When Mary Fowler stepped up to take a penalty on Saturday, the Matildas’ quarter-final was on a knife-edge, with France holding a slight advantage. Fowler was taking Australia’s fourth penalty – had she missed, the French would take a critical advantage into the final pair of attempts.
The pressure on the shoulders of the 20-year-old could not have been greater, in her first shootout in competitive football. Fowler walked slowly to the mark and stared down France goalkeeper Solène Durand. She bounced the ball like a basketballer, once, twice. The Manchester City player walked a few steps backwards before pausing to draw in a deep breath. She exhaled – this was it. A step forward, then another – almost prancing. And then she smashed the ball low and hard towards the left corner. Durand went the wrong way, but she never had any chance. It was a perfect penalty.
