Women’s World Cup Takeaways: Arnold saves Australia, Colombia’s fairytale ends

The Women’s World Cup semifinals are set. After Spain and Sweden received a pair of nail-biting quarterfinals, Australia and England added to the drama on Saturday.

Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie stopped three penalties — 4 if we embody a re-take — to edge France on penalties, then Alessia Russo secured a nerve-wracking win for England over Colombia to arrange the opposite semifinal.

THE RESULTS

Australia 0, France 0 (7-6 shootout win for Australia) — Game stats || Recap

England 2, Colombia 1 — Game stats || Recap

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MAIN TALKING POINTS

Arnold bails out herself, Australia to succeed in first semifinal

It was an entertaining 120 minutes in Brisbane between Australia and France. Both sides exchanged possibilities, with neither workforce having the ability to discover the breakthrough regardless of some high quality possibilities on objective.

Penalties have been in the end required, and simply once we thought nothing might’ve topped the leisure in regular time, that’s when the true enjoyable started.

Having solely used one substitution prior, France coach Herve Renard pulled a Louis van Gaal and swapped goalkeepers for the shootout. Third-choice shot-stopper Solene Durand checked into the dying moments of additional time having warmed up on the touchline for the earlier 10 minutes.

But it was Australia’s Mackenzie Arnold who stole the present from right here. She denied Selma Bacha on France’s first try, then dove brilliantly to her proper to cease Eve Perisset within the fifth spherical and had an opportunity to seal the victory from the spot herself.

Unfortunately for Arnold and the Matildas, the Aussie No. 1 smacked the submit. However, in one of many best redemptions arcs we’ve seen in a while, Arnold stopped three extra French penalties — together with a retake within the penultimate spherical — to offer the hosts the win after 10 rounds.

If it wasn’t for Arnold’s tremendousness, the story may’ve been Renard’s resolution to swap goalkeepers. Durand saved two penalties of her personal, however it wasn’t sufficient to outdo the Australians.

Now Australia, having certified for its first World Cup semifinal, develop into the primary host to succeed in this stage for the reason that United States in 2003. The U.S. received the entire thing 4 years prior as nicely.

Perhaps there’s one other magical run within the works for the hosts.

England ends Colombia’s fairytale run

Colombia was one of many shock packages of this World Cup, together with Nigeria, Jamaica, Morocco and South Africa. All 5 nations superior to the knockout stage in opposition to all odds, however solely the Colombians maintained their run to the quarterfinals.

Despite one other hard-fought effort in opposition to one of many event favourites, it’s England who will transfer on.

Alessia Russo’s 63rd-minute strike wrapped up the win for the European champions however it was a tough contest. Yet once more, Colombia was tremendous medical and Leicy Santos opened the scoring. A horrendous error from goalkeeper Catalina Perez gifted an equalizer for Lauren Hemp, which England ought to’ve been grateful for.

Prior to that gaffe, England hadn’t actually threatened Perez’s objective. In reality, the 2 objectives have been the one clear-cut alternatives they produced all recreation when analyzing the anticipated objectives (xG).

This wasn’t the primary time Colombia annoyed an opponent, so it’s extremely attainable that this was a one-off, however this may give Australia some confidence getting into the semifinals.

CLIP OF THE DAY

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I could have won the game for the girls and I missed it, but the way they rallied around me and just kept me in it. At the end of the day, it’s my job to keep the ball out of the net and thankfully I could do that for them.” — Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold.

THREE STARS OF THE DAY

1. Mackenzie Arnold, Australia: If the primary 120 minutes weren’t magnificent sufficient, the Aussie No. 1 by some means topped her efficiency within the shootout, even after smashing her personal penalty off the submit within the fifth spherical.

2. Alessia Russo, England: The Arsenal ahead bagged yet one more essential objective for England in a serious event in what was a intently contested match.

3. Leicy Santos, Colombia: All eyes have been on Linda Caicedo, however Leicy Santos was sensible on Saturday. Outside of her objective, Santos was a nuisance for England’s defence, finishing three key passes whereas logging three tackles and 6 recoveries.

LOOKING AHEAD

The semifinals will start on Tuesday when Spain and Sweden meet in Auckland. Hosts Australia battle European champions England the next day in Sydney in what needs to be an impressive ambiance on the Sydney Olympic Park.

More from Sportsnet

Women’s World Cup Takeaways: New champion might be topped after Sweden beats Japan

Women’s World Cup Takeaways: Spain edges Netherlands in extra-time thriller

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