West Australian superstar Sam Kerr has praised her “special” Matildas after they made their first Olympic semi-final with a thrilling 4-3 quarter-final victory over Great Britain.

Kerr scored in the 89th minute to send the game into extra-time after Australia had gone down 2-1 when England’s Ellen White found the back of the net twice in the space of 10 minutes.

Teenager Mary Fowler put the Matildas in front in the first period of extra time, before Kerr sealed the win with a header to start the second half.

The Matildas will now take on powerhouse Sweden on Monday from 8pm.

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“This team’s special. We showed so much heart, so much team spirit and I think we deserve it in the end,” Kerr told Channel 7.

“It’s a team performance, it doesn’t matter who scores for our team, we just literally fight on. People that don’t get enough credit, our full back line, everyone in the midfield.

“I know I scored the goal, Mary (Fowler) scored the goal, but no one really cares who scores as long as we get them and advance on.

“I can’t explain how proud I am to be a part of this team and to lead this team out.

“Everyday they surprise me, we’ve been through so much as a team, I haven’t seen some of these girls for nearly two years and we come out here and beat teams that have played together for so long.”

Goalkeeper Teagan Micah also starred in just her fifth international game, with a number of crucial saves in the first 90 minutes, before keeping out a questionable penalty early in the first period of extra-time.