Sam Kerr returns! Australia superstar back from injury as co-hosts cruise past Denmark & book Women’s World Cup quarter-final spot for the first time

Sam Kerr made a very timely return from injury as Australia overcame Denmark 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

TELL ME MORE: The poster girl of the global gathering Down Under was yet to kick a ball in anger during the home tournament heading into Monday's meeting with the Danes. Kerr was named on the bench for the eagerly-anticipated last-16 encounter, but did little during the pre-match warm-up and remained among the substitutes for 80 minutes in Sydney as she works her way back from a calf injury.

In the end, the Matildas did not need their talismanic all-time leading goalscorer to play any more than 10 minutes, with another forward that plies her club trade in England making a decisive contribution. Arsenal striker Caitlin Foord broke the deadlock on the night, much to the delight of her international team-mate that continues to star for Chelsea.

There were 29 minutes on the clock when Foord’s big moment arrived, and she was ready for it. A sweeping counter-attack allowed Australia to create a pocket of space for their No.9 inside the penalty area, and she displayed admirable composure to fire a left-footed effort through the legs of onrushing Danish goalkeeper Lene Christensen.

A cagey affair played out from that point, with the home side all too aware of what they had to lose. They were prepared to sit deep and prevent the Danes from grabbing any kind of hope, but a passionate home support continued to cheer them on and the odd opportunity did present itself.

One of those was taken in style, with Real Madrid star Hayley Raso calming any nerves in the 70th minute when a dinked cross into the box was touched into her path and she made no mistake when drilling into the bottom corner. The stage