Tens of thousands of football fans have been left stranded at Sydney Olympic Park following the Matildas’ crushing defeat to England in the Women’s World Cup Semi-Final.
The nation had high-hopes of booking a place in the final of the tournament but the Aussies went down 3-1 to the old enemy bringing utter heartbreak to the 75,000-strong crowd – and the millions watching around the country.
The bitter loss on Wednesday night quickly became even worse for those in attendance, with photos showing a massive crowd draped in green and gold waiting on the train station platform.
According to Sydney Trains, vandalism of equipment triggered major delays with a warning for commuters to allow for extra travel time.
Sydney Trains has issued a statement warning commuters to allow for extra travel time when leaving the game tonight (pictured, crowds at Olympic Park train station)
Matilda’s fans have been left stranded at Sydney’s Olympic Park train station after a crushing defeat in the Women’s World Cup semi-final (pictured)
A power supply issue in Ashfield has triggered major delays across the network with commuters being advised to take diverted routes (pictured, crowds at Olympic Park train station)
‘Trains are running late due to vandalism of equipment at Ashfield,’ a statement by Sydney Trains read.
‘If you are travelling home to the City, you have the option of joining an Olympic Park service to Lidcombe and changing to a T3 Bankstown Line service as a diversion around the affected area.’
Fans have taken to social media to express their frustration, with many trying to get home to escape the cold.
‘No trains from Olympic Park, and only 100,000 people trying to get home,’ one Twitter user wrote.
‘What a debacle Sydney! What the actual. How are we all getting home??’
‘Everyone knew about the Matilda’s game tonight except Sydney Trains who predictably had ‘technical difficulties’ and left thousands still stranded at Olympic Park. Utterly incompetent,’ another said.
One irritated fan added: ‘The trains are stuffed and not moving. Crowd’s leaving Matilda’s are stuck …’
‘Confusing and frustrating when everyone is tired and just wants to get home,’ a fourth user shared.
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Supporters have since flooded into surrounding stations in the City and Inner West, with footage of Redfern station showing glimpses of commuters decked out in green and gold.
This is not the first time delays have been seen during the Women’s World Cup with fans attending the round of 16 match which saw Australia take out Denmark on August 8 similarly stranded at Olympic Park station.
Sydney Trains had promised extra trains to Olympic Park for the big game prior but didn’t seem to deliver, with one fan saying trains weren’t running in either direction.
A station announcer had told stranded supporters there was a ‘minor signalling problem’ and they were ‘looking for a solution’.
Sam Kerr (pictured) scored for Australia, but it wasn’t enough to stop England winning 3-1
Tens of thousands of people gathered at fan sites (Melbourne pictured) across the country
Two England fans look very happy with the result, but their Australian-supporting friend was not so happy
Matildas fans (pictured) had hoped for the best against England, but it wasn’t to be
Both sides had early chances, with a key flashpoint just seconds in as Australia got a free kick after England’s Keira Walsh fouled Sam Kerr. Then, Alex Greenwood was booked on ten minutes for fouling Kerr.
England opened the scoring in the 36th minute when the ball skipped past Hemp inside the area and fell at the feet of Toone, who gave Australia goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold no chance with a strike into the top right corner.
The Lionesses held a 1-0 lead at half-time, while millions of England fans watched on TV back home – with some taking a few hours off work to go to a pub or having it on the background while ‘working from home’.
As the second half began, England had an early scare when Australia’s Mary Fowler sent in an expert cross for Caitlin Foord, although she could not angle the header dangerously enough and forced a save from Mary Earps.
And the breakthrough for the Matildas came when Kerr scored a delightful goal in the 63rd minute after picking up the ball just inside the Australia half. She ran and ran before releasing an arrow-like long-range strike into the net.
But England retook the lead when Millie Bright sent a perfect long ball from the backline up to a running Hemp, who picked it up with ease, sneaked through the defence, drew out Arnold and fired into the goal in the 71st.
And, 15 minutes later, Hemp slipped through the Matildas to pick out Russo on the edge of the box, who made it 3-1 in the 86th minute. England then saw out the rest of the match, including six minutes of injury time at the end.
