Australia defeated France on penalties in a nail-biting World Cup quarterfinal match

After a tough match seen by a sell-out crowd of 49,461, it was a painful way for France to depart.

On a dramatic night in Brisbane on Saturday, co-hosts Australia defeated France 7-6 in a nail-biting penalty shootout to go to the Women’s World Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history.

Australia defeated Colombia 2-1 and will now go to Sydney to take on England on Wednesday.

After 120 tense minutes, Australia’s Cortnee Vine converted the go-ahead penalty kick to end the quarterfinal shootout, which saw both teams attempt 10 penalties.

Vine maintained her composure to excite the fans and maintain the Matildas’ hope of capturing the World Cup on home soil.

When Kenza Dali’s shot struck the post, Australia’s Mackenzie Arnold missed a chance to win the penalty shootout, but she later made two saves after the VAR determined that Dali had crossed the line with both feet off.

Vicki Becho failed to save France’s tenth penalty, leaving it up to Vine to advance Australia by outdueling France’s special shootout replacement custodian Solene Durand.

“I’m just incredibly happy for this team. They had amazing bravery tonight, remarked Australia coach Tony Gustavsson.

Arnold, the game’s player of the match, continued, “I think we’ll have maybe tonight to celebrate it and then tomorrow we’ll review it and move on to the next game.”

After a tough match seen by a sell-out crowd of 49,461, it was a painful way for France to depart.

After losing in the last four in 2011, Les Bleues had hoped to get to the semi-finals for just the second time. Instead, they were eliminated.

“We faced forth against a nation and a whole stadium. Although we gave an outstanding effort, football is a contact sport. Herve Renard, a French coach, told France 2 that it was fate.

I wish Australia luck. Though I believe we were due more, that is how things are.

Sam Kerr was once again benched at kickoff, but she later entered the game early in the second half and scored Australia’s decisive penalty in the shootout, despite having recovered from her calf injury.

Kerr exits the game.

Gustavsson started with the same lineup that faced Denmark in the round of 16, while France re-inserted a healthy Maelle Lakrar into their defence.

Lakrar had a chance to hush the hostile crowd by giving France the lead right away, but the 23-year-old managed to deflect a shot from Eugenie Le Sommer over the bar with the goal gaping.

The hosts were disappointed by it, but Arnold soon made up for it by deflecting a Le Sommer shot behind and blocking a piercing Lakrar attempt after a corner.

Australia appeared to be feeling the pressure of the moment, but in the last seconds of the first half, they started to pose a threat.

When French defensive hesitation allowed Emily van Egmond to set up Mary Fowler for what appeared to be a certain goal in the 41st minute, they were really unlucky not to have taken the lead. However, Elisa De Almeida rushed in to make a stunning block.

Then, with the score still blank at halftime, French custodian Pauline Peyraud-Magnin had to come out to clear in front of Fowler.

To the joy of the audience, Kerr made her appearance 10 minutes into the second half to replace Van Egmond. Her introduction gave Australia such a boost that they came dangerously close to taking the lead shortly after.

Peyraud-Magnin made a save on Hayley Raso’s rasping attempt from beyond the box, and the Juventus custodian followed it up with a stunning block to stop Fowler from scoring from close range on the hour mark.

That seemed to break some of Australia’s momentum, and as the time ran out, the tension grew, making extra time all but inevitable.

Ellie Carpenter’s own-goal 10 minutes into the extra period gave France hope that they had the breakthrough, but Australia was saved when the Chilean referee whistled for a foul.

Prior to France replacing Peyraud-Magnin with Durand as penalties approached, Arnold made an outstanding save from Becho.

In the shootout, France’s expert at saving penalties Durand stopped both Steph Catley and Clare Hunt, but it wasn’t enough to win.

AFP