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Tokyo Olympics: It’s Waltzing Matildas for record TV audience

Troy de RuyterThe West Australian
Sam Kerr and the Matildas are only one game away from the Olympic women's soccer gold medal match.
Camera IconSam Kerr and the Matildas are only one game away from the Olympic women's soccer gold medal match. Credit: AP

They are a team on the rise in Australia’s sporting consciousness and the Tokyo Olympics has given them the undisputed crown as the nation’s most watched women’s sporting side.

An incredible 2.32 million viewers tuned in to Channel 7 for their semifinal against Sweden on Monday night.

While they lost 1-0 after a controversial disallowed goal to WA’s star striker Sam Kerr in the first half, they won the hearts and minds of fans across the country.

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The average audience for the thriller was more than 1.87 million viewers.

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The peak audience beat the record the Matildas had set in their unforgettable last-gasp quarter final against Great Britain in the quarter final.

An impressive 2.24 million Aussies watched them level the scores in the 89th minute before going on to claim a 4-3 win in extra time.

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And those numbers smashed a record the Matildas had set just a week earlier when 1.4 million watched them lose 4-2 against Sweden in the group stages.

Matildas defender Ellie Carpenter told Sunrise this morning that the support had been incredible.

Matildas defender Ellie Carpenter on Sunrise this morning.
Camera IconMatildas defender Ellie Carpenter on Sunrise this morning. Credit: Troy de Ruyter

“Thank you Australia for all your support,” she said. “We know that you’re with us. We are so excited. Continue the support because we’ll need it.

“We know we have a shot at an Olympic medal tomorrow and we’re all focused and can’t wait to go out there and create some history.”

Carpenter also touched on the disallowed goal in the semifinal.

“It was a bit bizarre and also she (the referee) blew the whistle before the goal actually went in,” she said.

“Yeah, we’re all not that sure about that but ... that game’s over now. But very disappointing as we really took it to them.”

The Matildas play-off for bronze against the USA tomorrow.

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