Passengers aboard a plane were among those joyfully celebrating Australia’s thrilling victory in the Women’s World Cup semi-finals.
Australia’s national women’s soccer team, the Matildas, secured a historic spot in the tournament’s last four by triumphing over France in a tense penalty shootout.
The match, held at Brisbane Stadium, saw both teams locked in a deadlock even after extra time, with neither side managing to score.
The ensuing penalty shootout proved to be equally intense, stretching to 10 penalties for each team. This set a record as the longest shootout in the history of both the men’s and women’s World Cup tournaments.
Australia’s goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold made a series of crucial saves, contributing to the team’s success. The winning penalty was eventually scored by Cortnee Vine, who promptly dashed off to celebrate with her elated teammates.
The jubilation extended far beyond the stadium in Brisbane. From the Melbourne Cricket Ground to various Women’s World Cup fan sites and even living rooms across the nation, fans came together to revel in this historic achievement.
Among the celebratory videos circulating on social media, one clip, in particular, has gained viral attention.
Plane passengers celebrate Australia’s Women’s World Cup win
Australian TV presenter Jacqueline Felgate shared a video of passengers on a plane watching the exciting encounter between the Matildas and Les Bleues.
Nearly every screen is tuned into the match, apart from one person who is watching Lord of the Rings.
Vine steps up to take her penalty, and all of a sudden everyone bursts into cheers as the ball hits the back of the net.
With everyone watching the match with headphones in, the air hostess gets the fright of her life as the plane erupts.
At the time of writing, the video has been shared widely across social media and is nearing 20 million views.
Take a look at the brilliant moment in the clip below.
That moment for women’s sport ❤️⚽️👑🦘 pic.twitter.com/vCgv9m4vxM
— Jacqueline Felgate (@Jacquifelgate) August 12, 2023
Women’s World Cup reaches semi-final stage
The Matildas are set to face England in the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup on Wednesday, August 16th, at Stadium Australia.
England’s national women’s soccer team, known as the Lionesses, has now achieved a spot in the tournament’s last four for the third consecutive time.
Their goal will be to progress beyond this stage and secure a place in the final match.
However, the Lionesses will have to contend with a formidable Australian team, known for their talent and skill on the field.
Adding to the challenge, the Matildas will enjoy the support of a fervent home crowd, expected to fill the majority of the 83,500-seat capacity stadium in Sydney.
The winner of Wednesday’s semi-final clash between England and Australia will advance to face either Sweden or Spain, who are scheduled to meet the previous evening at Auckland’s Eden Park.
Spain is experiencing their best-ever performance at the Women’s World Cup, while Sweden has a history of being runners-up in the 2003 edition. Interestingly, none of this year’s semi-finalists have previously won the competition.
The tournament as a whole is being hailed as one of the most successful Women’s World Cups in history.
The thrilling matches on the field have been complemented by record-breaking attendances in the stadiums, creating an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation among fans worldwide to see which team will ultimately emerge as the victor.