Australia edge France in penalty drama to reach Women’s WC semis

AP, Brisbane :
Australia edged France on penalty kicks Saturday to reach FIFA Women’s World Cup (WC) semi-finals for the first time.

Cortnee Vine took Australia’s 10th penalty from the spot and calmly converted it to give the Matildas a 7-6 win in the shootout after the quarterfinal match finished 0-0 after regulation and extra time.

The Australians missed two earlier chances to clinch a dramatic shootout. But ultimately, it didn’t matter, as they ended a long curse for tournament hosts.

The Australians became the only team other than the United States of America to advance past the quarterfinals of a Women’s World Cup as the host nation.

Australia will play either England next Wednesday in Sydney for a spot in the final.

Australian goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold kept the Matildas in the game in extra time and made a string of clutch saves in the shootout – before and after missing her own attempt that could have sealed the win.

Both teams had chances to win it in regulation, and Sam Kerr’s first meaningful appearance of the tournament for Australia triggered a surge in tempo from the Australians. But ultimately, no goals.

The French team celebrated momentarily in extra time when it appeared Australian defender Alanna Kennedy’s misdirected header from a corner kick had produced an own goal, but referee Maria Carvajal immediately disallowed it.

Carvajal ruled that France captain Wendie Renard had pulled the jersey of Australian forward Caitlin Foord in the area.

It would have been a contentious goal, regardless, with France awarded the corner despite the ball seeming to go out off Vicki Becho in the 10th minute of extra time.

Becho fired a shot early in the second period of extra time that Arnold pushed over her right post. She also blocked shots from Grace Geyoro and veteran striker Eugenie Le Sommer late to take the game to a shootout, momentarily quieting the 49,461-strong crowd.

Arnold blocked the first shot diving to her right in the shootout.

Foord took Australia’s first shot, calmly slotting it past France’s replacement goalkeeper Solene Durand.