Australia beat France on penalty to reach World Cup semis

Australia beat France on penalty to reach World Cup semis

Co-hosts Australia beat France 7-6 on penalties to reach the last four of the Women’s World Cup for the first time after their quarter-final finished deadlocked at 0-0 at the end of 120 minutes.

The Australian team triumphed 7-6 in a penality shootout.

Cortnee Vine scored the winning spot-kick for Australia, after Vicki Becho had struck the post for France.

Australia keeper Mackenzie Arnold made a total of four saves in the shoot-out – including twice from Kenza Dali, having moved off the line for the first stop, leading to a retake.

Arnold herself had the opportunity to score the winning penalty as the fifth taker for Australia, after saving from Eve Perisset, but struck the post as nearly 50,000 Australians inside the stadium went through every emotion imaginable.

But it is the hosts who march on, reaching their first ever Women’s World Cup semi-final.

Australia will play England or Colombia at Stadium Australia in Sydney on August 16.