Matildas into semi-finals after beating France in epic penalty shootout
Australia is through to the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup for the first time after the extraordinary drama of a penalty shootout.
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Australia has done it — making the World Cup semi-finals for the first time with a heart-stopping penalty shootout win over France at Suncorp Stadium.
After a scoreless draw in 120 minutes, the shootout was as tense as it could be.
It was the longest shootout in World Cup history — men’s or women’s — going 10 rounds with Australia coming out on top 7-6. The previous longest was the Sweden-USA shootout earlier in this World Cup which went seven rounds, while the longest men’s shootout was six rounds between West Germany and France in the 1982 semi-final and the 1994 quarterfinal between Sweden and Romania.
With Mackenzie Arnold coming up huge between the pipes, saving four shots, including a replayed shot, it came down to Cortnee Vine slotting what will instantly go into Australian sporting folklore.
John Aloisi was on comments for Channel 7 and when told he’d be relegated to the second most epic penalty shootout in history for his goal that ended the Socceroos’ World Cup drought, he said: “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.”
CORTNEE VINE SENDS AUSTRALIA INTO THE SEMI FINALS OF THE FIFA WOMEN’S WORLD CUP™
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) August 12, 2023
IT’S HISTORIC.
UNBELIEVABLE SCENES.
Watch 📲 https://t.co/NthWa1caY5#FIFAWWC#OptusSportpic.twitter.com/v9Hs7vy0PZ
Channel 7’s David Basheer said it the result was “unbelievable” and described Arnold’s performance 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 said: “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 result means the Matildas will now play the winner of England and Colombia later on Saturday night, with the semi-final on Wednesday night at 8pm from Stadium Australia in Sydney.
It comes after a wild 120 minutes which almost had it all except goals.
There were two golden chances each in the first half but it was Australia’s Mary Fowler who had the best.
A desperation goal line save from French defender Elisa De Almeida denied Fowler an effectively empty net late in the first half as the Matildas turned the momentum.
Sam Kerr came off the bench in the 55th minute and seemed to spark the Matildas but it was to avail as Australia played out the first scoreless draw after 90 minutes in our World Cup history.
It looked as though France had scored in extra-time when Alanna Kennedy appeared to head the ball into our own goal after a dodgy call handed France a corner, but 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 right direction and made the save.
Australia — Scores!
Caitlin Foord scores! Solene Durand picked the right direction but the ball snuck past low into the bottom left corner.
France — Scores
Kadidiatou Diani cooly slots it in the bottom left corner
Australia — Miss!
Steph Catley has been saved as Durand chose the right direction.
France — Scores
Wendie Renard slots it as Arnold picks the wrong way.
Australia — Scores!
Sam Kerr cooly slots it down the middle.
France — Scores
Eugenie Le Sommer wrong foots Arnold and slots the goal.
Australia — Scores!
The youngest player in the World Cup, Mary Fowler blasts it into the bottom left.
France — Miss!
Mackenzie Arnold has touched it onto the post — what a moment!
Australia — Miss!
Mackenzie Arnold takes the shot but hits the post herself. It’s now sudden death.
France — Scores
Grace Geyoro scores but Arnold protests after the Frenchwoman stuttered in and appeared to stop. Not allowed to do that but it’s cleared by VAR.
Australia — Scores!
Katrina Gorry’s shot was touched but it’s still in the back of the net.
France — Scores
Sakina Karchaoui scores, blasting it off the crossbar and in.
Australia — Scores!
Tameka Yallop slots it in the right side of the net as Durand went the wrong way.
France — Scores
Maelle Lakrar slots it despite Arnold doing her best to play mindgames by dummying one way.
Australia — Scores!
Ellie Carpenter off the post and in.
France — Miss!
Mackenzie Arnold made two huge saves on Kenza Dali after she was judged to have come off the line. But she saves the second as well.
Australia — Miss!
Clare Hunt is only just blocked by Durand. This is ridiculous.
France — Miss!
Mackenzie Arnold has been huge all game but Vicki Becho made it easy, firing the ball into the post after Arnold picked the wrong way.
Australia — Scores!
Cortnee Vine has done 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're nervous, you're not alone.
Elise Kellond-Knight said: “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 moment’
France have made a huge change in extra-time injury time.
With the game seemingly headed for penalties, the French have exchanged Pauline Peyraud Magnin for Solene Durand.
It's Durand’s third ever cap for France and they’ll be hoping she can do a “Grey Wiggle”.
You remember — Andrew Redmayne subbed in for the penalty shootout and winning Australia into the World Cup?
“It may be a Graham Arnold-type move for France,” David Basheer said on Seven.
Let’s hope not.
7.07pm — ‘Never should have happened’: France goal denied
Australia have been given a lifeline after France appeared to score off a corner they never should have had.
After France took a ball out over the goal line and then were inexplicably given a corner, Les Bleus appeared to have scored off Wendie Renard’s header.
But it was denied after Caitlin Foord was dragged down — as Australia let out a collective sigh of relief.
“Can you believe it?! The France captain. And it’s going to be denied. No goal,” David Basheer said 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.”
Alanna Kennedy heads it into her own net, before it's called back for a foul on Wendie Renard 🙃
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) August 12, 2023
A very close call.
Watch 📲 https://t.co/NthWa1caY5#FIFAWWC#OptusSportpic.twitter.com/pkNdRHkVfp
6.52pm — And we have extra time
After 90 minutes, we now have extra time.
There’s been mountains of shots but none have come off so far.
Incredibly, it’s the first goalless draw in Australia’s World Cup history.
For those uninitiated, the match will have two 15 minute periods of extra-time, regardless if a goal is scored.
But after that, we go to the dreaded penalty shootout and every nail in Australia will be bitten down to the quick.
6.38pm — ‘There is contact’: Huge World Cup drama
Should Australia have been handed a penalty shot?
It’s now inside the last 10 minutes but Caitlin Foord was taken down in the box.
While she was taken down, the commentators questioned if there was a little too much 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.”
Caitlin Foord just got grabbed like 4 times in one play and no penalty, typical South American fraudulence on display
— Kyle (@kyle_waller2) August 12, 2023
While there have been plenty of chances, a piece of luck like a penalty there would have been just what the doctor ordered.
6.24pm — Can France smell a chance?
The second half has been nearly all Matildas but France have made an attacking move with striker Vicki Becho coming in for midfielder Sandie Toletti.
Can France smell a chance to counter-attack?
6.14pm — Sam Kerr is in
It’s Tony Gustavsson’s earliest substitution of the tournament and Sam Kerr is in the game for Emily van Egmond in the 55th minute.
And her first touch showed she is in fact the super sub.
Her first touch saw her run from halfway to the edge of the box before passing back in.
An incredible save was all that stopped a Hayley Raso bullet.
Sam’s entrance was unlike anything else.
“I have never heard a roar like that!” David Basheer said on Seven.
“Goosebumps. That one gives you goosebumps,” Grace Gill agreed.
6.10pm — Another chance goes begging
The Matildas are making plenty of chances early in the second half.
Mary Fowler was tripped and it allowed a free kick on the edge of the box.
But Alanna Kennedy’s shot fired into the wall.
Minutes later, Fowler again had a shot after running rings around the defenders but it was deflected wide.
If only she’d passed back to the far post — Caitlin Foord was wide open.
5.48pm — Fowler ‘not going to get a better chance’
Mary Fowler has had the best chance of the match turned away after a phenomenal effort from Elisa De Almeida.
A cross from the goal 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 found Fowler’s with the goal seemingly wide open.
But De Almeida came from the clouds to push the ball over the crossbar on the deflection.
ELISA DE ALMEIDA WITH A GOAL SAVING BLOCK 🤯🇫🇷
— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) August 12, 2023
Mary Fowler thought she’d scored. So did the whole nation.
Watch 📲 https://t.co/NthWa1caY5#FIFAWWC#OptusSportpic.twitter.com/Ehj5WN7oG0
“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 said 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 said: “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 said 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 another golden opportunity after a near perfect lofted through ball, but she couldn’t get a strong touch on it.
At halftime, it’s 0-all but the momentum was definitely shifting late in the half.
5.25pm — Australia go close
France have looked really strong to start the match but Australia has had it first real chance.
Emily van Egmond had earned a corner for the Aussies and it gave the Matildas a chance on the set piece.
But it hasn’t been a strength for Australia with Sam Kerr on the sidelines.
A kick to the near post was bouncing dangerously near the goal mouth but was cleared off the line.
But it didn’t go too far and Katrina Gorry sliced it away.
5.16pm — Matildas survive ‘miss of the tournament’
France have been in control of the early stages, asking plenty of questions of the Matildas.
But France have missed a golden opportunity go 1-0 up.
After a corner fell to Eugenie Le Sommer, her effort bounced to the feet of Maelle Lakrar well inside the six-yard box.
But Lakrar somehow missed, giving the Matildas a lucky break.
Miss of the tournament 😱
— Rob Cornthwaite (@robcornthwaite) August 12, 2023
Similar vibes to the Round of 16 so far! Expect the @TheMatildas to grow into this #AUS
5.09pm — France fire the first shot
The tensions are high already with France getting the first huge chance for the match.
Matildas defender Alanna Kennedy sliced a clearance and allowed Diani to get the ball and take a shot.
Luckily it skewed wide.
But there also appeared to be a shirt pull from Kennedy and fans were questioning whether it should have been a card.
That absolutely should be a card for Alanna Kennedy. She botched the clearance, then tried to drag back Diani.
— 🌸Nader Hussein (نادر Øسين) 🇺🇸🇪🇬🇵🇸🇺🇦🌸 (@NaderHussein10) August 12, 2023
You can give a card after you play advantage.
Luckily for Australia, the VAR didn’t pick it up.
Speaking on Channel 7, Grace Gill said: “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 absolutely buzzing with a spine-tingling rendition of Advance Australia Fair.
And now we’ve got 90 minutes action to see if the Matildas can make it to a first World Cup semi-final.
4.20pm – Socceroos legend not happy with Kerr call
Tony Gustavsson just made the biggest gamble of his life in leaving Sam Kerr on the bench to face France.
Gustavsson said Kerr would only start the game if the team believed she was capable of playing for all 90 minutes of the contest.
However, with the match potentially extending to 120 minutes and with the possibility of a penalty shootout, the Australian camp has resigned Kerr to playing as a substitute.
Kerr did not take part in the pre-match warm up drills — a sign she will not be used until the second half.
Socceroos legend John Aloisi said on Channel 7 he wanted Gustavsson to put Kerr in the starting line up.
“Talking from a coach’s point of view, I would’ve loved to have seen Sam start,” he said.
“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 also said 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 before kick-off
Whether to play Sam Kerr from the opening whistle against France has been debated all week considering the Matildas captain has tasted a total of less than 20 minutes of action in the four matches Australia has played in the tournament.
The Matildas have also shown they can win without Kerr, who missed her side’s three Group B games before coming on 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 better off resting Kerr — widely considered one of the best players on the planet.
Matildas great Heather Garriock on Saturday also appeared to call for Kerr to be used as an impact player off the bench.
Speaking on Channel 7’s sunrise, Garriock said: “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 great Robbie Slater, however, strongly disagrees.
In a column for published in News Corp newspapers around the country 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 enormous Matildas call
Fed Square has been rocking for this year’s Women’s World Cup and will be again for the Matildas’ mega quarter-final clash with France on Saturday night.
Now Victorian Premier Dan Andrews is taking that a step further, announcing Rod Laver Arena, the famed indoor venue that hosts the Australian Open and many other events and sits about 700m east of Fed Square, will also be thrown open to the public to watch the match.
Entry is free to watch the Matildas on a big screen in a venue that can cater to any weather, unlike Fed Square, with 12,000 seats available.
Originally published as Matildas into semi-finals after beating France in epic penalty shootout
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