Women's World Cup: Australia secure knockout berth with 4-0 win over Canada
Hayley Raso scored a first half brace and Mary Fowler struck after the break as Australia crushed Canada 4-0 on Monday to storm into the last 16 of the Women's World Cup and send the Olympic champions spinning out of the tournament. In front of a febrile crowd at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Raso struck in the ninth minute with a low, rightfooted shot and doubled down in the 39th from a goalmouth scramble as unused captain Sam Kerr cheered by the touchline.
Fowler made sure of the win with a deft touch in the 58th minute that pinged in off the right post, before Steph Catley slotted a penalty in stoppage time as a relieved nation celebrated the co-hosts' advance.
«It means so much to us,» Raso told Channel 7. «I'm so proud of the girls. We put in a real shift tonight and everybody fought for each other and to come away with a pretty convincing win is very exciting.
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»We had our backs against the walls after (the) last game and we knew that we needed to come out and put in a big performance. We knew we needed to win, we wanted to top the group. We showed that never-say-die attitude and we gave it all tonight."
Canada bowed out at the group stage for the first time since 2011 and with some regret after having needed only a draw to advance.
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There was no need for Kerr to be Australia's saviour and the striker can rest her injured calf for a week before the co-hosts' next clash in the last 16, most likely against Denmark.
Australia topped Group B on six points, one ahead of Nigeria, who also advanced after a 0-0 draw against Ireland.
Canada's talismanic captain Christine Sinclair started on the pitch but bowed out of her sixth
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