3 minute read
Australia's World Cup loss to Norway was full of contentious refereeing decisions and missed opportunities.
FLASHPOINTS: 11 MAJOR MOMENTS IN THE MATILDAS LOSS TO NORWAY
6 MIN - Hayley Raso fluffs a major chance to give Australia the lead, taking Caitlin Foord's long-ball down expertly and playing a one-two with Sam Kerr before firing straight at Ingrid Hjelmseth.
31 MIN - Isabell Herlovsen gives Norway the lead, capitalising on Steph Catley's indecision and racing free to slot past Lydia Williams.
42 MIN - The first of the major refereeing flashpoints. Reim Hussein awards Australia a penalty when Maria Thorisdottir appears to use her arm to knock down Kerr's centre. She overturns her decision after a length video review.
58 MIN - Caitlin Foord's shot appears to be heading goalwards before it strikes captain Maren Mjelde's hand and deflects for a corner kick. The decision isn't reviewed much to Foord's anger.
83 MIN - With just seven minutes remaining, Australia finally equalise as Elise Kellond-Knight puts a corner through a crowded box and into the net.
89 MIN - Tameka Yallop is collected by the late lunging leg of Thorisdottir as they race to the ball in the box. A VAR review shows the Norwegian gets a faint touch to the ball, and is cleared.
90+2 MIN - Kerr is on track to meet Emily van Egmond's cross from the deep but is pushed by Ingrid Moe Wold. Kerr protests but the contact is deemed as too minor for a penalty.
90+3 MIN - Caroline Graham Hansen thought she'd put Norway in the quarter finals when her curling shot beat the outstretched Williams. It strikes the inside of the post and bounces along the goalline and out, as players and crowd members pick their jaws up off the floor.
92 MIN - Kerr races onto Chloe Logarzo's ball over the top but is muscled out by Thorisdottir as she prepares to shoot from close range.
104 MIN - Alanna Kennedy is in a footrace with Lisa-Marie Utland and grabs the Norwegian's shirt. Utland goes down and the Matildas defender is deemed as the last woman, and is sent off.
SHOOTOUT - Kerr misses her spot kick and Gielnik's effort is impressively saved by Hjelmseth to leave the shootout score at 2-0 after four kicks; effectively ending Australia's tournament.
