The Matildas have crashed out of the Women's World Cup, losing on penalties to Norway after hanging on to force a draw despite being reduced to 10 players thanks to Alanna Kennedy's extra-time dismissal.
Captain Sam Kerr blasted her first spot kick over the bar, Emily Gielnik saw her's saved by Ingrid Hjelmseth and the Norwegians converted all four of their attempts to put the issue beyond doubt after Steph Catley had given the Matildas a glimmer of hope.
This was a brave, battling display in a game that ebbed and flowed, with both sides having periods of domination. Lydia Williams in the Australian goal kept her side in the contest with a number of excellent saves.
German referee Riem Hussein made some contentious decisions, perplexing Australian fans and officials by turning down several penalty appeals and sending Kennedy off in extra time.
The Matildas were buzzing early in this game, harrying, hustling, chasing and chivvying their opponents and not allowing the Norwegians any time to settle.
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Had things gone a little differently the Australians could have been two goals up within five minutes, and that star, Kerr, was central to both attacks.
The Australian captain had an excellent opportunity within the first 30 seconds after she had been played through by a lovely Caitlin Foord kick.
Kerr rounded her Norwegian opponent, made space for herself and pulled the trigger only to see her effort slide just wide of Hjelmseth's post.
The Matildas went close again in the fifth minute.
Once again Foord was the instigator with a pass that found Hayley Raso in a wide area. She drove forward and went around Kristine Minde before slipping the ball to Kerr; Raso kept going to receive Kerr's back flick before getting a shot off that forced Hjelmseth into a diving save.
The auguries were excellent at this stage and Norway looked at sixes and sevens as the Australians moved the ball crisply and played at a high tempo, hoping to use their pace to find Kerr at every opportunity.
But after 15 minutes the Norwegians began to find their own rhythm and started to make the running, with star forward Caroline Graham Hansen starting to exert her own stamp on the match.
When Foord was dispossessed the ball came to Graham Hansen, who drove forward and flashed a shot across the goal as the Norwegians began to take control in midfield.
Ellie Carpenter was sucked badly out of position and the ball broke through to Minde, whose shot was blocked, but it was a clear warning.
Norway made the breakthrough on the half-hour mark, just after Kerr's shot from a Tameka Yallop ball at the other end was blocked.
Karina Saevik played a long pass through to the bustling Isabell Herlovsen, the centre forward getting in between Catley and Kennedy before unleashing a fierce drive that flew past Williams.
Saevik then flashed in a long-range drive before Hansen's powerful run ended with a shot that was deflected for what was the first of four corners in a row for Norway.
Australia thought they should have had a penalty when there was a long delay as the VAR examined a cross from the right, which Norway defender Maria Thorisdotter appeared to clear with her upper arm or shoulder, but much to their consternation Hussein ruled play on.
Williams had to be out quickly at the start of the second half to deny Graham before Raso sprinted forward at the other end and played a nice one-two with Kerr, only to shoot wide.
The Matildas almost got back on terms in the 51st minute when Carpenter's long throw was headed on by Kerr to Chloe Logarzo. The midfielder's cross found Foord at the far post but her outstretched leg could only guide the ball past the upright.
Shortly after, Minde was yellow carded for hauling down Raso as she slalomed towards goal.
Williams kept her team in the game when she made an excellent save from Graham after a swift Norwegian counter-attack when Carpenter was dispossessed by Guro Reiten.
Norway were defensively well-organised and disciplined in their play as they ceded territory and looked to contain the Matildas.
Kerr had the ball in the back of the net shortly before the hour mark when she was played through but was judged to be offside as Australia continued to press and take the game to their opponents, who were content to hit on the counter.
The Matildas continued to dominate possession and territory, trying to find Kerr in space or with a cross, but they were always vulnerable on the counter attack.
Kennedy tried her luck from distance with a shot that sailed over the bar before coach Ante Milicic replaRead More – Source
The Matildas have crashed out of the Women's World Cup, losing on penalties to Norway after hanging on to force a draw despite being reduced to 10 players thanks to Alanna Kennedy's extra-time dismissal.
Captain Sam Kerr blasted her first spot kick over the bar, Emily Gielnik saw her's saved by Ingrid Hjelmseth and the Norwegians converted all four of their attempts to put the issue beyond doubt after Steph Catley had given the Matildas a glimmer of hope.
This was a brave, battling display in a game that ebbed and flowed, with both sides having periods of domination. Lydia Williams in the Australian goal kept her side in the contest with a number of excellent saves.
German referee Riem Hussein made some contentious decisions, perplexing Australian fans and officials by turning down several penalty appeals and sending Kennedy off in extra time.
The Matildas were buzzing early in this game, harrying, hustling, chasing and chivvying their opponents and not allowing the Norwegians any time to settle.
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Had things gone a little differently the Australians could have been two goals up within five minutes, and that star, Kerr, was central to both attacks.
The Australian captain had an excellent opportunity within the first 30 seconds after she had been played through by a lovely Caitlin Foord kick.
Kerr rounded her Norwegian opponent, made space for herself and pulled the trigger only to see her effort slide just wide of Hjelmseth's post.
The Matildas went close again in the fifth minute.
Once again Foord was the instigator with a pass that found Hayley Raso in a wide area. She drove forward and went around Kristine Minde before slipping the ball to Kerr; Raso kept going to receive Kerr's back flick before getting a shot off that forced Hjelmseth into a diving save.
The auguries were excellent at this stage and Norway looked at sixes and sevens as the Australians moved the ball crisply and played at a high tempo, hoping to use their pace to find Kerr at every opportunity.
But after 15 minutes the Norwegians began to find their own rhythm and started to make the running, with star forward Caroline Graham Hansen starting to exert her own stamp on the match.
When Foord was dispossessed the ball came to Graham Hansen, who drove forward and flashed a shot across the goal as the Norwegians began to take control in midfield.
Ellie Carpenter was sucked badly out of position and the ball broke through to Minde, whose shot was blocked, but it was a clear warning.
Norway made the breakthrough on the half-hour mark, just after Kerr's shot from a Tameka Yallop ball at the other end was blocked.
Karina Saevik played a long pass through to the bustling Isabell Herlovsen, the centre forward getting in between Catley and Kennedy before unleashing a fierce drive that flew past Williams.
Saevik then flashed in a long-range drive before Hansen's powerful run ended with a shot that was deflected for what was the first of four corners in a row for Norway.
Australia thought they should have had a penalty when there was a long delay as the VAR examined a cross from the right, which Norway defender Maria Thorisdotter appeared to clear with her upper arm or shoulder, but much to their consternation Hussein ruled play on.
Williams had to be out quickly at the start of the second half to deny Graham before Raso sprinted forward at the other end and played a nice one-two with Kerr, only to shoot wide.
The Matildas almost got back on terms in the 51st minute when Carpenter's long throw was headed on by Kerr to Chloe Logarzo. The midfielder's cross found Foord at the far post but her outstretched leg could only guide the ball past the upright.
Shortly after, Minde was yellow carded for hauling down Raso as she slalomed towards goal.
Williams kept her team in the game when she made an excellent save from Graham after a swift Norwegian counter-attack when Carpenter was dispossessed by Guro Reiten.
Norway were defensively well-organised and disciplined in their play as they ceded territory and looked to contain the Matildas.
Kerr had the ball in the back of the net shortly before the hour mark when she was played through but was judged to be offside as Australia continued to press and take the game to their opponents, who were content to hit on the counter.
The Matildas continued to dominate possession and territory, trying to find Kerr in space or with a cross, but they were always vulnerable on the counter attack.
Kennedy tried her luck from distance with a shot that sailed over the bar before coach Ante Milicic replaRead More – Source
