Who needs Sam Kerr? Australia thrash Canada to avoid catastrophic group-stage exit at home Women's World Cup as Olympic champions suffer historic elimination
Women's World Cup co-hosts Australia didn't even need to put Sam Kerr on the pitch as they thrashed Olympic champions Canada 4-0 to reach the last 16.
TELL ME MORE: After a disappointing defeat to Nigeria, the Matildas needed a win to ensure qualification, without requiring a favour from already-eliminated Ireland, and they settled the nerves of the crowd early on when Hayley Raso capitalised on some poor defending from a usually solid Canada side. Steph Catley's cross eventually fell nicely for the Real Madrid winger to finish and the goal was belatedly confirmed after a VAR check.
Raso nearly had a second only a few minutes later, too, but goalkeeper Kailden Sheridan pulled off a terrific one-handed save while Mary Fowler, back in the team after missing the Nigeria defeat with concussion, thought she had doubled the lead when she smashed the ball into the back of the net from close range, but VAR ruled Ellie Carpenter to have been interfering with play from an offside position.
The co-hosts would only have to wait a couple more minutes to get their second, though, Raso bagging her brace just before half-time when she prodded home from close range after a corner caused chaos in the box. Canada head coach Bev Priestman made four changes at the break, the Olympic champions needing a point to qualify, but none had the desired impact. Instead, Australia made it three before the hour after Caitlin Foord picked out Fowler to finish on the counter.
Matildas goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold was forced into a good save to deny Deanne Rose as Canada threw the kitchen sink at their opponents, but seeing out the result was otherwise straight-forward for the co-hosts, who rounded off the win when Catley converted from the spot in second half
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