In an evening filled with suspense in Brisbane on Saturday, co-host Australia emerged victorious with a 7-6 win in penalties against France, propelling them to the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup for the very first time.
The Australian team’s next destination is Sydney on Wednesday, where they will face the victors of the final quarter-final clash between England and Colombia.
Capping off an extraordinary shootout that witnessed both squads taking 10 penalties each, Cortnee Vine sealed the deal by netting the winning penalty. The quarter-final match itself had concluded 0-0 after an intense 120 minutes of play that had spectators on edge.
Maintaining her composure, Vine’s successful shot ignited jubilation in the crowd and kept the Matildas’ aspiration of clinching the World Cup on their home turf alive.
Australia’s goalkeeper, Mackenzie Arnold, encountered a rollercoaster of emotions during the shootout. While her own penalty attempt hit the post, she redeemed herself by making crucial saves against Kenza Dali. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) flagged that Dali had stepped off her line during the first attempt.
In a climactic moment, France’s Vicki Becho faltered in the 10th penalty attempt, leaving the spotlight on Vine. With nerves of steel, Vine secured Australia’s passage by besting France’s substitute goalkeeper, Solene Durand, who had been specifically brought on for the shootout.
For France, the exit was a heart-wrenching outcome after a tense showdown witnessed by a packed crowd of 49,461. Les Bleues had harbored aspirations of reaching the semi-finals for only the second time, following their earlier defeat in the same stage back in 2011.
Remarkably, Australia achieved this victory despite their standout player, Sam Kerr, once again starting on the bench. The Matildas’ influential captain, now recovered from a calf injury, entered the fray early in the second half and later confidently converted her penalty during the decisive shootout. (Sourced online/MNM/AI)
