Channel 7 punts Matildas mid-match leaving fans fuming

The Matildas were embarrassed early in their contest with the United States and were promptly punted by Channel Seven.

Australia’s dramatic but unsuccessful fight back in its bronze medal match against the United States has been blighted by frustrating scheduling decisions by Channel 7.

The Matildas missed out on a medal in a 4-3 thriller after fighting back from 4-1 down.

Aussie viewers were bemused when the second half began and they were left scrambling to change the channel.

Despite the popularity of our national women’s team, a 3-1 scoreline at the main break appeared to impact Channel 7’s decision to carry the match on its main channel.

The game was moved from 7Two to 7mate while 7 showed replays of Australia’s semifinal win in the women’s beach volleyball earlier in the day. The decision didn’t go down well.

Very disrespectful Ch 7 - it is a ripping match. Don’t need to watch replays. This is live.

— Jessica Halloran (@JessiHalloran) August 5, 2021

Pretty interesting decision to punt the Matildas’ medal match off to a secondary channel, replacing it on the main channel with a replay of a beach volleyball match from this morning. 🤷‍♂️#Olympics#Tokyo2020#matildas

— Mark Gibson (@markgibbo) August 5, 2021

When play resumed, Sam Kerr had an early shout for a handball in the box as the second half began but the referee wasn’t interested and replays were inconclusive.

It wasn’t long before the Matildas defenders were making life hard for themselves as Alanna Kennedy attempted to head a ball back to keeper Teagan Micah, but she connected poorly and Micah didn’t come to meet the ball.

Carli Lloyd was on hand to pounce and skirted in between the pair, gained possession and slid a shot underneath an advancing Micah to make it 4-1.

Carli Lloyd hits it past Teagan Micah.

But the Matildas weren’t ready to give up and they pegged one back quickly.

After a turnover, Caitlin Foord found herself alone in the box and after a neatly-directed pass she was able to divert a header back into the goal.

Australia nearly made it 4-3 moments later as Kerr found space but her header devastatingly hit the upright and bounced across goal and out.

The flurry of action at the US goalmouth appeared to give coach Tony Gustavsson pause as he considered his substitutes.

And it wasn’t until the 67th minute when teenage trio Mary Fowler, Kyra Cooney-Cross and Courtney Nevin were all brought on at once.

Caitlin Foord diverts a diving header back at goal.

But it was Emily Gielnik, who came on later, who made the biggest impact, scoring a scorcher to make it 4-3 with minutes to play.

Gielnik ran at the defence and fired in a superb shot into the corner of the net.

The goal spooked Channel 7 as it quickly started broadcasting the rest of the match on its main channel.

But all goals were done. Australia spent seven minutes of injury time desperately searching for an equaliser — in high drama that surely would have delivered strong viewership — but were unsuccessful.

Emily Gielnik, you star. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Megan Rapinoe curled in a corner kick to put the Matildas on the back foot early in the game.

Aussie keeper Teagan Micah had already made one good save when Rapinoe took the set piece in the eighth minute.

Micah was distracted by US striker Carli Lloyd and reacted late to Rapinoe’s corner, failing to palm it strongly enough to prevent it from going in the net.

Teagan Micah attempts to get a hand to the ball but isn't strong enough.

Megan Rapinoe is embraced by her teammates after opening the scoring. (Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)

But the American lead lasted less than 10 minutes as Caitlin Foord pounced on a careless ball at the back, held her nerve and then slid a neat pass to Sam Kerr.

The Aussie superstar did the rest, clipping a left footed shot in from a tight angle that saw her become the outright leading goal scorer in Matildas’ history.

Sam Kerr connects sweetly with her left foot. (Photo by Jeff PACHOUD / AFP)

Kerr nearly had a double two minutes later as her strong header was just saved by the US goalkeeper.

But it was Rapinoe who hit a brace first, making Alanna Kennedy pay for a bad error by smashing in a sensational goal.

Kennedy attempted a rushed first-time clearance at the back despite having plenty of time. She sprayed the ball directly to Rapinoe, who didn’t need to take a touch and smashed in a world-class volley.

Megan Rapinoe smashes it into the top corner. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Rapinoe’s strike partner Lloyd wasn’t about to let her have all the fun and as the first half entered injury time she latched on to a pass and slid a shot past Micah to leave the Matildas’ bronze hopes in tatters.

United States 4 (Rapinoe 8, 21m, Lloyd 45+, 51m) defeated Australia 3 (Kerr 16m, Foord 53m, Gielnik 90m)

Originally published as Channel 7 punts Matildas mid-match leaving fans fuming