Former Matilda claims Sam Kerr made two big mistakes in World Cup defeat by England after

Sam Kerr will ‘know’ that she wasted two golden opportunities to send Australia through to the World Cup final, a former Matilda has claimed.

Kerr, 29, provided a timely reminder why she is the best player in world football after scoring a stunning goal for Australia in their semi-final defeat by England, hitting the back of the net from 25 yards out. 

But after Lauren Hemp re-established England’s one-goal lead, Kerr was presented with two gilt-edged chances to level the scores once more, but wasted them.

First, she failed to provide a deft header from a wonderful Mary Fowler cross, which was ultimately misdirected. Moments later she ballooned an effort over the bar from six yards out.

England swiftly went up the other end and scored through Alessia Russo, putting the tie to bed.

Elise Kellond-Knight says Sam Kerr will know she wasted two glorious opportunities

Kerr scored a stunning goal but missed two gilt-edged chances on Wednesday night

And Elise Kellond-Knight said Kerr will be well aware that she should have put her chances away. 

‘Sam knows. I don’t want to talk about it too much – they were two critical chances,’ Kellond-Knight said on Channel 7.

‘It could’ve gone another way tonight if (not for) a few centimetres in that game.

‘On one of them, even if she just left the ball… you could see her looking back going “I shouldn’t have touched that”.’

A deflated Tony Gustavsson rued Australia’s missed opportunities, while England made their chances count. 

‘Obviously, we are going to analyse it,’ he said. ‘Right now initially it’s conversion rate. It’s conversion to chances. In the second half we are 12 to their nine and they scored three goals. In the 83rd and 85th minute we nearly scored two. It is one of those nights they were more clinical in finishing.

‘We learnt a lot when we played them last time and they are a bit vulnerable in transition. Their defending was very solid in the first half. I think it was two teams that nullified each other. 

‘They took out our transition game and very, very few chances in the first half. Then in the second half I think that we let go a little bit. 

Kerr was on the losing team as Australia crashed out of the Women’s World Cup

‘We told them at half time to be more confident on the ball and play the way we can play. When we started to do that we dominated the game but unfortunately didn’t pay off with enough goals.

‘I am happy that the fans gave the players support after the game. The reason that they are did that they are proud of the players that they are proud of the players that they leave everything out there. 

‘We promised each other we would leave everything out there and that is a successful and they left it all out there. Unfortunately tonight it wasn’t enough.’