Australia have been knocked out of the medal race in Rio in heartbreaking fashion, going down in a dramatic penalty shoot-out against host nation Brazil.
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The Matildas battled an absolute arm wrestle with Brazilians to end regulation and extra time without a goal on the board, heading into the shootout with a nil-all draw.
It was a bit of a slow start out of the gates for both sides, but as they game went on the pace picked up and the defence opened up.
Australia were certainly on the back foot, but their scrambling defence inside the box held on until the halftime, taking just 39 per cent possession into the break.
Chances began opening up all over the shop in the second half as well as the heat and emotion among the players, with some pretty aggressive hits coming out and the cards being presented.
Brazil had the lion’s share of possession late in the game as desperation began to set in and the host nation threw everything they could at the goals.
Footballing legend in Brazil, Marta, was causing headaches for the Aussie defence who only just contained the ball movement and pace off the turn.
An incredible strike late in the game from Chloe Logarzo nearly broke the deadlock, but her absolute bullet from range found the woodwork and kept the home side in the game.
Extra time saw both sides lose their legs and the mistakes begin to flow, with nearly all 22 women on the park succumbing to exhaustion as they gave it everything they had.
Brazil had a corner on the stroke of fulltime, their last of 18 for the game compared to the Australian’s count of just three, but just like the previous 17 times, the Matildas held on.
Then it was into the shootout.
Both sides were flawless in the opening exchanges, sinking the first eight shots to leave the score poised at four a piece.
It would be a miss from the Brazilian captain Marta that opened up the contest. Keeper Lydia Williams made the diving save to her left and sent the Australians into a frenzy.
There was just the one goal needed after that to win the game and set up a semi-final clash with Sweden, but Katrina Gorry could only find the hands of Barbara.
Brazil sealed the win six shots later with another Barbara save, making the diving save against Alanna Kennedy to throw both sides into a state of emotion and tears, but for different reasons.
The Brazilians advance into the semi-finals and continue their quest for Olympic gold at home.
Minz
Guest
I've watched a few games between the Matildas and Brazil now, and the common thread is that Brazil tends to get away with a lot. They're simultaneously very physical and very fine divers, much like the Brazilian men at their best. We saw some of that today, with Heyman's clear penalty shout turned down and the Brazilian GK in penalties. Frustrating to watch... they're a good enough team without the helping hand!
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I was amazed how the ref kept allowing the Brazilian keeper to charge off the line before the ball was kicked for every single penalty. She was then a good 3 metres off her line trying to make the saves instead of on the line where she was supposed to be. By the rules of the game the ref should have ordered a retake for any penalty she succeeded in saving. It's not the only time I've seen a keeper doing that. There have been plenty doing it of late, and it's something the ref's really need to clamp down on, but it was pretty amazing how blatant she was being charging towards the penalty taker without the ref doing anything about it. Every single penalty she'd got 2 good running steps forward in before the ball was kicked. Every time. Not saying anything else about the match. As per the above comment you could possibly say the Brazilians were deserved winners. But in the end they got their by their keeper blatantly flaunting the rules and getting away with it.
tsuru
Guest
To be fair, the Brazilians played better football for most of the match - more structure, better control in midfield. The Aussies were gutsy and ran their hearts out. But, in the end, as certain Americans don't seem to have learned, a football game is won by the team that puts the ball in the back of the net more times than the opposition.