OLYMPICS
By TOM HAYES
ONLY one local remains in the race for a medal at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Following an eventful week in the French capital, and around surrounding cities, there has been some successes, but also the end of some journeys.
FIRST in action was the Matildas and Moe-born Teagan Micah in the women’s football (soccer) tournament.
The Matildas had played two group stage games up until the release of last week’s Express.
Following their first two group games, Australia sat third in their group, essentially needing a win or a draw against the US, or for Zambia to beat Germany convincingly, to progress to the knockout stages.
The US were first in the group.
If that failed, Australia needed Canada to lose or draw to Colombia in another group, to enhance the Matildas’ chances of progression as a third-placed team. Only the two best third placed teams progressed to the knockouts.
Micah remained on the bench for the third time when they lined up against the US.
The US struck first just before halftime, going up 1-nil into the break. They doubled their lead in the 77th minute, making it difficult for any sort of comeback.
Australia were given a last-gasp chance when they halved the deficit through Alanna Kennedy in the second minute of injury time. There would just be no time as the US won 2-1, leaving the Matildas in limbo.
Playing at the same time, Germany dispatched Zambia 4-1, meaning that the hopes of the Matildas relied on the Colombians against the undefeated Canadians.
Although it was close, Canada won 1-nil, scoring in the 61st minute. Despite a six-point deduction for spying with a drone, Canada still finished second in their group.
Matildas coach, Tony Gustavsson was relieved of his duties after the campaign came to an end, noted as one of the worst in Matildas’ history.
Gustavsson’s tactics were questioned all campaign, and the results weren’t doing him any favours.
It’s also been reported by the Herald Sun that some players were puzzled by Gustavsson’s tactics throughout his four-year tenure, even during their fourth-place finish at the World Cup and Tokyo Olympic Games.
TRARALGON’S Aoife Coughlan had a brief moment in the spotlight when suiting up for Australia in the judo.
In a randomised bracket in the Women’s -70kg division, Coughlan was first drawn against Hungary’s Szabina Gercsak in the Round of 32.
Coughlan prevailed, winning 1-0 on the mat in the overtime period of golden score, advancing to the stage where she was knocked out at the last Olympic Games.
Coughlan then met German Mirian Butkereit. Butkereit had a height advantage, but the strength of Coughlan forced an almighty battle between the two.
No one could register any point during regulation time, forcing the round into golden score. After many points of deliberation, Butkereit found an opportunity to trip Coughlan up, pinning her on her back in the process.
Unfortunately for Coughlan, that was the end of her campaign, going down 10-nil. If it was any consolation, Butkereit ended up winning the silver medal, which only goes to show the type of competition she was up against.
Stealing the show perhaps was Coughlan’s grandmother, Pam Coughlan. She went viral after a tweet from Mark Coughlan explained how she managed to scramble a seat closer to the mats.
“She persuaded them to let her sit (there). Never in doubt the Dublin Granny,” Mark Coughlan wrote on X.
MOVING onto the knockouts is Traralgon’s Jade Melbourne and the Australia Opals in the basketball tournament.
The last week has been a rollercoaster for the Opals, who began their campaign against Nigeria.
Melbourne started for the Opals and made a quick impression.
Nigeria smashed Australia in the second quarter to go ahead by 13 points, a comeback in the third quarter dropped the margin back down to four.
Nigeria undid the Opal’s efforts, outscoring them again by nine points to win 75 to 62.
Melbourne scored 11 points from her 17 minutes on court. She also recorded a rebound, an assist, and a steal in the loss.
The shock loss had Australia stumped, and now they needed to be flawless in order to have the best chance of progression to the knockouts.
Next up for the Opals was Canada, who were coming off the back of a 21-point thumping to France.
Melbourne earnt herself another start in the Opals line up, this time only playing 15 minutes.
Australia went up by two points after the first quarter, adding another four points to the margin by halftime. Another close quarter saw the Opals go into the last quarter seven points up, nothing convincing yet.
Canada would eventually win the final quarter, but it wouldn’t be by enough, as the Opals claimed a five point win, 70-65.
Melbourne charted four points, one rebound, one assist, one steal, and one block.
Needing a win over France, and a respectable margin to seek progression to the knockouts, the Opals had a task on their hands.
They started confidently, with Melbourne starting on the court, opening a two-point quarter time lead.
France tied the scores by halftime, outscoring the Opals 17-15 in the second quarter.
But after halftime was where Australia made their mark. The Opals went on to score 25 points to 16 in the third quarter, opening a nine-point lead on the host nation.
A tight final quarter saw the French get up again, but not by enough as the Opals held on once again in a nervous finish, winning by seven points, 79-72.
Melbourne recorded two points, one rebound, and one assist from 19 minutes.
The Opals landed second in their group behind France and marginally ahead of Nigeria, all tied on five points (two wins, one loss).
Australia was ranked sixth out of the remaining eight nations, meaning they were to face a third or fourth ranked team. Seeing France were ranked third, the Opals had to face Serbia.
Nigeria and Belgium progressed to the knockouts as the two best third-placed teams in their groups.
The Opals play Serbia today (Wednesday, August 7) at 7pm in the Quarter Finals. The winner moves onto the Semi Finals where no matter the result they will be playing for a medal.
If the Opals defeat Serbia, they will face either Nigeria (again) or the US in the Semi Finals on Friday (August 9).
The gold medal and bronze medal matches are set to be played this Sunday (August 11).
