Hayley Raso scored twice as Australia qualified for the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup with a crushing 4-0 victory over Canada, who were dumped out of the competition.
The joint hosts started quickly and opened the scoring early on through Raso and despite having Mary Fowler’s effort ruled out for offside, they doubled their lead before half-time with another Raso finish from inside the area.
England defender Niamh Charles has reached a new level of respect for Chelsea team-mate Sam Kerr since she landed in the Australian captain’s home country for the World Cup.
The Lionesses could face co-hosts Australia in the last 16 if they finish second in Group D following their clash with China on Tuesday, after the Matildas advanced as Group B’s top side with a thumping 4-0 victory over Canada on Monday.
World Cup co-hosts Australia suffered a shock defeat in their second group game as Nigeria fought back from a goal down to secure a famous 3-2 victory in Brisbane.
The Matildas took the lead through an Emily Van Egmond finish in first-half stoppage time.
Steph Catley ensured co-hosts Australia opened their World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland — despite the absence of star striker and captain Sam Kerr.
Catley’s second-half penalty was enough to clinch three points for the Matildas in front of a record crowd of 75,784 at Stadium Australia in Sydney.
Australia's star striker Sam Kerr will miss the first two games of their Women's World Cup campaign with a calf injury.
Kerr is the face of the tournament being hosted Down Under and her absence comes as a blow to the Matildas' chances of progressing on home soil.
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