- Australia has reached the final of women’s water polo
- The Stingers pulled off a huge upset by defeating Team USA.
- They kept their cool in a dramatic shootout
Australia’s Stingers defied the odds to dethrone three-time defending women’s water polo champions the United States in the most dramatic penalty shootout of all time and advance to the Olympic gold medal match in Paris.
Captain Zoe Arancini’s team turned the tables on the world champions who edged them in a three-match series in April, recording a historic and hard-fought 14-13 victory after a penalty shootout on Thursday at La Defense Arena.
The famous win means they are the first Australian women’s team to reach the final since the class of 2000 won the inaugural event in Sydney.
And they are guaranteed their first medal since winning bronze in 2012.
In the final they will face Spain, who beat the Netherlands 19-18, also winning on penalties after both teams were tied 14-1 in a high-scoring regulation time.
The Australians prevailed after the teams tied 8-8 in regulation time and their hero turned out to be goalkeeper Gabriella Palm, who made the crucial save in the shootout on Maddie Musselman, with the Australians leading 6-5 going into the sudden death period.
This led to emotional and tearful scenes as the Stingers wildly celebrated the win in front of a packed stadium of 15,000.
More to follow.
The Stingers have caused quite a stir by defeating the United States.
The Australians won a dramatic penalty shootout to advance to the gold medal match.