Co-hosts Australia have surpassed their best-ever outing at the FIFA Women’s World Cup after beating France 7-6 on penalties after a goalless stalemate during regulation time to progress to the semi-finals of the tournament for the first-time ever.
The Matildas have goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold to thank for her heroics in an enthralling shootout that had thousands of fans inside Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane jumping out of their seats.
The two sides came into the tie off impressive results in the round of 16, with Australia overcoming Denmark and Les Bleues thrashing Morocco to end the latter’s fairytale run at the Mundial.
Maelle Lakrar should have put France in front 12 minutes into the game, but the defender couldn’t turn Eugenie Le Sommer’s initial effort into the goal despite being just a few centimeters away from it.
It was Australia’s turn to test the French team, and 20-year-old Mary Fowler thought she had gotten the first goal of the game, but her strike was bravely cleared off the line by Elisa De Almeida.
After the second-half restart, French goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud Magnin denied Hayley Raso and Fowler with brilliant saves in quick succession to keep the tie goalless.
With the match scoreless, the game headed for extra time, and Les Bleues captain Wendie Renard thought she had given her side the lead in the 100th minute, but the goal was disallowed after replays showed she brought down Matildas’ forward Caitlin Foord.
France’s control in the second half continued with Grace Geyoro and Vicki Becho calling Arnold into action, but the 29-year-old shotstopper was alert to deny them and force the game into penalties.
Selma Bacha missed France’s first penalty, but Foord converted hers to give the Aussies the lead. France’s leading scorer in the tournament, Kadidiatou Diani, made no mistakes to level the scores, but Stephanie Catley missed hers to even the scores once again.
Renard, Sam Kerr, Le Sommer, and Folwer all converted their spotkicks to keep it at three apiece. Eve Perisset missed hers, and Arnold squandered her opportunity to win Australia the game by hitting her kick against the post.
Geyoro, Karina Gorry, Sakina Karchaoui, Tameka Yallop, Lakrar, and Eliie Carpenter all did their due diligence by burying their spotkicks, but Kenza Dali missed hers despite having the opportunity for a retake, while Clare Hunt also failed to take advantage of France’s miss.
Becho missed her kick, and finally, Cortnee Vine stepped up and buried hers to send the Matildas through to the last four of the tournament as they continue their hunt for a first ever Women’s World Cup title.
They will face the winner of the match between the Lionesses of England and Colombia in the semi-finals on Wednesday, August 16, at the Stadium Australia in Sydney.
YOU CAN CATCH ALL THE SEMI-FINALS ACTIONS IN THE WOMEN’S WORLD CUP LIVE ON AFROSPORT TV ON FREE TV CHANNEL 730 OR STREAM ON VIDIVU.
