’
Mary Fowler has had one of the best probability of the match turned away after an exceptional effort from Elisa De Almeida.
A cross from the aim line from Hayley Raso was blocked by a defender, with Emily van Egmond first to the ball.
But it dragged French goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud Magnin out and van Egmond discovered Fowler’s with the aim seemingly vast open.
But De Almeida got here from the clouds to push the ball over the crossbar on the deflection.
“Fowler, perhaps thought she had a little bit more time than she had a little bit more time than she did. Great defending,” Grace Gill mentioned on Seven.
“She’s not going to get a better chance in this World Cup, you wouldn’t think, Mary Fowler,” David Basheer added.
At halftime, former Socceroos John Aloisi mentioned: “An incredible opportunity here. The keeper comes out a little bit early and Emily van Egmond does it brilliantly here to cut it back for Mary Fowler. She did note see De Almeida there. She thought hit the target and it is a goal.”
“I can’t talk. My heart fell out watching that one,” Matildas star Elise Kellond-Knight mentioned on Channel 7.
“That was 100 per cent a goal chance. I don’t know how that didn’t go in. A bit of luck on our side which is a great point.”
Minutes later, Fowler had one other golden alternative after a close to good lofted by way of ball, however she couldn’t get a robust contact on it.
At halftime, it’s 0-all however the momentum was undoubtedly shifting late within the half.
5.25pm — Australia go shut
France have regarded actually sturdy to start out the match however Australia has had it first actual probability.
Emily van Egmond had earned a nook for the Aussies and it gave the Matildas an opportunity on the set piece.
But it hasn’t been a energy for Australia with Sam Kerr on the sidelines.
A kick to the close to publish was bouncing dangerously close to the aim mouth however was cleared off the road.
But it didn’t go too far and Katrina Gorry sliced it away.
5.16pm — Matildas survive ‘miss of the tournament’
France have been answerable for the early phases, asking loads of questions of the Matildas.
But France have missed a golden alternative go 1-0 up.
After a nook fell to Eugenie Le Sommer, her effort bounced to the toes of Maelle Lakrar properly contained in the six-yard field.
But Lakrar one way or the other missed, giving the Matildas a fortunate break.
5.09pm — France fireplace the primary shot
The tensions are excessive already with France getting the primary enormous probability for the match.
Matildas defender Alanna Kennedy sliced a clearance and allowed Diani to get the ball and take a shot.
Luckily it skewed vast.
But there additionally seemed to be a shirt pull from Kennedy and followers have been questioning whether or not it ought to have been a card.
Luckily for Australia, the VAR didn’t choose it up.
Speaking on Channel 7, Grace Gill mentioned: “It is a poor clearance from Alanna Kennedy.
“Just that little tug of the shirt there. She escaped with that, Alanna Kennedy. She won’t get too many like that. She is riding that line and it is a fine line with VAR.
Former England defender Gilly Flaherty said on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra: “Alanna Kennedy really struggles with dealing with players like Kadidiatou Diani who has got pace.
“Kennedy is pulling Diani. It should be a foul and a yellow card. Diani was being too honest. Most strikers that I’ve played against would have gone down.
“She is getting pulled and it’s in a very dangerous position as well.”
5.01pm – And we’re underway!
Suncorp Stadium is completely buzzing with a spine-tingling rendition of Advance Australia Fair.
And now we’ve received 90 minutes motion to see if the Matildas could make it to a primary World Cup semi-final.
4.20pm – Socceroos legend not proud of Kerr name
Tony Gustavsson simply made the most important gamble of his life in leaving Sam Kerr on the bench to face France.
Gustavsson mentioned Kerr would solely begin the sport if the crew believed she was able to taking part in for all 90 minutes of the competition.
However, with the match probably extending to 120 minutes and with the potential for a penalty shootout, the Australian camp has resigned Kerr to taking part in in its place.
Kerr didn’t participate within the pre-match heat up drills — an indication she won’t be used till the second half.
Socceroos legend John Aloisi mentioned on Channel 7 he wished Gustavsson to place Kerr within the beginning line up.
“Talking from a coach’s point of view, I would’ve loved to have seen Sam start,” he mentioned.
“If she’s fit enough to start I would’ve started her, because seeing the French at the back … Sam’s runs would’ve caused them problems.
“Mary Fowler and Emily van Egmond, they are great players, but they like to drop off the line and don’t really cause the centre backs that very much trouble. Let’s hope that Sam gets on.”
Socceroos star Elise Kellond-Knight additionally mentioned on Seven: “It’s contentious. It could’ve gone either way. What they’ve gone with here is a winning formula, so Tony has chosen not to change it.”
3pm – Fierce Kerr debate erupts earlier than kick-off
Whether to play Sam Kerr from the opening whistle in opposition to France has been debated all week contemplating the Matildas captain has tasted a complete of lower than 20 minutes of motion within the 4 matches Australia has performed within the event.
The Matildas have additionally proven they’ll win with out Kerr, who missed her aspect’s three Group B video games earlier than approaching as a late substitute in Australia’s 2-0 round-of-16 win over Denmark.
There has been swirling debate and claims that Australia is best off resting Kerr — extensively thought-about top-of-the-line gamers on the planet.
Matildas nice Heather Garriock on Saturday additionally appeared to name for Kerr for use as an affect participant off the bench.
Speaking on Channel 7’s dawn, Garriock mentioned: “Look, it comes down to the boss, Tony Gustavsson, and whether he feels starting her from the start. He said if she can play a full 90 minutes, she is going to start, so that comes down to the medical staff.
“I think she would be amazing to come off the bench … I just think the Matildas have played so well together and there are so many great players, X factor players.
“You have Caitlin Foord scoring goals, and Hayley Raso has scored three goals in the tournament and has been everywhere. Mary Fowler is unbelievable. I don’t know who you would lose, but having Sam Kerr off the bench or starting is going to challenge the French, for sure.”
Socceroos nice Robbie Slater, nonetheless, strongly disagrees.
In a column for printed in News Corp newspapers across the nation on Saturday, Slater wrote: “Sam Kerr must start for the Matildas against France.
“It’s the grand occasion of a World Cup quarter-final, and she’s the best striker and goalscorer in women’s football, so she has to play from the opening whistle.
“It’s not a time for Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson to start doubting himself. There can’t be any regrets after Saturday night’s quarter-final.
“Imagine if Gustavsson delayed Kerr’s entry into the game, not giving her enough time to have an impact if the Matildas were in desperate need of help to remain alive in the tournament.
“Gustavsson would never forgive himself.”
2pm – Dan Andrews makes monumental Matildas name
Fed Square has been rocking for this 12 months’s Women’s World Cup and will likely be once more for the Matildas’ mega quarter-final conflict with France on Saturday night time.
Now Victorian Premier Dan Andrews is taking {that a} step additional, saying Rod Laver Arena, the famed indoor venue that hosts the Australian Open and plenty of different occasions and sits about 700m east of Fed Square, may also be thrown open to the general public to look at the match.
Entry is free to look at the Matildas on an enormous display in a venue that may cater to any climate, in contrast to Fed Square, with 12,000 seats out there.
Source: www.news.com.au
