Nice: Australia’s bid for FIFA Women’s World Cup glory came to an end at the Round of 16 stage, after they fell to a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat against Norway at Stade de Nice on Saturday.
The Matildas came back from a goal behind to force a 1-1 draw, then survived extra time despite Alanna Kennedy’s red card, but misses by Sam Kerr and Emily Gielnik proved decisive in the shootout, leaving Norway to celebrate a superb win.
Having emerged victorious from an epic match, Norway will now face England or Cameroon in Le Havre on Thursday, while Australia must look forward to challenges to come.
Keeping Kerr quiet was high on the list of Norwegian priorities in Nice, but she very nearly gave Australia the lead inside the first minute; cutting inside Maren Mjelde before steering a shot ever-so-slightly wide into the side netting.
Caroline Graham Hansen – the Barcelona signee whose fitness was the subject of discussion prior to the match - was the chief early source of creativity for Norway, with 24-year-old tying the Australians in knots on more than one occasion before forcing Lydia Williams into a low save.
We bow out of the World Cup on penalties.
Thank you Australia for your amazing support! #WeAreMatildas pic.twitter.com/NIcDnpZHAe
— Matildas (@TheMatildas) June 22, 2019
Just after the half-hour mark - and only moments after Kerr had tried a shot of her own at the other end - Norway were in front, as Australia conceded a goal on the counter-attack for the third successive match.
Karina Saevik produced a through ball which evaded Steph Catley and found her Kolbotn teammate Iasbell Herlovsen, with the latter finishing with aplomb to make it 1-0
The Matildas looked as though they had found a lifeline when referee Riem Hussein pointed to the spot for a handball incident involving Maria Thorisdottir, but after a long VAR check the penalty kick was rescinded and the Norwegians took their lead into the interval.
Australia came out firing after the break, and had the ball in the net when Kerr buried a one on one chance provided by Foord in the 60th minute, but their celebrations were cut short after the striker was spotted straying clearly offside.
It was intense, high-stakes football with the sense of urgency rising with each passing minute, and just as all looked lost for Ante Milicic’s side, they found a priceless equaliser when Elise Kellond-Knight’s corner kick went all the way into the back of the net.
It had been Kellond-Knight’s pinpoint corner kick delivery that had saved Australia in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup semi-final against Thailand in April 2018, and she stood up when it counted once more, this time taking it a step further by not only setting up the late leveller but scoring it herself.
Graham Hansen almost broke Australian hearts when she hit the upright in injury time, but the ball danced along the goal-line without crossing it, and the Matildas lived to fight another 30 minutes.
The extra period began with two opportunities for Kerr, but Norway had chances themselves and Williams had to be at full stretch to deny both Vilde Boe Risa and Graham Hansen.
Australia suffered another blow when Kennedy was shown a straight red card for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity in the 104th minute, before another Risa strike from distance rattled the crossbar.
Norway made the most of their numerical advantage to dominate the second period of extra-time, but, despite a series of near misses, Australia survived the final, gruelling minutes to force a penalty shootout
The Matildas showed great fight to reach that far but misses to Kerr and Emily Gielnik quickly put them behind, allowing Ingrid Syrstad Engen to deal the final blow to their campaign.
Photos: FIFA via Getty Images
Source: the-afc.com