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Tokyo Olympics: Australia fumes at 'heartbreaking' Opals vs China robbery

The Opals' Olympic dream are hanging by a thread after a shocking call spoiled an all-time comeback against China.

Andrew McMurtryAndrew McMurtry
@AndrewMcMurtry
less than 2 min read
July 31, 2021 - 12:57AM
Saya Sakakibara was taken to hospital.
Saya Sakakibara was taken to hospital.

It was another golden day of Olympic action for Australia, but there was some mixed luck for our teams.

The Matildas will have two cracks at their first ever Olympic medal after securing passage to the women's football semi-finals with a gripping 4-3 extra time win against Great Britain.

Sadly, the Opals suffered a cruel loss to China because of a controversial refereeing call at the death, putting them on the brink of exiting the Games early.

Earlier, Emma McKeon won her first individual gold medal in a thrilling final of the women's 100m freestyle, which saw Cate Campbell banish her demons from Rio and finish with bronze.

However, that elation was followed by the most heartbreaking moment of the entire Games when Aussie star Saya Sakakibara suffered a terrifying crash in the semi-finals of the women's BMX Racing event.

It was also a tough day for Ash Barty. The Aussie star lost her mixed doubles semi-final with compatriot John Peers and will now play off for the bronze medal, while Patrick Tiernan made himself a hero just by finishing the men's 10,000m race.

Thanks for following along and please join us again on day eight.

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Ezi Magbegor could have done no more.
Ezi Magbegor could have done no more.

The Opals have been left heartbroken after a controversial late call spoiled what would have been a brilliant comeback against China.

The Chinese claimed the game 76-74 but only after an incredible run with the game on the line.

The Opals came from 11 points down early in the final quarter to finally draw level with just 2.1 seconds on the clock on the back of two of the most clutch three-pointers you'll see from Jenna O'Hea.

But from the inbounds following China's timeout, the referee furthest away from the action called a foul, despite the referee in front of the play having no issues.

"That was such a late call," Rachael Sporn said in commentary for Channel 7.

"To have it stolen, it feels like it has been stolen from them. They were back in it. Just heartbreaking."

Colleague John Casey added: "Two bigs wrestling for it. I don't know that I can see a foul there. And the referee, he had very good position. As you can see, he sees nothing and another referee has made the call inexplicably. Oh, that's heartbreaking."

The Opals need to beat Puerto Rico to keep their hopes of progressing further in the tournament alive.

Patrick Tiernan has won plenty of new fans.
Patrick Tiernan has won plenty of new fans.

The first medal on the track has been given out with Ethiopian Selemon Barega winning gold ahead of Ugandan pair Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo in the men's 10,000m .

But there were terrifying scenes on the final lap as Aussie Patrick Tiernan fell over on the home straight.

Tiernan had been at the back of the pack for much of the race but looked ready for a late charge as he held on to the front running pack and was ninth with 1000m to go.

But as the leaders broke off in a sprint in the final 400m, Tiernan was left behind.

He was labouring heavily as he came around the final corner before stumbling and falling to the ground.

Despite looking completely spent, he got up and finished the race, coming in 19th in the race.

His time of 28:35.06 was still a season-best despite the seconds he lost limping to the finish line.

But his finishing position meant little to social media as he won plenty of new fans for his Olympic spirit.

Tiernan was taken from the stadium in a wheelchair.

Hamish McLachlan put it in brilliant perspective.

"Want to meet a hero? Have a look at this," he began. "This is Patrick Tiernan. It isn't act the victory, not the triumph, but simply taking part.

"Exhausted. Spent. Broken. Body said, "No more." Mind said we're going to the line. We have trained for this. We will get there. And the green and gold somehow, he found his way to the line. 19th in the 10,000m.

"Another hero, representing Australia."

Tiernan is supposed to participate in the 5000m later in the program as well.

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Samantha Maiden
Samantha Maiden
The Matildas are into the semi-final!
The Matildas are into the semi-final!

The Matildas are into the Olympic semi-finals, beating Great Britain 4-3 a thrilling quarterfinal clash.

And who do Australia have to thank? Who else but Sam Kerr.

Kerr scored two goals to pull level with Lisa De Vanna as the Matildas' most prolific ever goal scorer.

And it was right when the Matildas needed it, scoring the equaliser with two minutes left in regulation time, and scoring what was the winning goal with a header.

But she was far from the only hero with goalkeeper Teagan Micah saving multiple tough shots, including a spot kick at 2-all early in extra time.

Another hero was teenager Mary Fowler, who scored at the other end after Micah's save, with the ball deflecting into the top corner.

Commentator Brenton Speed said it best as well as the referee called full-time.

"Magnificent from the Matildas," he said. "One of their most famous nights ever. They are into the semi-finals of the Olympic Games and have two cracks at bringing a medal home.

"Tears of joy after one of the most exciting games of sport you will see at these Olympic Games."

And the Matildas will likely get Sweden, who are up on Japan in the second half.

The Matildas lost 4-2 to Sweden in the group games, with Sweden also the defending silver medallists.

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Ally Foster
Ally Foster

Emma McKeon's shot at immortality with seven medals is going really well.

In the heats of the 50m freestyle, McKeon just broke another Olympic record with a 24.02 heat swim.

Is there anything she can't do?

Teenager Mary Fowler has seemingly handed the Matildas a massive chance of making the semis.

Having gone for a big strike, the deflection off the knee of the defender saw the ball fly straight into the top corner with no chance of a save from the GB goalie.

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Ally Foster
Ally Foster

Great Britain have been handed a penalty after Nikita Parris was felled in the box by Ellie Carpenter.

But the VAR didn't want a bar of overturning it.

However, Aussie goalie Teagan Micah has come up massive, saving the spot kick in brilliant scenes.

Hang it in the Louvre!
Hang it in the Louvre!

Djokovic's golden slam dream over

Novak's golden slam dream is over.
Novak's golden slam dream is over.

Novak Djokovic’s bid for a calendar Golden Grand Slam was dramatically ended by Alexander Zverev in the Olympics men’s singles semi-finals on Friday.

The world number one collapsed from a set and a break ahead as German fourth seed Zverev won 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 to set up a Sunday final against Russian Karen Khachanov.

The 34-year-old Djokovic has never won the Olympic singles title.

The Serbian star had already captured the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon trophies this year and needed Olympic gold and the US Open crown to emulate Steffi Graf, who achieved the feat in 1988, by winning the Golden Slam.

But his attempt to make history came to a close as Zverev powered 30 winners past the usually impregnable Djokovic in a stunning display.

It was yet more heartbreak for the 20-time Grand Slam champion at the Olympics, where his best result is a bronze medal in 2008.

Zverev is looking to become the first German to win singles gold since Graf in Seoul after winning 10 of the last 11 games against Djokovic.
– AFP

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Frank Chung
Frank Chung
Sam Kerr you genius!
Sam Kerr you genius!

Just when we needed her most, Sam Kerr has come up huge for the Matildas.

The Aussie superstar has equalised for two minutes left in regular time for Australia to make it 2-all.

A big cross in landed at Kerr's feet.

She almost went for the reaction shot but stopped herself and then slotted the goal.

It comes after Australia took the 1-0 lead to the break but the dangerous Ellen White scored a header and made the most of a Matildas blunder to go up 2-1.

But cometh the time, cometh the legend – and her name is Sam Kerr.

https://twitter.com/wadeshipard/status/1421059763245178883

One Nation candidate referred to AFP

Frank Chung
Frank Chung
Not again!
Not again!

The Matildas have fallen 2-1 down after the Aussie defenders couldn't do anything with a bouncing ball.

Instead it fell to the feet of Ellen White to slot the goal for the lead for Great Britain.

"Australia really should have dealt with that one better," Georgia Yeoman-Dale said in commentary.

It leaves Australia in a tough spot, needing a goal to even send it to extra-time.

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Frank Chung
Frank Chung
Ash Barty and John Peers will be chasing a bronze medal.
Ash Barty and John Peers will be chasing a bronze medal.

It's taken a 13-11 super tiebreak but Andrey Rublev and Anastacia Pavlyuchenkova have defeated Ash Barty and John Peers in the mixed doubles.

It means that Australia will go after the bronze medal in the next clash to at least leave with a medal.

Barty was knocked out of the singles in the first round and doubles with Storm Sanders in the third round but it looks like she'll have to settle for bronze if they can win into the match against the loser of the second semi-final.

Read related topics:Ash BartyChinaLive Sport

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