They captivated the country. They went further than an Australian team has ever gone before. But on Wednesday night, the Matildas’ historic run at the World Cup came to an end as European champions England proved too strong in the semi-final in Sydney.
It’s the hope that kills you. After England stamped their authority on the game in the first half, through physicality and a swerving opener from Manchester United striker Ella Toone, captain Sam Kerr brought the Matildas back into the game with an astonishing equaliser on the hour mark.
For eight whole minutes, the capacity crowd dared to dream – before Lauren Hemp broke Australian hearts and secured the Lionesses’ place in the World Cup final. A late strike from Alessia Russo only confirmed the result.
The Matildas now travel to Brisbane for the third-place playoff against Sweden on Saturday afternoon. England, meanwhile, will face Spain for the trophy on Sunday in Sydney.
The home side have played three times at Stadium Australia during this World Cup, and although the official attendance has been the same on each occasion, 75,784, Wednesday’s crowd seemed even louder as the anthems bellowed. An entire nation waited in suspense as the opening whistle blew for the biggest match in the Matildas’ history.
Australia started with their trademark transition pace – in the opening minutes midfield dynamo Katrina Gorry unleashed Kerr, a surprise starter following her tournament-eve calf injury, with a slicing through-ball. The Matildas captain was unable to beat England custodian Mary Earps in a one-on-one situation, and in any event was called back for offside. But it was an ominous sign of the team’s counterattacking threat.
England hit back almost immediately, Georgia Stanway pouncing on a bouncing pass into the Matildas’ box. The midfielder’s shot was met with an instinctive block by Mackenzie Arnold, Australia’s penalty shootout heroine from the quarter-final. This was the first-ever meeting between the two nations at the World Cup and it was immediately evident that both meant business.
As the half wore on England asserted their physicality – Alex Greenwood earning a yellow card for her troubles and several teammates were fortunate not to join her in referee Tori Penso’s notebook. Kerr was a particular target; the crowd winced every time the star striker went to ground, hoping, praying even that her calf was not impacted.
England seized the advantage with 10 minutes remaining in the half as Hemp caused trouble along the Matildas’ byline before cutting it sharply back infield. The pass eventually connected with Toone who lashed an out-swinging shot into the top corner of Arnold’s goal. The goal stunned the home side, who gladly welcomed the half-time intermission.
But the Matildas emerged from the tunnel with more vigour, knowing they had just 45 minutes to keep the flame of this remarkable World Cup dream alive. Right-sided wing-back Ellie Carpenter drove the team forward with aplomb, while Kerr – isolated upfront for most of the first-half – found herself more involved in the action. England remained dangerous, but the Matildas resumed the half with the energy that had taken them this deep in the tournament.
And then it came. Kerr – who else? – collected a pass from Gorry on the halfway line. She ran, and ran. Foord offered support on the left as England centre-backs Millie Bright and Jessica Carter tried to contain Kerr, but it would prove unnecessary. As the Matildas captain reached the edge of the England box, she let rip. Earps leapt and threw her hand in the sky, to no avail, and Stadium Australia erupted. It was the goal the Matildas faithful had been waiting for all tournament.
The momentum, the hope, lasted all of eight minutes. Hemp maintained pressure on Carpenter as the Matildas defender sought to shepherd a bouncing ball back to Arnold or to the byline. When Carpenter erred, Hemp was waiting to capitalise. The Australian goalkeeper got a hand to the shot but it was not enough to send it wide.
As the clock ticked down, the Matildas searched for another equaliser – and Kerr was at the heart of the action. A header went wide, a shot was miscued. But the Australians’ desperation, and a make-shift back-line after attacking substitutions from Tony Gustavsson, left space for Hemp, who held up play before releasing her strike partner Russo for the final goal, a stake through the heart of any hope that remained for the Matildas.
True to their motto, never say die, the Matildas did not give up as Gustavsson urged them on from the sidelines. But with a two-goal deficit and only minutes remaining, it was hard to see how even these the Matildas could salvage things and force extra-time.
For a month the Matildas have captivated Australia, leaving a distinct sense that women’s sport in this country will never be the same. There is no shame in a historic semi-final loss against one of the best teams in the world. But all the same, Matildas fans will forever wonder what might have been.
