We repeat: HOOOOOOOOOOOLY SHIT!
Our very own Matildas might have, as far as just about everyone to do with football was concerned, been more than up against it when drawing Brazil for their knockout-stage Round of 16 match at the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Only problem is nobody bothered to tell them.
In what is easily the biggest boilover of the tournament, and the biggest victory in Australian football history – regardless of gender – the Matildas earlier today shocked the soccer world by downing powerhouse Brazil 1-0 in an absolute thriller in the Canadian town of Moncton.
The win serves as the first time any Australian team has won a knockout-stage game at senior level in any World Cup tournament.
The match itself was a remarkable affair. Despite Brazil largely getting the better offensive opportunities for the majority of the game, Australia’s midfield and defensive work was more than up to the formidable challenge – easily holding their own, and in stretches outplaying their highly fancied rivals.
In particular, Caitlin Foord‘s work was extremely impressive, as she played out of her skin to largely shut down Brazilian superstar Marta.
The scoreless back-and-forth contest was turned on its head in the 80th minute, when a stunning through ball from Katrina Gorry found the boot of captain Lisa De Vanna, who cannoned a breakaway shot into Brazilian keeper Luciana, before Kyah Simon swooped on the rebound and found the back of the net.
The goal was the first one allowed by the Brazilians so far this tournament, and it proved to be their fatal blow. The 1-0 final score sent the Australians into raptures, and the Brazilians into misery – this being their second successive stunning exit from a World Cup, following the men’s now-infamous collapse at the hands of Germany on home soil at last year’s male tournament.
The Matildas now move on to Edmonton and the Quarter Finals of the tournament, where they face yet another tough challenge. They will play the winner of Wednesday morning’s clash between Japan and the Netherlands, with the QF scheduled for Sunday morning Australian time.
GO ‘TILDAS!
Photo: Franck Fife via Getty Images.
