Tokyo Olympics 2021: Matilda’s qualify for quarter finals, despite draw with USA

A draw with Team USA left the Matildas’ hopes of advancing to the Olympic quarter finals at Tokyo in the lap of the football gods.

Sam Kerr attempts to head one home in the Matildas clash with USA. Picture: AFP

By the skin of their teeth, the Matildas have qualified for the Olympic quarter-finals – progressing after a nervous three hour wait following their goalless draw with the USA.

Australia left their Olympic hopes in the hands of the football gods, and were rewarded with a quarter-final date with old foes Great Britain, who finished top of Group E thanks to a late goal that secured a draw against Canada.

The Matildas couldn’t afford China and Zambia producing big wins against more fancied opponents, but were able to rest easy as the Netherlands and Brazil got on top early.

Australia had plenty of chances to lock in their progression to the next round via a win, after dominating the goalless draw.

Sam Kerr led from the front for the Matildas.

“I wish we could have scored on one of those - we had a lot of dangerous set plays in the first half,” said coach Tony Gustavsson.

“We have to be humble enough to say the US had a couple of counters on our attacking set-plays.

“They went at us with speed and got in behind us a couple times. We a little bit lucky to get away. It could’ve (gone) another way as well. Maybe at the end of the game a tie was fair.”

The cagey draw ensures Australia finish on four points and in third spot in Group G – behind the US on goal difference, while Sweden are top with three wins – but they survive as one of the two top-ranked third-place finishers.

Teenager Mary Fowler impressed against the US.

Australia were rocked by a leg injury in the warm-up to key forward Caitlin Foord, prompting coach Tony Gustavsson to promote 18-year-old Mary Fowler to her first Olympic starting role.

The teenager showed terrific poise, and rattled the crossbar with a first-half header, as Australia dominated possession and, mostly, everywhere but the scoreboard.

“It’s not the strongest that survive, nor the most intelligent that survive. It’s the ones that is most adaptable to change,” Gustavsson said.

Alanna Kennedy was stoic in defence for the Matildas. Picture: AFP

“This team has shown tremendous adaptability no matter who is on the park.

“Mary being a young player I’m impressed by how she handled the potential stress that can come for a young player in a situation like that. She was cool, ready and smiled when she heard she was going to play.

“For a young player to do that shows she has mental strength.”

The Matildas did receive a major slice of good fortune when the USA had, what appeared to the naked eye, the game’s opening goal scratched off.

Australia were saved by VAR when the USA’s Alex Morgan looked to have put the US in front after half an hour following a defensive breakdown which left her with a free header.

But the goal was immediately waved off by Referee Anastasia Pustovoitova for offside – a lineball decision which was backed up by VAR despite replays indicating Morgan had been played onside by Australia’s Emily van Egmond.

The Matildas held on for a draw and have advanced to the quarters. Picture: AFP