Canada 0-4 Australia (Jul 31, 2023) Game Analysis

Hayley Raso scored a first-half brace and Mary Fowler struck after the break as Australia crushed Canada 4-0 on Monday to storm into the spherical of 16 of the Women’s World Cup and ship the Olympic champions spinning out of the match.

In entrance of a febrile crowd at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Raso scored within the ninth and thirty ninth minute as unused captain Sam Kerr cheered by the touchline.

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Fowler made certain of the win with a deft contact within the 58th minute that pinged in off the proper publish, earlier than Steph Catley slotted a penalty in stoppage time as a relieved nation celebrated the co-hosts’ advance.

Canada bowed out on the group stage for the primary time since 2011 and with some remorse after having wanted solely a draw to advance.

There was no want for Kerr to be Australia’s saviour, and the striker will relaxation her injured calf for per week earlier than the co-hosts’ subsequent conflict within the spherical of 16, most definitely towards Denmark.

Australia topped Group B with six factors, one forward of Nigeria, who additionally superior after a 0-0 draw towards Ireland.

Canada talismanic captain Christine Sinclair began on the pitch however bowed out of her sixth and ultimate World Cup in disappointment at halftime when coach Bev Priestman triggered a raft of substitutes.

With their match on a knife’s edge after their surprising 3-2 loss to Nigeria, Australia performed with braveness and had been rapidly rewarded when a Steph Catley cross discovered Raso within the field.

She drilled a low shot contained in the far publish to place Australia in entrance. Although an offside flag went up, the objective was confirmed by the VAR, sending the gang into rapture.

They virtually made it 2-0 minutes later, however Raso’s shot was effectively saved by goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.

Home followers had been roaring once more within the thirty fourth minute as Fowler charged in to thump the ball in from shut vary, with Raso offering the cross.

The VAR once more intervened, this time cancelling the objective for offside, triggering an enormous spherical of booing.

It scarcely mattered as 5 minutes later, Raso was celebrating her second strike after Sheridan didn’t clear the ball from a set piece.

Priestman made adjustments at halftime, with the retiring Sophie Schmidt approaching and blazing over the bar within the 56th minute.

But one other Australian raid minutes later ended with Fowler slotting in a cross from Caitlin Foord to blow out the lead.

Worse was to return for Canada as Jessie Fleming clattered into Katrina Gorry simply inside the realm to concede a penalty, permitting Catley to blast one into the online for the coup de grace.