Canada 0-4 Australia: Co-hosts keep Women's World Cup dream alive as Olympic champions go out

Australia kept their Women's World Cup dream alive as they advanced to the last-16 stage by thrashing Canada.

Hayley Raso scored twice, Mary Fowler was also on target and Steph Catley netted a late penalty as the co-hosts impressed in a game they had to win to avoid elimination.

The Matildas finished top of Group B - and did so without Sam Kerr, an unused sub despite declaring herself fit.

Canada suffered their first Women's World Cup group-stage exit since 2011.

Nigeria's draw with the Republic of Ireland means Australia will go forward to face the runners-up in Group D - who could still be England - at Stadium Australia in Sydney on 7 August.

Australia excel after Kerr sideshow

For Australia, this game had involved of the most fraught build-ups possible at a World Cup. The spectre of a humiliating early exit, combined with the dominating question marks about Kerr's fitness, did not make for ideal preparation.

Captain Kerr - having missed the first two games with a calf injury - was named on the bench but did not take part in the warm-ups, instead chewing gum and wearing her big coat as she watched the passing drills.

Ultimately, it was the 11 women on the field for Australia who would decide whether they could survive this test - and they rose to the challenge.

Roared on by a noisy near-capacity crowd at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, from the start they were far quicker and more dynamic than Canada.

Those watching from the stands became noisier when Catley's low cross found Raso in the area and she controlled before firing into the bottom corner.

Fowler appeared to have doubled the lead, firing into the roof of the net after a goalmouth scramble; however, Ellie Carpenter was judged offside after a lengthy video assistant referee review.

It left the crowd unsure how to react when Raso turned home following another scramble shortly before half-time. It was only when Canada restarted the game that they celebrated.

The Australian knees-up truly began shortly before the hour when Caitlin Foord cut back for Fowler to convert off the post from close range, and it was in full swing when Catley stroked home from the spot after Jessie Fleming fouled Katrina Gorry.

Australia now have the chance to give those fans more to celebrate at this World Cup. With or without Kerr, the hosts are staying at their own party.

Meek Canada bow out

From a Group B line-up filled with quality teams, there was always going to be one major name who exited in the first round - whether hosts Australia, World Cup ever-presents Nigeria or Olympic champions Canada.

Ultimately it is the Canadians who bow out, unable to repeat the feats of United States in 1999 and 2015 of holding the World Cup and Olympic crowns simultaneously.

It was a frustrating manner of exit, failing to lay a glove on fired-up Australia. The Canadians' best chance came when Deanne Rose was denied by the leg of Mackenzie Arnold in the second half.

Their exit means forward Christine Sinclair, 40, was unable to become the first player to score at six World Cups.

Player of the match

FoordCaitlin Foord

Canada

Squad number17Player nameFleming

Squad number3Player nameBuchanan

Squad number8Player nameRiviere

Squad number23Player nameSmith

Squad number6Player nameRose

Squad number14Player nameGilles

Squad number20Player nameLacasse

Squad number11Player nameViens

Squad number9Player nameHuitema

Squad number19Player nameLeon

Squad number1Player nameSheridan

Squad number13Player nameSchmidt

Squad number2Player nameChapman

Squad number10Player nameLawrence

Squad number7Player nameGrosso

Squad number12Player nameSinclair

Squad number5Player nameQuinn

Australia

Squad number9Player nameFoord

Squad number16Player nameRaso

Squad number7Player nameCatley

Squad number19Player nameGorry

Squad number23Player nameCooney-Cross

Squad number11Player nameFowler

Squad number18Player nameArnold

Squad number10Player namevan Egmond

Squad number15Player nameHunt

Squad number21Player nameCarpenter

Squad number14Player nameKennedy

Squad number5Player nameVine

Squad number4Player namePolkinghorne

Squad number22Player nameGrant

Line-ups

Canada

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Sheridan

8Riviere3Buchanan14Gilles10Lawrence

5Quinn7Grosso

19Leon17Fleming9Huitema

12Sinclair

Substitutes

Australia

Formation 4-4-2

18Arnold

21Carpenter15Hunt14Kennedy7Catley

16Raso19Gorry23Cooney-Cross9Foord

11Fowler10van Egmond

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Canada 0, Australia 4.

Second Half ends, Canada 0, Australia 4.

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Delay in match because of an injury Charlotte Grant (Australia).

Substitution, Australia. Charlotte Grant replaces Katrina Gorry.

Attempt saved. Olivia Smith (Canada) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

Goal! Canada 0, Australia 4. Steph Catley (Australia) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

VAR Decision: Penalty Australia.

Penalty conceded by Jessie Fleming (Canada) after a foul in the penalty area.

Penalty Australia. Katrina Gorry draws a foul in the penalty area.

Corner, Australia. Conceded by Sophie Schmidt.

Corner, Canada. Conceded by Mackenzie Arnold.

Attempt saved. Évelyne Viens (Canada) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.

Kadeisha Buchanan (Canada) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Caitlin Foord (Australia).

Attempt missed. Vanessa Gilles (Canada) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ashley Lawrence.

Hand ball by Vanessa Gilles (Canada).

Attempt blocked. Cloé Lacasse (Canada) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sophie Schmidt.

Substitution, Australia. Clare Polkinghorne replaces Emily van Egmond.

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