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Coming off the bench in the 104th minute of the Matildas' Women's World Cup quarterfinal against France, Cortnee Vine had little idea she was about to write her name into Australian sporting folklore.
In the ensuing drama, the 25-year-old found herself the 10th penalty taker on coach Tony Gustavsson's list when Saturday night's match at Brisbane Stadium went down to a shootout.
After France's Vicki Becho hit the post at 6-6, with Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold having previously made three saves, Vine stepped up.
She coolly drilled her penalty into the bottom corner to end the longest shootout in Women's World Cup history and send Australia into a semifinal against England at Stadium Australia on Wednesday.
"I just knew where I was going to put my pen [penalty]," Vine told reporters after the match.
"In those moments, you just need to be confident in what you've practised and in that moment I feel like Macca [Arnold] did the job before I had to.
"She's the one that saved it and I just had to put it away.
"And I was fortunate enough to be that last penalty kick-taker that now has secured our spot to the semifinals.
"It's just something that I'd never dreamed of happening and it's just crazy that it happened.
"I did it. I didn't think I would have to do it. I didn't think it was going get to the 10th penalty taker.
"I was willing to do whatever the team wanted me to do and Tony picked me as 10th, so I stood up."
Arnold had one thought going through her mind when Vine stepped up to take the penalty.
"I was so done with it, I was like, 'Please, please' but I couldn't say too much because I missed mine as well," Arnold said.
"But I was just praying that she got it in and I was honestly so proud of her, the way she stepped up."
Gustavsson hailed Vine's composure.
"Imagine standing there in the centre circle as a World Cup debutant and you're listed as the 10th taker out of 11 and it goes to that," Gustavsson said.
"And then she just walks up and buries that PK [penalty kick] and you look at her body language. It looks like she wasn't even disturbed by the moment. She just walks up and buries it.
"It's just a very, very impressive moment, but also what you can do with preparation, because when you are prepared, you are confident."
AAP
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