After a quarter-final in Brisbane, Queensland, that went down to a sudden death penalty shootout, Australia’s Matildas are headed to the semi-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time.
The Matildas defeated France 7-6 in the penalty shootout, with Mackenzie Arnold and Courtnee Vine the heroes. Vine is an ex-Sydney Olympic player.
Australian keeper Arnold saved three French spotkicks, while missing one of her own in a 20-penalty spectacular that had 49,461 fans in Brisbane Stadium on tenterhooks.
Australia’s tenth-choice penalty taker Vine slotted the deciding kick to send the Matildas into the World Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history.