Women's World Cup 2019: Sam Kerr's shoot-out miss proves costly for Australia, Norway advances

Patric Ridge

Women's World Cup 2019: Sam Kerr's shoot-out miss proves costly for Australia, Norway advances image

Norway claimed its place in the quarterfinals of the Women's World Cup with a 4-1 penalty shoot-out victory over Australia after an enthralling 1-1 draw in Nice.

Australia captain Sam Kerr, on the back of scoring four against Jamaica, stepped up to take her team's first penalty, but sliced a wild effort way over, with Ingrid Engen able to seal the win after Emily Gielnik saw her spot-kick saved.

Isabell Herlovsen's second goal in as many games looked to have been sending Norway through, with Australia having been controversially denied a penalty when — after a consultation with VAR — referee Riem Hussein overturned her initial call to award a spot-kick late in the first half.

But Elise Kellond-Knight scored directly from a corner seven minutes from time to force extra-time, when Australia were reduced to 10 as Alanna Kennedy received a straight red card.

Australia was fortunate that Norway's Vilde Boe Risa's audacious effort struck the bar, but their luck ran out in the shoot-out.

 

Patric Ridge