The Matildas made historical past by reaching the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup for the primary time after beating France 0-0 7-6 on penalties within the longest shootout within the match’s historical past.
Mackenzie Arnold made three saves earlier than Cortnee Vine transformed the successful penalty to seal the quarter-final victory in entrance of 49,461 screaming followers at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
The Matildas will face both England or Colombia, who meet in a while Saturday, in subsequent Wednesday’s semi-final at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
Sam Kerr’s response says all of it after the Matildas survived a penalty shootout that stretched to a file 20 pictures to beat France to their first ever semi-final
After France’s Vicki Becho hit the put up 6-6, Vine coolly pressured her penalty into the underside nook to ship Suncorp Stadium into ecstasy.
Mackenzie Arnold made three saves and missed a penalty himself within the 20-point shootout.
That included denying Kenza Dali, who had come off her line, solely to avoid wasting the midfielder’s second strive.
Caitlin Foord, Sam Kerr, Mary Fowler, Katrina Gorry, Tameka Yallop, Ellie Carpenter and Vine all transformed their penalties.
Steph Catley and Clare Hunt had been each disallowed by French goalkeeper Solene Durand, who was substituted for the shootout.
A dramatic 120 minutes adopted through which each groups had probabilities to win.
Mackenzie Arnold (in black jersey) is swarmed by her teammates after Cortnee Vine’s shot gave Australia a sporting reminiscence that may by no means be forgotten
Tameka Yallop thrilled the group after scoring along with her shot from the spot throughout the shootout
Mackenzie Arnold put the crew on her again throughout the shootout – then received to hold Sam Kerr because the overjoyed striker broke free throughout the victory celebrations
After the sport, Sam Kerr stated the Matildas needed to “change football forever in this country” – they usually’ve executed simply that, no matter what the remainder of the match holds.
Kadidiatou Diani fired a warning shot within the eighth minute, Maelle Lakrar tapped over the crossbar within the twelfth minute, whereas Arnold additionally rejected Eugenie Le Sommer and Lakrar within the twenty eighth and thirty second minutes.
But Fowler was denied within the forty first minute by a heroic block from French right-back Elisa De Almedia, 4 minutes later by goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin.
Kerr got here on within the fifty fifth minute and a minute later he burst ahead and labored the ball to Hayley Raso, whose long-range effort was brilliantly disallowed by Peyraud-Magnin.
Neither crew might discover a gap from there and the sport went into extra time.
France captain Wendie Renard headed house within the one hundredth minute, however the purpose was disallowed when she was dominated foul of Caitlin Foord within the run-up.
Five minutes later, Vine jabbed a tough probability vast, whereas Arnold made an enormous save within the 107th minute to fend off Vicki Becho.
From there the remaining was historical past.
After the sport, Kerr stated the Matildas needed to “change football in this country forever” by excelling on the World Cup.
Mission achieved.