Manchester City striker Ellen White scored her fourth, fifth and sixth goals of an incredible Olympics but it was not enough as Team GB suffered heartbreak in extra-time
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Team GB suffered heartbreak in their Olympic quarter-final against Australia as they were beaten 4-3 in extra-time.
Ellen White scored a hat-trick for Great Britain including two in the second half, but a late equaliser by Sam Kerr forced the additional period, and Mary Fowler’s deflected effort – plus a second strike by Kerr – booked Australia’s place in the last four after Caroline Weir had missed a penalty for GB.
Alanna Kennedy capitalised on some suspect defending to head in Stephanie Catley’s corner after 35 minutes to give Australia the lead.
But Team GB emerged with a purpose in the second half and White levelled 12 minutes after the break, glancing in Lauren Hemp’s cross.
She doubled her tally shortly afterwards, firing home on the angle from 10 yards, though Australian goalkeeper Teagan Micah would have hoped to have done better.
Chelsea’s Kerr restored parity in the dying embers of normal time, afforded too much time in the area to lash low into the back of the net.
Weir had the opportunity to put Team GB back in front after Nikita Parris was felled by her former Lyon teammate Ellie Carpenter in the box.
But her penalty was poor and well saved by Micah, before a huge slice of fortune saw substitute Fowler put Australia back in front via a deflection off Lucy Bronze.
Kerr made the game safe after the break in extra-time by rising high above Steph Houghton to head her second goal off the underside of the crossbar.
White’s late consolation – her sixth goal of the competition – was not enough to prevent Australia from booking a semi-final berth.
