Matildas' hero Cortnee Vine will be thinking about her quarter-final winning penalty for the 'rest of her life'

Thirty or so kilometres away from Brisbane Stadium stands a bedroom door with a list of goals attached to it.

That list belongs to Matildas' Women's World Cup hero Cortnee Vine.

The 25-year-old Queenslander scored the match-winning penalty after a lengthy shootout to send Australia to their first-ever World Cup semi-final.

She was Tony Gustavsson's 10th penalty taker of the night after a 0-0 draw couldn't be decided in extra time on Saturday, or by the 19 kicks before her own.

Vine had some big dreams on her list at her family home in the nearby suburb of Mango Hill, but scoring the winner to keep her country's World Cup dream alive on home soil wasn't on it.

"I was saying to Clare Wheeler after the game, it just doesn't feel like I kicked the penalty to get us to a semi-final," Vine told Optus Sport.

"It just doesn't feel real to me right now. I think it's something I'm going to have to watch back.

"It's one of those things you dream of, that it's going to happen and you're going to be the person to do it. For me to do, I'm speechless.

"I feel like I'm in a dream, I feel like I'm dreaming right now," she added.

"I don't know how to fathom it. I don't know how I'm going to process it. I'm going to have to be a journaler, I'm going to have to start journaling my thoughts and feelings.

"It's crazy to think, it's a dream come true. It's something that I'll be able to hold onto for the rest of my life."

The Sydney FC star watched nine of her teammates step up to the spot before her, with varied success and then realised her turn was coming.

It was something the side had been practising daily, after their shootout heartbreak four years prior in 2019.

Vine called on her preparation to get the job done.

"I wasn't expecting it to get to the 10th penalty taker, as it kept creeping towards I was like 'I'm coming up.'," she told Optus Sport.

"And then as soon as it was my go, I accepted that this was what I had to do, it's why we've practised it so many times at training, you've got to just be confident with your penalty.

"Macca took the pressure off me though, she's the one that did the big save and I had to just put it away, so there was no pressure for me there - maybe a little pressure - but she did all the work."

Vine came onto the field in the 104th minute, replacing Hayley Raso, and immediately made an impact.

She went within inches of converting one of Caitlin Foord's crosses at the near post, but it wasn't to be.

Gustavsson said Vine's entrance to the game as a game-changer was all part of Australia's plan on Saturday.

But her composure in the moment still left him impressed.

"She just walks up and buries that penalty," the Matildas' coach reflected.

"If you look at her body language, she looks like she wasn't even disturbed by the moment. She just walks up and buries it, it's a very, very impressive moment.

"I said to the players, I looked them in the eyes and said, 'Trust me, when I say you're prepared for this moment'.

"I've been around big tournaments before and I know that you have limited time to prepare. I know how much investment we've done to prepare for the penalty shootout - technically, tactically, mentally, and disciplinary, all aspects.

"Even how they circle up before the shooter, how they stand in the circle, how they walk up, the pre-shot routine, they trusted their preparation and that's all we spoke about. I said, 'You're ready. Let's show the world that we're ready as well'.

"During the penalty shootout, it was an emotional roller coaster for all of us. It was almost like it was written into stars.

"It comes down to 10 PKs and Vine steps up, a game changer - we know how important that is - young player, World Cup debutant and stay as composed as she does."

The Matildas progress to the next stage of the tournament for the first time in their history and the first time in Australian footballing history - men's or women's.

Gustavsson's squad will face England in Wednesday's semi-final.

Originally published for Optus Sport on August 12, 2023