Nice (France) (AFP) – Sam Kerr was one of two Australian players to miss her penalty as Norway beat the Matildas 4-1 in a shoot-out following an engrossing 1-1 draw on Saturday to reach the quarter-finals of the women’s World Cup.
Ingrid Engen converted the decisive spot-kick for the Norwegians after both Kerr and Emily Gielnik had failed to convert for the Australians in Nice.
Norway had earlier taken the lead through Isabell Herlovsen before being pegged back by Elise Kellond-Knight late on and taken into extra time.
They could not find a winner in the extra half-hour, despite Australia having Alanna Kennedy sent off, but the 1995 world champions had the last laugh and will go through to a quarter-final against either England or Cameroon.
It is a painful end to Australia’s hopes of at least making the last eight, as they had done at each of the last three World Cups.
However, Norway remain on course to meet their stated objective of finishing among the medals despite coming to the tournament without their biggest star, Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg.
They had drawn first blood, taking the lead just after the half-hour mark. Australia defender Steph Catley failed to cut out Karina Saevik’s ball in from the right flank and Herlovsen pounced to score with a clinical finish.
For a long time it looked as though that would be the only goal of the game, with the Matildas left frustrated just before half-time when they were awarded a penalty only for the decision to be overturned.
German referee Riem Hussein pointed to the spot when she saw what appeared to be handball by Norwegian defender Maria Thorisdottir. However, she changed her mind after a review of the images showed that the ball had in fact struck her shoulder.
Kerr and Hayley Raso had already come close for Australia before that and Kerr was denied again early in the second half when she had the ball in the net only to be flagged offside.
Nevertheless, with just seven minutes of normal time left, Ante Milicic’s side drew level in fortuitous fashion as Kellond-Knight curled in a low corner from the right and the ball evaded everyone on its way into the net.
It was a painful way to concede for Norway, although they almost won the game in injury time when a Caroline Graham Hansen effort from the edge of the box hit the inside of the post and rolled out to safety.
from World Soccer Talk http://bit.ly/2N34qYI
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