Vine Time Immortalised: Cortnee Vine’s Historic Penalty Honoured in Bronze

Peninsula Power FC standout Cortnee Vine has been forever etched into Australian sporting history with a stunning new mural at Suncorp Stadium alongside the Matildas. Unveiled on Tuesday, the artwork celebrates the team’s unprecedented success and their impact on Australian sport.


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Cortnee Vine, Matildas immortalised

Located at the southern entrance of Suncorp Stadium, the 5.5m-long and 2.1m-wide bronze bas-relief depicts one of the most significant moments in Australian soccer history. The mural captures the Matildas’ jubilant celebration following Cortnee Vine’s match-winning penalty against France, the moment that secured their first-ever World Cup semi-final appearance.

Matildas star Tameka Yallop expressed her appreciation for the tribute. “It’s wonderful to see so many young girls and boys, men and women here today, inspired by the feats of women in sport,” Yallop stated.

“We are humbled to be part of that legacy through the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”

Queensland Minister for Women Shannon Fentiman highlighted the Matildas’ broader impact, saying, “The Matildas brought the country together through their performances and had a profound impact on our sporting landscape.”

From Redcliffe to the world stage

Cortnee Vine’s rise from Redcliffe to World Cup stardom has inspired young athletes across the region. Following her World Cup heroics Vine returned to Sydney FC for a fourth season, where she dominated with 10 goals and 6 assists. Averaging 1.02 goal contributions per 90 minutes, she quickly caught the attention of international scouts.

In June, Vine secured a move to North Carolina Courage in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), marking her debut on the international club stage. Her impact was immediate; she scored her first NWSL goal during her Courage home debut on 1 September, helping secure a 2-1 victory over the Kansas City Current.


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Inspiring future generations

This mural complements the existing bronze statues of male sports figures at Suncorp Stadium, including rugby league legends Wally Lewis and Allan Langer, and former Wallabies captain John Eales.

It represents a significant step towards greater recognition of women’s contributions to Australian sport. For generations to come, the mural will inspire young athletes to dream big and chase their goals, just like Cortnee.

Published 27-September-2024