Brazil is through to the semi finals after defeating Australia 7-6 on penalties in the quarter finals of the Rio 2016 Olympics.
The sides could not be separated after 120 minutes of football and the home nation progressed through after goalkeeper Barbara denied Alanna Kennedy’s spot kick.
The teams went goal for goal in the shootout until Williams saved Marta’s kick and Barbara followed it up by saving Katrina Gorry’s.
Kennedy’s kick and Barbara’s save ensured Brazil’s hope of winning a first gold medal in women’s football are still alive.
Brazil dominated possession throughout the match but the Matildas defended resolutely keeping out the team and blocking out the incredible noise generated by the home crowd.
Steph Catley was an early sub which forced the Matildas to tinker their line-up, but the team continued to stay in the contest and create chances to worry the Brazilians.
Australia was most potent on the counter and any time they could utilise the pace of their attackers but couldn’t translate this onto the scoresheet.
Chloe Logarzo had the Aussies’ best chance late in the second half, with her stunning shot hitting the cross bar.
For the Brazilians, the likes of Debinha and Andressa Alves had plenty of chances to put the home team ahead.
Lydia Williams was again in stellar form between the sticks, making brilliant save after brilliant save.
Neither side was able to break the deadlock in normal or extra time with Brazil to now face Sweden after the Europeans knocked out reigning gold medallists, the US, also on penalties.
A team full of superstars
Irrespective of how disappointing the result is, the Matildas are a team full of world class players. Lydia Williams was outstanding in goals and her save in the 90th minute was top shelf.
LOOK AT THIS SAVE #Matildas #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/V6GDSFXvQS
— sarah (@bergs3peat) August 13, 2016
The defensive efforts of Alanna Kennedy and Laura Alleway were wonderful, Elise Kellond-Knight was brilliant in both positions she played. Sam Kerr was a machine both in attack and defence and Clare Polkinghorne was monumental when she came on.
This team will continue to do good things and losing on penalties to Brazil in Brazil is not an indictment on this team.
What could have been?
It must be noted that Australia’s game plan was altered early. Catley’s substitution forced the team to change things around early on in the game. Kellond-Knight, who was tasked with keeping Marta out of the contest was forced to fill the whole left by Catley with Logarzo coming on.
Without Kellond-Knight just in front of the defence the team struggled to effectively transition through the midfield into attack. Kyah Simon and Lisa De Vanna were relatively quiet and the shake-up of the midfield definitely played some role in that.
While it’s not good to dwell on hypotheticals, things could have been different had injury not played a hand.
Still the most loveable team in the land
Penalties are potentially sport’s cruellest invention. The mental toughness needed to take and face a spot kick, especially when the stakes are so high, cannot be understated.
Although the Matildas will be incredibly disappointed with the result – and rightly so considering their medal aspirations weren’t unrealistic or fictitious – the team did everything in their power to win this game. They simply could not have defended harder or run more than they did.
The team represents the very best of Australian sportswomen and they will continue to do so.
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