Soccer is a cruel game.
Over the past month, the Matildas have made Australia a football nation, capturing the country’s imagination with its inspired run to the Women’s World Cup semi-finals.
But the party ended on Wednesday night after England overpowered the Matildas 3-1 to book its maiden Women’s World Cup Final berth.
After England scored the only goal in the first half, Matildas captain Sam Kerr did it all herself, kicking one of the goals of the tournament with a long range stunner to bring the game back on level pegging.
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It was nearly the turning point of the match as Australia began to look sharper, but as Ted Lasso has taught us all, it’s the hope that kills you.
Defender Ellie Carpenter had been reliably strong without being spectacular throughout the tournament but in the 71st minute had a moment she’d like to forget.
Off a great lofted through ball, Carpenter was jostling with Lauren Hemp to get the ball.
But Carpenter couldn’t clear it and overran a bouncing ball, allowing the England striker to reinstate the Lionesses lead.
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In the moment, former Matilda Amy Chapman said on Optus Sport: “And it’s some awful defending from the Australians. Ellie Carpenter, not dealing with the initial ball in behind. It really shouldn’t have been anything at all. But Lauren Hemp, she’s hustled all evening, she’s been England’s best all evening and she puts that one away no troubles.”
Coming just seven minutes and 53 seconds after Kerr’s goal, it was the straw that broke the camel’s back and Australia never recovered.
Post-match, Chapman doubled down on her comments.
“There’s no mistaking after that Sam Kerr equaliser, seven minutes and 53 seconds it took for Lauren Hemp to put England ahead again,” she said.
“I’m a big fan of Ellie but that’s a colossal mistake. A game-changing mistake from her not to deal with that and Hemp was there to pounce.”
Carpenter was a disconsolate figure after full-time, but she was far from the only one.
Speaking to Channel 7 after the match, midfielder Katrina Gorry said it was a hard loss to swallow.
“It sucks,” she said. “You feel like you let yourself down and your nation down.
“I know that we have the support of everyone and they will come out against the game against Sweden. You never want to do that on home soil. Unfortunately it wasn’t our day.”
Similarly, captain Sam Kerr, who played in her first full match of the World Cup in the semi-final, said the loss was “really disappointing”.
Despite scoring one of the goals of the tournament, Kerr also missed from close range when a bouncing ball near the goal mouth fell to her but she sprayed it wide late in the match.
“If I trained more, five times in this World Cup maybe I would have sunk that one,” Kerr lamented.
“I can’t put all the blame on myself. I have to think of all the things the team have done and I have done to be where we are now and inspire a nation.
“We are proud of each other and wish we would have got over the line.
“No matter what happens I wouldn’t want to be on any other team. This is my team and my mates, my best mates. I love them all to death.”
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