Ellen White hit a hat-trick in vain as Team GB Women were beaten 4-3 by Australia, after extra-time, in the Olympic quarter-final clash.
Keira Walsh hit the post from outside the box and after a Rachel Daly delivery clipped the far post, Lauren Hemp’s effort from the rebound was turned round the post by the brilliant Aussie ‘keeper Tegan Micah. Despite dominating most of the play in the opening period GB found themselves behind in the 45th minute, Alanna Kennedy rising highest at a corner to head inside Ellie Roebuck’s far post.
Great Britain were back on level terms before the hour mark, Hemp’s superb cross tucked into the far corner by Ellen White’s excellent header. Steph Houghton then deflected a goal-bound shot onto her own bar, before White added her second goal in under ten minutes, showing her goal-hungry instincts, when the ball broke to her in the box.
However, two minutes from full-time and Sam Kerr was given too much time to take down a free kick and a striker of her calibre was never going to miss – she slotted home the leveller for 2-2.
Early into extra-time both Walsh and White had shots tipped over the bar by Micah, who also saved a Caroline Weir spot-kick won by Nikita Parris. Moments later and Mary Fowler’s 20-yard strike deflected wickedly off Lucy Bronze right into the far top corner.
Straight into the second period and Kerr struck again, beating Houghton to the header to watch it drop in off the underside of the bar to make it 4-2.
Five minutes to go and there was still hope for GB, White heading home her hat-trick goal from Fran Kirby’s cross but the Matildas held out to make the last four.
REACTION:
GB Head Coach Hege Riise:
“We are devastated right now. It is hard to lose a game like this. We were well prepared. I think we played most of the game quite well, created a lot of chances, probably should have finished a few of them.
“We win and we lose together. So there is no-one to blame. We stood up and we fight together and it wasn’t enough from any of us. So we are disappointed that we couldn’t get the fourth goal and take it to penalties.”
GB’s Leah Williamson:
“It’s hard because this team isn’t a permanent thing. We come together once every Olympics, if we’re lucky. Everyone takes so much pride in that. I’ll take so much pride forever that I was able to put on that shirt and play for this team, as I’m sure the others will too. You have to take all of that. But we didn’t just want to come here and celebrate being Olympians. We wanted that gold. We wanted to win. And you take it into potentially the next one. But until then we’ve a lot of football to be played back with our home nations.”
