Montreal--Top-ranked Germany kept their bid for a record third title on track Friday when they won a dramatic penalty shoot-out 5-4 to break French hearts and advance to the semi-finals at the Women's World Cup.
The thrilling quarter-final game at Montreal's Olympic Stadium went to an equally dramatic penalty shoot-out after the two teams were locked 1-1 after 30 minutes of extra time.
Louisa Necib, dubbed the "Female Zidane" of the French women's game, could only rue a missed chance to score after just 49 seconds, before she finally nailed the opener on 64 minutes.
Celia Sasic levelled for Germany with a penalty six minutes from time, and in a tense half hour of extra-time substitute Gaetane Thiney wasted a late chance to put France into the last four for the second straight time.
But goalkeeper Nadine Angerer was the heroine of the night as she saved 20-year-old substitute Claire Lavogez's final penalty in the shoot-out.
"We had chances in the first half which unfortunately we didn't finish off," lamented France captain Wendie Renard whose side had dominated early.
"Unfortunately Claire missed a penalty but that's part of the game. This evening obviously we're sad and we can't get over it."
France had dominated early on front of an enthusiastic crowd of just under 25,000 in the largely French-speaking city of Montreal.
AFP
