31 July,2023 06:28 PM IST | Melbourne | mid-day online correspondent
Hayley Raso (Pic: Twitter/TheMatildas)
Hayley Raso scored twice for Australia in a crucial 4-0 win over Canada as the fired-up co-hosts booked their place in the last 16 of the Women's World Cup on Monday, while it was the end of the road for the Olympic Champions.
Tony Gustavsson's team came into the clash with their backs to the wall, needing victory to ensure they made the knockout round after a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Nigeria left them on a knife-edge.
Real Madrid's Raso put them ahead in the ninth minute, firing low into the corner after captain Steph Catley fed a teasing low cross. They had a goal controversially disallowed 10 minutes before the break, but the rampaging Matildas put it behind them and Raso made sure on their very next attack with a close-range tap-in.
A shellshocked Canada made four changes at half-time, but the comeback never materialised and Mary Fowler bagged Australia's third from a counter-attack before Catley sealed victory with an injury-time penalty.
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The win left them top of Group B ahead of Nigeria, who drew 0-0 with Ireland in Brisbane, and set them up for a clash against the second-placed team in Group D -- likely Denmark or China -- in the next round.
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A major talking point ahead of this crucial match was whether Australia's Sam Kerr would play after missing their opening two games with a calf injury.
The co-hosts suffered a huge setback skipper Kerr, the country's all-time leading scorer and the face of the tournament, had to sit out the Matildas' opening match against Ireland and the clash with Nigeria.
In the match against Canada, the Chelsea star was on the bench, but wasn't risked with her team in complete charge.
They home side was boosted by the return of Manchester City's Fowler -- who replaced Kerr in their 1-0 win against Ireland but missed the Nigeria game with concussion -- but it was livewire Raso who gave them a dream start.
(With AFP inputs)
