Great Britain knocked out of Tokyo Olympics despite Ellen White hat-trick
White’s treble was not enough for Team GB, with Sam Kerr’s late strike sending the tie into extra-time before the Chelsea star’s header confirmed the victory
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Ellen White’s hat-trick was not enough as Great Britain were beaten 4-3 after extra-time by Australia to end their Olympic dream in the quarter-finals of the women’s football at Tokyo 2020.
Sam Kerr dramatically sent the tie into extra-time with a late leveller and further goals from Mary Fowler and the Chelsea star put the Matildas ahead following a missed penalty from Caroline Weir.
Team GB started well but faded as Alanna Kennedy snatched the lead 10 minutes before the break.
But a superb second-half reaction saw White equalise with a looping header, and a second – her fifth of the tournament – followed nine minutes later to flip the game completely.
But Australia refused to give up, with Kerr exposing poor defending by expertly adjusting her body to deliver a crisp finish in the 89th minute to deny Hege Riise’s side.
Nikita Parris was fouled by Ellie Carpenter five minutes into extra-time, with a controversial penalty awarded, but Weir’s kick was saved well by Teagan Micah.
And Australia used the shift in momentum to snatch the lead within two minutes as Fowler’s shot deflected off Fran Kirby, spinning viciously up into the air and past Ellie Roebuck, nestling into the top right corner.
Kerr had a second, her fifth of the tournament, shortly after the restart in extra-time with a pinpoint header, but Great Britain refused to give in, with White smashing home her hat-trick with five minutes remaining, but it was not to be.
Australia will now face Sweden, who beat Japan 3-1, in the semi-finals in Yokohama on Monday.
In the repeat of the 2019 World Cup final, the USA needed penalties to get past the Netherlands and set up a last-four meeting with Canada. Goals from Kristie Mewiss and Lynn Williams, either side of a double from Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema, left the sides locked at 2-2 in normal time, and after the extra 30 minutes produced no further score, it was the Americans who progressed 4-2 in the penalty shoot-out.
In the earlier kick-off, Canada went through with a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout victory over Brazil, after a goalless draw.
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