Two stars wrote their names into Australian footballing folklore as the Matildas booked a spot in the semi finals of the Women’s World Cup with a thrilling penalty shootout victory over France.
Neither side was able to break the deadlock in regular time, although both nations certainly had their chances.
Foxsports.com.au breaks down how EVERY player performed in Matildas Player Ratings!
HISTORY MAKERS! Matildas into WC semis after EPIC 20-penalty shootout
Fans fume as Matildas snubbed on big screen in ‘bizarre move’
What time do the Matildas play their semi final?
Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. Join now and start streaming instantly >
Golden chances missed in TENSE 1st half | 00:29
DEFENCE
Mackenzie Arnold – 10
That was a fingernail away from being a perfect performance. Player of the match Arnold was imperious all match, making a host of world-class saves as well as defending corners with excellent composure and punching. Normally an excellent penalty taker, she rattled the post with her shot but more than made up for it with a couple of clutch saves – including when she was forced to repeat one save after leaving her line early at the first attempt. It showed remarkable toughness to rebound from missing her own shot to make a couple more saves and win the shootout.
Arnold even revealed she only found out she was in the first five penalty takers after extra time.
“That’s the first time I knew I was going to take one. I was a little bit in shock,” she told Channel 7.
Ellie Carpenter – 7
Had an incredibly difficult assignment in facing Lyon teammate Selma Bacha, but she just about came out on top. In the Melbourne friendly with France three weeks ago, Bacha ran riot as France directed most of their attack down Carpenter’s right flank. This time out, Carpenter managed to keep her relatively quiet, while doing reasonably well in attack. Her final product was sometimes lacking, but when she got things right it tore France’s defence apart – like when she fed Raso in the build-up for Mary Fowler’s golden chance late in the first half. Carpenter was caught out of position once or twice through the game, which is almost a necessary downside to her attack-minded approach, but a clinical strike from the 12-yard dot in the shootout capped a solid performance.
Clare Hunt – 9
Hunt just goes from strength to strength – and every match it feels like she is growing into one of the world’s most calm and capable defenders! Having only debuted for the Matildas this year, facing Kadidiatou Diani – the player with the most goal involvements at this World Cup – is about as tough as it gets. But Hunt was like a wet blanket thrown on top of the on-fire Frenchwoman. Every time the ball came in Diani’s direction, Hunt was there to stifle her threat. Interceptions, aerial duels, clearances, tackles – Hunt did the lot.
A simply incredible performance, though she missed the potential matchwinning penalty.
She’s been linked to a number of clubs, and it seems a certainty that she’ll make a high-profile transfer after the World Cup.
Alanna Kennedy – 6
Looked a little nervous in the opening exchanges, and nearly had a catastrophic moment in the first ten minutes when she miscued a clearance and allowed Diani to run through on goal in the first half. Kennedy dragged her back by the shirt and was lucky not to give away a free-kick in a dangerous position (and probably should have had a yellow card too!) Kennedy was solid for the rest of the night, and got into good positions on set pieces going forward but couldn’t convert her chances. Was spared an own goal in extra time after a French foul in a rough-and-tumble corner, and simply refused to go off at the death despite copping a massive whack.
Steph Catley – 7
It was another dependable performance from the captain (at least, until Sam Kerr came on in the second half and took the armband). She took more than her fair share of big collisions in a physical contest but never backed down despite wearing a wince for the last half-hour. Made a number of excellent clearances and was rarely caught out – except in the very last seconds of the match when Eugenie Le Sommer raced past the tired Aussie and fired off a shot.
MIDFIELD
Katrina Gorry – 8
Entering this game, no player at the tournament had made more ball recoveries than Australia’s diminutive midfield warrior. After tonight’s game, her dominance of the statistic is probably untouchable.
From her hard tackling to throwing her body through the air to get a touch on the ball, Gorry was a force of nature. France hassled and harried her all match, making shutting her influence down a clear part of their game-plan from the first minute. But Gorry had a clearly anticipated the pressure she would face, and reacted by regularly turning backwards out of trouble to recycle possession. Once she settled into the game and began to secure some control of the midfield, momentum shifted in Australia’s favour. Her weight of passing and control in tight spaces was excellent, and she unleashed many of Australia’s best counter-attacks. Finished it off with a well-taken penalty and a rocking-the-baby celebration to boot, while her daughter Harper – one of Australia’s most beloved children right now – sent the crowd into raptures when she made her way onto the field after the final whistle.
Kyra Cooney-Cross – 8
With every match that passes and Cooney-Cross shines, the 21-year-old builds her case for a big-money transfer to one of the world’s top teams. Already she has been linked to the likes of Chelsea alongside Sam Kerr, Arsenal (with Caitlin Foord and Steph Catley), Manchester United, or Juventus and its Australian coach Joe Montemurro. It’s incredible to witness her rapid development on the international stage, and tonight seemed like another step forward. Against one of the world’s best midfield units, she held her own – and then some. After a tough opening period, she began to make her mark with excellent control of the ball under pressure, dribbling this way and that to evade the defence. Was substituted late in the piece for Tameka Yallop to come on and take a penalty.
Emily van Egmond – 7
Retained her spot as a false nine alongside Mary Fowler.
Showed tremendous hustle to carve out a chance from nothing when she chased the ball down and cut it back to Fowler, only for the youngster’s strike to be cleared off the line.
As always, did her best in a relatively unfamiliar role but never quite looked at home
Sacrificed in the 55th minute to bring Sam Kerr on.
ATTACK
Hayley Raso – 8
Was probably quite fortunate to escape a yellow card in the early stages after flying into several tackles.
Had to drift inside the field to get on the ball but sadly couldn’t fashion many chances around the box in the first half.
She had a curling effort from outside of the box tipped over the bar in what was probably her best chance to score.
But her relentless tracking back to help out Carpenter was pivotal in snuffing out several French attacks.
Subbed off to a standing ovation in the 104th minute.
Mary Fowler – 9
Fowler continues to be the shining light of the Matildas attack.
The silky midfielder was dropping in between the lines and spraying out deadly passes across the park.
Was unlucky not to break the deadlock early on when her effort off a Van Egmond cutback was saved on the line by Elisa De Almeida.
Fowler also had a golden chance in the second half when she drove at the French backline but will regret not getting her head up to see Foord unmarked in space to her left.
Smashed home a penalty in the shootout.
Caitlin Foord – 8
Began the game out on the left wing again and immediately took the game to the French.
Foord was aggressive with and without the ball but struggled to find herself in similar positions to the ones she had against Denmark.
Looked more dangerous once Kerr came on in the second half even though she remained on the left side.
Converted Australia’s first penalty of the shootout which is no easy task.
SUBSTITUTES
Sam Kerr – 8
Came on in the 55th minute for Emily van Egmond to a rousing reception.
Kerr made an immediate impact when she embarked on a beautiful run with the ball before dishing it off to Raso, who had her effort tipped over the bar.
She was a livewire and had French defenders frightened about the runs she could make in behind, but was outstanding at linking up play with her teammates.
The skipper still is not fully fit and wasn’t sprinting around as much as we’ve grown accustomed to, but her substitution undoubtedly made the Matildas more dangerous.
Stepped up and converted after Steph Catley missed her penalty.
Cortnee Vine – 7
Came on in the 104th minute for Hayley Raso.
Vine almost broke the deadlock not long after coming on but she poked her effort just wide of the near post, although it was an incredibly difficult angle to score from.
Her rapid pace kept the French defence alert, especially in the dying stages of the game as the legs wore out.
But her most valuable contribution — and potentially the most valuable contribution of her career — was stepping up to convert the winning penalty.
‘Rarefied air!’ – Vine becomes a HERO | 00:31
Tameka Yallop – 6
Came on in the 116th minute for Kyra Cooney-Cross.
Ensured the Matildas didn’t concede, but didn’t make much of an impact during the game.
Scored her penalty once the shootout had reached the sudden death stages.
