Ruthless England break Matildas hearts – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE (eLanka Sports Editor)
England were unsympathetic yet professionally switched on as they mercilessly destroyed a Matildas dream to advance to the World World Cup final.
The European Champions were clinical yet ruffled by a spirited home team that gave them a few shivers before pulling away in the last 20 minutes to scramble home 3-1 in an entertaining semi final that at times looked like it could go down to the wire.
The Matildas had their chances of making the outcome different, but England rose to and countered every challenge with forays of their own that was worthy of their eventual dominance and victory.
England lacked the skills of Denmark and France but adopted a cat and mouse strategy against a dangerous underdog, playing with new found confidence and overwhelming home crowd support.
England played with the dominant spirit that emerges in the world’s biggest rivalry and were determined not to let the odds defeat their campaign.
It was a enticing contest between two physical sides that were unrelenting and proud to maintain their fierce competition and dominance over each other in sport in true tradition.
England drew first blood half way through the first half. But there was no indication that it was sufficient to shut the Matildas out.
The injection of the world’s best forward, Matildas skipper Sam Kerr after injury always spelt trouble and uncertainty.
She proved it with a scorching drive from around 40 metres in the 60th minute which levelled things throwing fear and trepidation among the England ranks.
A desperate England threw everything but the kitchen sink to nullify home crowd support that was deafening after the equaliser. They peppered the Matildas goal and broke the deadlock ten minutes later to silence the euphoric home crowd.
England were a determined team not ready to compromise. They were dour in defence and continued to attack with a will to maintain their top rank in world soccer. Australia were not overwhelmed nor overawed by their opponents, bent and focussed on creating that unthinkable upset.
Thae Matildas were on a mission with a hysteric home crowd behind them. Sam Kerr missed a header in the 85th that would have made it interesting. But a desperate England withstood the storm and countered with an 86th minute goal by Toone which put the game to bed.
Defeated but not disgraced, the Matildas fought on as the English defended stoutly to ward off the Matildas continued onslaught to minimise the margin. All to no avail.
England then drove in the final nail when a sealer in the dying minutes putting the result beyond doubt.
Beaten but unbowed the Matildas campaign will remain for many reasons one that will be long remembered.
Being in the top four in the world gives the Matildas a new found respect that will let the best sit up and take notice. They have done Australia proud.
Rags to riches is the Matildas story, relatively unknown till this World Cup, now a household name in the country, and proudly so for their unrelenting spirit and fighting spirit in true Australian fashion.
There are thousands in Australia who will now be part of a new generation, that will remain, and remember, the Waltzing Matildas they never knew before.
