Pendragon Management is built upon the principal values of King Arthur – honesty, integrity, wisdom and courage. Our vision is founded on chivalry and equity. These core values are reflected in all of our Olympians representing Australia.
As a result of these values, and CEO John Glover’s love for the round ball, Pendragon has dedicated its support to the Matildas, modern Knights of the Round Table, as they shoot for gold in Rio.
120 minutes of play couldn’t separate Australia and the host country Brazil, and the Matilda’s heartbreakingly bowed out of the quarter final after losing 7-6 on penalties…
Quarter Final: BRA v AUS
A hostile crowd jeered Australia with every touch, whilst they cheered their home town heroes, led by 5 time consecutive FIFA World Player of the Year Marta. Both teams had a chance to tale the win, with Chloe Logarzo hitting the cross bar with a long range short in the 86th minute.
Lydia Williams was undoubtedly the Matilda’s player of the match, when she managed to claw the ball from the line, denying Alves with a last minute winner, sending the match into extra time.
Neither team could finish the game in the extra thirty minutes, with Australia desperately defending against the Brazilian onslaught, pushing the decision to penalties, the second of the women’s football quarter finals to do so after Sweden had shocked world number one the United States when they defeated the 4-3 in penalties earlier in the night.
The even match continued, with the first eight kicks at goal being converted, and Brazilian captain Marta stepping up to take Brazil’s fifth kick. Williams managed to save the kick, and suddenly the advantage had swung in Australia’s favour, with the obviously distraught Marta walking back to halfway.
It was Katrina ‘Mini’ Gorry who stepped forward to take the final kick, only to have her shot saved by Brazilian keeper Barbara. Controversially, the Brazilian keeper appeared to clearly move off her line before the ball was kicked, however the movement was not pulled up by the referees and the penalty stood.
With the initial five kicks exhausted, the game moved into sudden death, and Australia’s Heyman and Logarzo managed to convert their kicks. Brazil’s Tamires then stepped up and scored what would turn out to be the match winner.
With the pressure on Alanna Kennedy, she was unable to send the ball past Barbara, and the Brazilian goal keepers save allowed the host nation to win the quarter final.
Coach Alan Stajcic maintained that Kennedy was not to blame for missing her penalty, “Better players than her have missed penalties. I’ve seen Maradona and Messi and everyone miss penalties,” he said.
“That happens in a shoot-out. Marta missed as well, so that’s what happens in a shoot-out.”
After the match co-captain Clare Polkinghorne tweeted “No words. Just proud and honoured to stand beside these amazing footballers.”
Brazil will now meet Sweden in the semi-finals, while Germany and Canada will meet for the second time in the other semi-final.
