The Matildas face Sweden once again, this time for a spot in the Tokyo Olympics gold medal match, from 9pm (AEST) in Yokohama.
After making it through the group stage as one of the best third-placed teams, Australia is now guaranteed to play for a medal after overcoming Great Britain 4-3 in a dramatic quarter final.
A Sam Kerr double, the first to tie the scores late in regular time and the second to extend the Matildas’ lead to 4-2, plus Alanna Kennedy header and Mary Fowler strike, as well as some heroics from Teagan Micah in goal, set up the victory.
The Aussies and the Swedes were both drawn in Group G, with Sweden taking the honours on that occasion with a 4-2 win.
Just as the Matildas will be better for the experience, knowing what worked and what didn’t in that group stage match, so too will the team in yellow and blue know the strengths and weaknesses of Australia that little bit better.
Sweden’s run-in to this game has been flawless. Three wins in the group stage, highlighted by a 3-0 victory over the USA, were followed up with a 3-1 triumph over host nation Japan in the quarter finals.
Tony Gustavsson’s charges have experienced the full gamut of results, with wins over Team Great Britain and New Zealand, a draw with the USA, and that loss to Sweden.
There are some concerns over a few Australian players, with four games in 10 days, one of which went to extra time, taking a toll. Captain Sam Kerr was hobbling slightly in the latter stages against Great Britain, and is under an injury cloud heading into this crucial match.
She is one of four Matildas to have played every single one of the 390 minutes so far; midfielder Emily van Egmond and defenders Steph Catley and Ellie Carpenter being the other three.
That quartet have been exceptional. Carpenter’s defensive work and speed have been crucial, while Catley has been one of Australia’s best attacking threats. Both she and van Egmond have provided assists for two goals, while Kerr has been involved in six.
The champion’s double against Great Britain has taken her to equal top of the all-time Matildas goal-scoring charts with 47, alongside Lisa De Vanna.
Gustavsson will need to decide whether to change his personnel to give his weary players a rest, or if they can go the distance once again with a guaranteed medal on the line.
A date with either the USA or Canada awaits, as does the possibility of a first ever Olympic football medal for Australia.
Kick-off: 9pm (AEST)
Venue: International Stadium, Yokohama
TV: Channel Seven, 7Mate
Online: 7plus
Matildas
1. Lydia Williams, 2. Sam Kerr (c), 3. Kyra Cooney-Cross, 4. Clare Polkinghorne, 5. Aivi Luik, 6, Chloe Logarzo, 7. Steph Catley, 8. Elise Kellond-Knight, 9. Caitlin Foord, 10. Emily van Egmond, 11. Mary Fowler, 12. Ellie Carpenter, 13. Tameka Yallop, 14. Alanna Kennedy, 15. Emily Gielnik, 16, Hayley Raso, 17. Kyah Simon, 18. Teagan Micah, 19. Courtney Nevin, 20. Charlotte Grant, 21. Laura Brock, 22. Mackenzie Arnold
Sweden
1. Hedvig Lindahl, 2. Jonna Andersson, 3. Emma Kullberg, 4. Hanna Glas, 5. Hanna Bennison, 6. Magdalena Eriksson, 7. Madelen Janogy, 8. Lina Hurtig, 9. Kosovare Asllani, 10. Sofia Jakobsson, 11. Stina Blackstenius, 12. Jennifer Falk, 13. Amanda Ilestedt, 14. Nathalie Bjorn, 15. Olivia Schough, 16. Filippa Angeldal, 17. Caroline Seger (c), 18. Fridolina Rolfo, 19. Anna Anvegard, 20. Julia Roddar, 21. Rebecka Blomqvist, 22. Zecira Musovic
Clear as mud
Guest
A ref with a greater sense of occasion might have blow full time as this was about to happen
Hudddo
Roar Rookie
So it justifies bad call's after technology exists to remove it?
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
We have issues with our defence, same issue Staj tried to deal with yeas ago, and Gustaffon tried to sort in the earlier trial matches. We just don't have enough depth in defenders and we keep relying on Carpenter and midfielders who do well, but they're not centre backs. Destroys our attacking game and leaves us wide open at times. We will need to grow more depth if we want to improve in coming tournaments over the next few years. No one can be expected to play at the rate many of our girls have. We have plenty of good young players in the W League. We need to make it a proper league rather than a summer training camp for overseas players, and play more youngsters at national level. All that aside, well done Matildas. You were good enough to win that game.
Hudddo
Roar Rookie
So it wasn’t a goal? El brought her down? These 2 alone have major consequences, not just for our medal hopes, but our women’s football progression. Do you understand what a GOLD medal game would do for the women’s sport… It wouldn’t be an shot in the arm equvilant, it would be the equivalent of 6 month does of roids, and one refs decision just averted that. ( think the schwazer vs canada game in the men’s, that sent us down different trajectories that’s the level of consequence in this game).
AGO74
Guest
Weird game. I don’t think we played that well yet we dominated long stretches and we’re potentially even the better team. Really unlucky with the disallowed goal. 2nd game in a row we’ve been stiffed by the refs - though Micah saved the pen in last game. Very unlucky deflection for goal. Unfortunately with Ellie’s red card I think our chances of bronze just dropped marerially. The HUGE positive out of this is that I think we have a really good coach. The improvement in the team in just a few short months has been immense. Imagine what can be done for the World Cup here in two years…..
Marcel
Guest
Kerr scored after the whistle...the goal wasn't disallowed and so there is nothing VAR could have done about it.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
I didn't agree with some of the calls but didn't think the ref was biased.
Dibbs
Roar Rookie
There were bad calls before the VAR was introduced aswell. Unfortunately it can't be used for marginal calls. It's hard to take but i think it makes sense.
Winter A League is Awesome
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the blog.
Winter A League is Awesome
Roar Rookie
Are you serious? You need to score goals and not worry about refs. The ref got the call right and blew the whistle well before Kerr took the shot. Blaming refs is ridiculous when you cant force the keeper into a dangerous save all game.
Hudddo
Roar Rookie
Should it though? noting we've let VAR in to our bed.
Hudddo
Roar Rookie
?? You can't beat a team if your dealing with stupidity from the officials
Dibbs
Roar Rookie
A shame about the result but this was probably the best game I've seen the Matildas play. They looked the better team for most of the night against Sweden who actually are the best team at the moment. Shocking call to disallow Kerrs goal. Sweden got lucky, just like Canada did earlier, but that's how it goes in this game.
Hudddo
Roar Rookie
How is a Honduran reffing a semi final, The Honduran woman are ranked 117 in the world, at what point does it entitle you to reffing one of the 3 most important games in the second most publicly important tournament that exists in football. Not to mention the short chequed history of Australia and hondurus. Terrible ref, on par with Poll.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
I would have liked our chances against the Canadians - the Yanks will be very tough to beat
Marissa Lordanic
Expert
That was the Matildas fifth game in 13 days and the tired legs really started to show. Immense credit to Sweden who have shown since match day one that they are very serious contenders. Focus for Australia turns to the bronze medal match vs the USA on Thursday night and how we go about replacing Ellie Carpenter who won't feature after that red card.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Bad luck for the Matildas. Sweden were the better team, but on the night, they weren't invincible, and in fact, almost gave the ball away as often as the Matildas (you'd have to think some of the players would be exhausted from the number of the games they've had to play). It was a bit disappointing that for much of the final 30 minutes, it was one hail Mary after the other for the Matildas in the attacking third. Yeh, that works against weaker opposition, but for the most part, the Swedes were pretty comfortable with it. There were chunks of that 2nd half where it looked like we didn't have a midfield, and there was just this enormous hole between the defenisve line and the attackers, but with the Swedes tiring, we did get to put some pressure on the Swedish goal, but just not enough goal scoring opportunities.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Pretty silly effort by Ellie there with a minute to go - so unnecessary - the Aussies would have needed her against the USA. Its going to be really difficult for the Aussies to regroup after this. Hate to say it but I don't like their chances. The US will be filthy after going down to Canada. And Sweden will be very very short odds to win the gold.
Graham
Guest
Odd day for australia Hockeroos lost, bicycle decided to explode - about as rare as a fire at seaparks - and then a bizarre decision disallowing our goal for the matildas
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
We were the better team, but the Swedes found the back of the net and their goalkeeper kept her positioning (bar one moment of madness her defence saved her from). A great effort from the Matildas; jus one of those games.