Australian fans have lashed out at the Matildas after they lost 2-1 to the USA in their third and final group match of the Paris Olympics on Thursday, with some even posting disgusting homophobic comments.
The Aussies’ Olympic campaign was on the brink after their 2-1 defeat in the early hours of Thursday, with Tony Gustavsson’s team depending on results elsewhere to progress to the knockout stages.
But those results failed to materialise as Colombia decided the Aussies’ fate by losing 1-0 to Canada.
The early elimination is a huge damper on the highs of last year’s Women’s World Cup, when Gustavsson led the team to the semi-finals.
There will undoubtedly be a major investigation after the stunning 2-1 defeat in Group B against the Americans on a scorching evening in Marseille.
It was Australia’s second defeat in the tournament and their first Olympic elimination since 2000.
It was a disappointing campaign for one of Australia’s most beloved sporting teams, and fans online made it clear.
“I’m so glad these woke lackeys are gone,” one fan wrote on X.
The Matildas’ hopes of winning their first ever Olympic medal have ended in disaster
Australian fans have slammed the Matildas after they lost 2-1 to former world champions USA
‘Does anyone need to tell the Matildas they need to keep possession to actually score a goal? A very ordinary achievement,’ wrote another.
“When you lose 2 out of 3 group games you don’t deserve to go through. It’s finally time to move on Gustavsson, it should have happened a while ago,” suggested a third.
“That private jet apparently wasn’t quite the answer,” said another.
‘Hopefully the millions of Australian football fans who went to last year’s #WorldCup remain loyal to their beloved #Matildas – by far the most fraudulent, exaggerated, nonsense ever fed to the public,’ wrote another.
“It’s quite an achievement to concede ten goals in three games and then be beaten by a team that had six points deducted from it,” said another.
Many commentators made disgusting homophobic remarks about the team, blaming the loss on the fact that some players are in same-sex relationships.
Ny Breaking Australia has chosen not to publish these insults.
However, Australian football legend Craig Foster was more optimistic about the Matildas and their achievements.
Foster wrote on social media: ‘It’s been a great few years for the Matildas. Unfortunately, being at this Olympics wasn’t meant to be. You did us proud last year and will do so again.
‘You have given us so much joy and inspiration, taken women’s sport to the next level and brought the country closer together.’
Gustavsson’s role as coach must now be seriously questioned after such a tame exit that only really came to life in the final minutes of injury time against the Americans, when they managed to score another goal through Alanna Kennedy after having been dominated for most of the evening.
Tony Gustavsson’s team was dominated by the US in the first half
He was shown a yellow card for losing the match with the fourth official when the United States controversially opened the scoring through Trinity Rodman, who was offside in the build-up to the match.
The Swede had set up his team in a defensive formation, aimed at stopping the powerful American attackers and scoring a point that would take them to the last eight.
They were comprehensively outclassed by Emma Hayes’ American team, just as they were beaten 3-0 by Germany at the Stade de Marseille a week ago.
Meanwhile, Australia showed their true character by beating Zambia 6-5, but that only showed how weak their defence is.
They improved in that regard in the first half on Thursday (AEST) against the Americans, who had won both their previous games but created few chances due to a lack of possession and were reliant on the excellent goalkeeping of Mackenzie Arnold to keep the US at bay.
She made a superb save from Lindsey Horan’s header in the 40th minute, but the Matildas ultimately lost their goal to a controversial goal from Trinity Rodman just before half-time.
The Matildas defence failed to deal with an in-swinging corner from Sophia Smith and then panicked when the pink-haired Rodman headed for the far post.
A ten-minute VAR meeting then took place to see if there was any possible obstruction. The situation was further complicated by the referee’s communication system not working.
Eventually, after more than five minutes of nonsense, during which Gustavsson was shown a yellow card for complaining, the goal was allowed.
The early elimination is a major setback after the highs of last year’s Women’s World Cup (pictured, Ellie Carpenter reacts to the loss)
Things didn’t get any better for the Aussies after the break. With a brilliant shot from Korbin Albert in the 78th minute, the Americans took a deserved 2-0 lead.
Normally the Matildas only woke up when all seemed lost. Alanna Kennedy went forward and eventually got the nod from substitute Michelle Heyman to head a goal back on 91 minutes.
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With six minutes left in injury time, the Matildas threw everyone forward – including Arnold on a corner in the dying minutes.
When Kennedy missed a golden opportunity and couldn’t get her head to Ellie Carpenter’s cross, the dream was over.