Mackenzie Arnold played a starring role in Australia’s penalty shootout win over France on Saturday morning as the Matildas reached the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time in their history.
After a tense 120 minutes at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Arnold was the hero in the shootout, making three penalty saves to help her country to a 7-6 victory.
Arnold has played every minute at the tournament for the co-hosts so far, and started between the sticks against France, who had eased past Morocco to reach the quarter-final.
In a cagey affair where shots on target were at a premium, the Hammers No1 made a number of solid stops to keep France at bay.
Indeed, she had to be switched on deep into the second half of extra time, tipping teenager Vicki Becho’s fierce strike over the bar.
It was in the shootout when Arnold shone though, denying Selma Bacha from France’s first spot-kick. She also stepped up to take Australia’s fifth penalty, but she saw her effort crash agonisngly off the post.
That did not affect her, as moments later she denied Chelsea’s Eve Périsset from the spot. Then, she denied her former West Ham United teammate Kenza Dali not once, but twice after she was deemed to have moved off her line too early, forcing Dali to retake her strike, but again she was equal to it.
Courtnee Vine would have the last say in an incredible shootout, striking the final penalty low beyond Soléne Durand to win the game for the home side and send the Brisbane crowd into raptures and make history for the Matildas.
Australia will now wait to see who comes out on top from England’s fixture against Colombia later on Saturday to determine their semi-final opponents.
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