Co-hosts Australia beat France 7-6 in an exciting penalty shoot-out to succeed in the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup for the primary time of their historical past on an evening of drama in Brisbane on August 12.
Australia now go to Sydney on Wednesday to face the winners of the ultimate last-eight tie between England and Colombia.
Cortnee Vine scored the successful penalty to finish a exceptional shoot-out that noticed each groups take 10 spot-kicks, the quarter-final having ended 0-0 after 120 nerve-shredding minutes.
Vine held her nerve to ship the group into raptures and hold the Matildas’ dream of successful the World Cup on residence soil alive.
Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold missed an opportunity to win the shoot-out when her kick hit the submit, however then saved twice from Kenza Dali after the VAR noticed she had each toes off her line the primary time.
Vicki Becho missed France’s tenth penalty, and it was left to Vine to take Australia by means of by beating France’s substitute goalkeeper Solene Durand, who had been despatched on particularly for the shoot-out.
It was an agonising means for France to exit after a tense encounter watched by a sell-out crowd of 49,461.
Les Bleues had been hoping to get to the semi-finals for simply the second time, following their defeat within the final 4 in 2011, however as a substitute go residence.
Australia’s victory was achieved regardless of Sam Kerr once more being left on the bench at kick-off, with the talismanic Matildas captain, now match after a calf damage, approaching early within the second half and occurring to transform her penalty within the shoot-out.
Kerr comes off bench
Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson caught with the identical workforce that began in opposition to Denmark within the final 16, whereas France introduced the fit-again Maelle Lakrar again into their defence.
Lakrar actually ought to have given France an early result in silence the hostile crowd, however the 23-year-old one way or the other succeeded in diverting an Eugenie Le Sommer shot over the bar with the aim gaping.
That was a let-off for the hosts, who have been then grateful to Arnold for tipping a Le Sommer effort behind and for stopping a stinging Lakrar try following a nook.
It appeared just like the event was attending to Australia, however they started to threaten within the remaining minutes of the primary half.
They have been desperately unfortunate to not go forward within the forty first minute when French defensive hesitancy allowed Emily van Egmond to tee up Mary Fowler for what appeared like a sure aim.
But Elisa De Almeida, shifted out to right-back for this sport, raced in to supply a miraculous block together with her thigh.
French goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin then needed to come out to clear in entrance of Fowler, because it one way or the other remained goalless on the interval.
Kerr emerged 10 minutes into the second half, changing Van Egmond to the delight of the group, and her introduction supplied such a raise that Australia very almost went forward moments later.
Hayley Raso tried her luck with a rasping drive from outdoors the field, however Peyraud-Magnin saved and the Juventus goalkeeper topped that with a superb block to disclaim Fowler from point-blank vary on the hour mark.
That appeared to pierce a few of Australia’s momentum, and the stress elevated because the clock ticked down, making additional time virtually an inevitability.
France thought they’d the breakthrough 10 minutes into the additional interval when Ellie Carpenter turned the ball into her personal internet, however Australia have been rescued when the Chilean referee blew for a foul.
Arnold saved beautifully from Becho, earlier than France changed Peyraud-Magnin with Durand as penalties loomed.
Durand is their spot-kick saving specialist and denied each Steph Catley and Clare Hunt within the shoot-out, but it surely was not sufficient for France.