Tokyo Olympics 2021: Matildas upstage Great Britain to book place in women’s football final four

The Matildas stared Olympic elimination in the face before three incredible moments saved the medal hopes of our football stars.

The ghosts of Mineirao have surely now been banished.

Five years after their devastating penalty shootout defeat to hosts Brazil ended their Olympic medal quest, an awe-inspiring Matildas have risen from the mat to produce the most unimaginable of comebacks and book a historic spot in the semi-finals following a seven-goal thriller.

You want heroes? Take your pick.

Sam Kerr celebrates after heading in Australia’s fourth goal. Picture: Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images

You had two-goal skipper Sam Kerr, whose 89th minute equaliser to forced extra-time, and 106th matchwinner sealed the incredible 4-3 victory which sends Australia to the Olympic medal matches for the first time.

Kerr praised the belief in the team after they trailed 2-1 with just minutes remaining of normal time

“We’ve always kind of gotten to this point and fallen at the last hurdle, so when (Tony Gustavsson) first joined that’s what a lot of us said to him,” she said.

“He’s really instilled that belief that we can do it and we can beat any team.”

Caroline Weir of Team Great Britain takes a penalty which is saved by Teagan Micah. Picture: Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images

Then there was veteran defender Alanna Kennedy who wrote her own Rio redemption tale in scoring the match’s first-half opener.

Or goalkeeper Teagan Micah, whose incredible extra-time penalty save denied Great Britain’s Caroline Weir and capped off a monumental performance.

And then the piece de resistance: teenage starlet Mary Fowler’s ridiculous 103rd minute strike which gave Australia an advantage they would never relinquish.

Mary Fowler loads up her super strike that put Australia ahead. Picture: Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images

Fowler’s teammates run in to congratulate her after the hit. Picture: AFP

All told, it was an utterly brilliant victory.

Gustavsson was delighted with the result.

“The players pushed through in a way I’ve very seldom seen. They dug deep tonight,” he said.

“The way Sam led the team tonight, even though she is in pain, it was one of those that she pushed through. The way she leads this group in the locker room, back in the hotel, in the bus. They’re huge reasons why we’re winning this game.

“I think we’ve shown throughout this tournament that we believe in ourselves and we stay loyal to who we are whoever we play.”

Having been shocked by an two-goal blitz from England’s hat-trick star Ellen White – which in the space of eight minutes not just cancelled out Kennedy’s first half opener, but gave Great Britain a 2-1 lead – Australia seemed headed for the exit when the ball fell to the feet of their ruthless captain.

Kerr had been kept quiet by a steely British defence, but held her composure to level the scores at 2-2 with time almost expired with a crisp right-foot finish.

More heroics were to come in the shape of Micah, Fowler and, as ever, Kerr.

Kennedy opened the scoring in the 35th minute and in doing so banished her own Olympic demons, having been the unfortunate player to miss the final penalty which sent Australia home from the 2016 Games.

Ellie Carpenter keeps Rachel Daly at bay.

She was one of Australia’s many heroes in Kashima, soaring above the England defence in suffocating humidity to get a hold of Steph Catley’s corner and fire home a powerful header which gave Australia an early lead.

Kennedy could only watch on, with her teammates, in despair as White struck twice in quick succession – first with her head, and later with her laser-like right boot after a botched goalmouth scramble from the Australian defence.

Criticised in some quarters for their lack of attacking ambition in the 0-0 draw with the USA, Australia went for the kill early in the second half – turning the tables on their old foes, who had controlled the opening 45 minutes.

Instead, Great Britain were able to twice pounce on the counter-attack, before Australia’s reward finally arrived in the form of a Kerr thunderbolt.

The intensity soared in extra-time, as England were controversially awarded a penalty – which was spectacularly saved – before twin strikes prior to and after halftime gave Australia the sweetest victory of all, despite White’s late hat-trick goal ensuring a tense finish.