'This is epic': Matildas win thriller after 'pathetic' penalty controversy
Aussie goalkeeper Teagan Micah's penalty save sparked a crazy five-minute turnaround that saw the Matildas defeat Great Britain in a roller-coaster match in the women's football quarter-final.
Aussie superstar Sam Kerr equalised late in the match to send the game into extra-time after the Matildas and Great Britain finished 2-2 after 90 minutes.
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But in a controversial moment in the first half of extra-time, Great Britain were awarded a penalty for what appeared to be minimal contact in the box.
VAR didn't intervene, much to the shock of many, and Great Britain had the chance to go up in extra-time.
However, in what was a wild minute of football, Micah saved the penalty to her left.
The save sparked a quick counter-attack and the Matildas charged up the other end before 18-year-old Mary Fowler scored a wonder strike to send the Matildas ahead.
Football fans around the nation erupted in what was described as a 'rollercoaster' few moments.
TEAGAN MICAH THE GAME OF HER LIFE!
The heroics continue as Teagan Micah keeps out the GB penalty!#7Olympics | #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/z1jJrgkK1q— 7Olympics (@7olympics) July 30, 2021
Yessssssss what a goal. This game is unbelievable #matildas
— Damien Wright (@wrightmove6) July 30, 2021
FOWLER!!!! after an unbelievable save from Micah, wow. What a rollercoaster. Was pretty filthy about that penalty too just quietly. #GBRvAUS #football #Tokyo2020 #Matildas
— Kate O'Halloran (@Kate_ohalloran) July 30, 2021
Incredible last 5 minutes Micah then Fowler, let’s go Matildas!! #Tokyo2020 #Olympics
— Matt Mullan (@MattyMullan) July 30, 2021
From penalty save to goal at the other end, this is why football is the best game on earth!! #matildas #Olympics
— Mitchell Bingemann (@Mitch_Hell) July 30, 2021
This @TheMatildas V GB game is epic! C’mon! #OlympicGames #Olympics2020 #matildas
— Sam (@SammyA78) July 30, 2021
Teagan Micah, take a bow. Make no mistake she is the reason we are still in this. #OlympicGames #GBRvAUS #Matildas
— Kieran Petrik-Bruce (@kizza2416) July 30, 2021
Absolutely incredible two minutes in the Matildas game 👀👀👀 #Olympics #matildas
— Kate Salemme (@KateSalemme) July 30, 2021
Matildas. Come on #7Olympics #OlympicFootball #TokyoTogether Brilliant goal. After the worst penalty decision ever.
— COVIDPete (@CovidPete) July 30, 2021
Omg #matildas 🇦🇺
— Zoe Daniel (@zdaniel) July 30, 2021
This is one hell of a game of football #Matildas
— Michelle (@shellinthesky) July 30, 2021
Wow Mary Fowler. Wow! #matildas you just take my breath away #Olympics2021
— Virginia Gordon 🦠 😷 🍸 (@chatsbury) July 30, 2021
This is epic!!! First the shit penalty. Then the wonderful save. The touch from Fowler and shot! Come on Matildas! Hang on! #TokyoOlympics #Aus #Football #AUSvGB
— Cameron Bell (@CameronBell) July 30, 2021
This is the sort of electric show we expect from the Matildas. Now let us never speak of that last match ever again pic.twitter.com/BTMOiqLHzS
— Melanie Dinjaski (@MelanieDinjaski) July 30, 2021
Our keeper has had one of THE great games! #matildas #Football #Tokyo2020
— Mathew Thompson (@MathewJThompson) July 30, 2021
MARY FOWLER ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT GOAL. 18 YEARS OLD ON DEBUT THATS HOW WE DO IT GIRLS #matildas #olympics
— Chanel (@princesschxnel) July 30, 2021
Moment later, Kerr scored her second to give the Matildas a remarkable 4-2 lead with 15 minutes to go.
Great Britain piled on the pressure and scored one back through a brilliant strike from superstar Ellen White.
But, a tired Matildas outfit held on to send fans around the nation into raptures.
Matildas fans fume over 'pathetic' penalty controversy
One moment that had fans fuming was the penalty awarded to Great Britain.
Fans were left wondering why VAR didn't intervene when it appeared little contact was made in the box.
Yeah! Great goal Matildas but ya got that lying on the ground to that penalty like ya were beaten to a pulp down pat. Pathetic! #Tokyo2020
— MLo (@MLoParis) July 30, 2021
BS penalty call, amazing penalty save, quick turn around and Fowler scores. Awesome #Matildas #Australia
— Kangarubick_LFC (@Griml3xx) July 30, 2021
#Matildas doing well, the referee got the penalty call horribly wrong and what a save from the keeper and that shot for 3rd goal was brilliantly executed, cool and collected with the control.
— Abdirizak Hassan (@zackab3) July 30, 2021
After an appalling penalty decision, that is quite a turnaround from the Matildas in the QF vs GB. Penalty saved and then a goal up the other end a minute later ☺️🇦🇺 #Tokyo2020
— Andrew Ryan (@The_Ryanhorse) July 30, 2021
The Matildas will now play Sweden in the semi-final, having lost to them in the group stages 4-2
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