Australia 0-0 France (Australia advance 7-6 on penalties)
No matter which side of the Barassi Line that people were on, the Matildas have captivated Australia and they will continue to do so after defeating France after an epic defensive showdown and and epic penalty shootout before almost 50,000 in Brisbane. Mackenzie Arnold and Pauline Peyraud-Magnin (despite some nervy moments) with their respective defenses kept the match goalless throughout the 120 minutes. The best chance for Australia came after Peyraud-Magnin misplayed a loose ball that Emily Van Edmond set up Mary Fowler for an expected easy finish only for Elisa de Almeida to make the goal line clearance.
France thought they had a goal in extra time as Alana Kennedy headed into her own net, but it was disallowed as Wendi Renard was adjudged to have pulled the shirt of an Australian player in the buildup.
Sam Kerr ultimately played 65 minutes as a substitute and converted her spot kick in the shootout. French coach Herve Reynard replaced Peyraud-Magnin with Solene Durand for the shootout. It was her opposite number who had a chance to end it in the fifth round after Arnold made a save on Eve Perisset, but Arnold herself would shoot her spot kick off the post. Into round nine, Arnold made the stop on Kenza Dali and had to do so again after VAR determined the former stepped off her line on the first kick. However, Durand would deny Claire Hunt. To round ten and Naomie Feller would shoot off the post and Courtnee Vine would send Australia into ecstasy in ways not seen since Jean Alosi’s clincher put the Socceroos in the 2006 World Cup in Sydney.
“We came up against a Goliath of a goalie. What a game,” Renard said after the match.
It certainly was as Australia become the first host country to reach the semis of a Women’s World Cup in 20 years thanks in large part to Arnold.
“I could have won the game for the girls and I missed it, but the way they rallied around me and just kept me in it,” said Arnold. “At the end of the day it’s my job to keep the ball out of the net and thankfully I could do that for them.”
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 12: Alessia Russo of England scores their second goal during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Quarter Final match between England and Colombia at Stadium Australia on August 12, 2023 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Carl Racine – Pool/Getty Images)
England 2-1 Colombia
Meanwhile in Sydney, England had to come from behind to defeat Colombia, 2-1, at Stadium Australia to reach the semifinal for the third Cup running. Colombia took the lead on a stunner of a goal after Leicy Santos looped England keeper Mary Earps in the 44th minute. However, in the sixth minute of stoppage time in the half, Colombian keeper Catalina Perez mishandled a loose ball and England pounced and Lauren hemp equalized.
In the 63rd minute, Alessia Russo got space behind the Colombian defense and beat Perez far post for what would be the match winner.
The crowd of 75,784 were largely backing Colombia on Saturday night, and they will no doubt be mostly for Australia on Wednesday night (5am CT, FOX/Telemundo). The day before in Auckland, Spain will take on Sweden for a spot in the Final (3am CT, FOX/Telemundo).
An epic Women’s World Cup is reaching an epic climax and there are lots of stories yet to be written.
