Canada 0-4 Australia: Matildas keeps World Cup campaign alive after Hayley Raso brace and goals from Mary Fowler and Steph Catley send Maple Leafs to Melbourne
The Matildas lifted themselves off the canvas to beat Canada 4-0 to reach the Women’s World Cup round of 16.
Hayley Raso scored a first-half brace to give Australia the upper hand, while rising star Mary Fowler added a third in the 58th minute.
Hometown hero Steph Catley buried a penalty kick to seal a famous victory in front of 27,706 fans at AAMI Park and top spot in Group B.
Mackenzie Arnold made a wonderful save in the 67th minute to keep a clean sheet.
The Matildas, with skipper Sam Kerr watching from the bench, needed to win to avoid an embarrassing group stage exit without relying on Ireland to beat Nigeria.
Australia has kept its World Cup campaign alive after dominating Canada
Hayley Raso scored twice to keep their journey going at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
Raso opened the scoring with a thumping right-footed effort in the first half
She doubled the hosts’ lead with a poaching attempt to stun the Olympic champions
Mary Fowler scored from close range before Steph Catley took the win
It was a dismal display from the Canadians crashed out of the competition
They will instead top Group B by six points, after Nigeria drew 0-0 against Ireland in the other match to finish second and knock out Canada.
Shifted to the left wing, with Fowler returning from a concussion, Caitlin Foord played all night and combined brilliantly with vice-captain Steph Catley.
Right-back Ellie Carpenter was relentless while Emily van Egmond, holding onto her spot ahead of Cortnee Vine, justified her selection with a level-headed performance in Australia’s first two.
Centre-backs Clare Hunt and Alanna Kennedy were calm-headed, while Kyra Cooney-Cross and Katrina Gorry were busy in midfield all night.
Australia were much more patient on the ball than in their 3-2 loss to Nigeria, which had put their campaign on the cutting edge and paid off for their first goal.
Raso got going as she completed a blistering end-to-end play in the ninth minute.
Carpenter sent a long ball from Canada back to Arnold.
The goalkeeper controlled it well and then fizzled out a beautiful pass to Caitlin Foord, who charged forward and the ball slipped through to Steph Catley.
The substitute captain charged down the touchline, had the presence of mind to touch the ball and then fired a cross into the penalty area where he deflected to Raso who coolly sent it into the far bottom corner.
Initially, the offside was ruled out, but a VAR referral confirmed the goal.
Raso came desperately close to scoring in the 13th minute.
The Australians forced a turnover and Foord paired again with Catley, who picked Raso.
But the winger’s finishing didn’t have enough power and Kailen Sheridan went down to make the save.
Adriana Leon swung a dangerous ball past the far post in the 16th minute.
Australia thought they had doubled their lead when Fowler came home in the 37th minute after a chaotic build-up.
But after a lengthy VAR referral, Carpenter was ruled offside.
It didn’t upset the Matildas and two minutes later the Canadian defense failed to field a Cooney-Cross corner and Raso scored her second goal.
Coach Tony Gustavsson, who had coached realistically for his job, was shown a yellow card in stoppage time.
Canadian coach Bev Priestman made four substitutions at half-time in an attempt to take the world number 7 under fire.
In the 51st minute, Catley sent a tempting cross just out of reach for a sprawling Raso and two minutes later midfielder Kyra Cooney-Cross forced Sheridan to save a long shot.
Fowler saw a goal disallowed in the first half after a controversial VAR call
Canadian veteran Sophie Schmidt shot over the bar in the 57th minute.
A minute later, Catley released Foord down the left wing and the striker charged forward, hopped her way to the goal line and cut back in front of Fowler.
With the ball slightly behind, the young striker impressively dragged her left foot towards goal and the ball jingled off the post and over the line.
Arnold brilliantly stuck out her leg to deny Deanne Rose in the 66th minute.
Fowler hit the post in the 80th minute and Australia made four after a VAR referral determined Jessie Fleming had stepped on Katrina Gorry in the 18-yard box.
Proud Melburnian Catley coolly stepped up and buried the penalty to put an exclamation mark on victory and send AAMI Park into ecstasy.