Australia destroy Canada to surge into World Cup last 16
Australia surged into the Women's World Cup last 16 on Monday with Hayley Raso scoring twice in a 4-0 battering of Canada as Nigeria joined them in the knockout phase. Olympic champions Canada were dumped out at the hands of a fired-up Australian team who knew they had to win in Melbourne to progress. They did it in style, their big victory putting them through as Group B winners, meaning they will probably avoid European champions England in the next round.
That is likely to fall on Nigeria, who were held 0-0 by already-eliminated Ireland in Brisbane and finished second. Tony Gustavsson's Australian team came into the clash with Canada under huge pressure following a stunning 3-2 loss to Nigeria that left their tournament hopes on a knife-edge. But rather than wilt, the Matildas thrived, to the delight of a raucous 27,706 fans who were kicking every ball.
Star striker Sam Kerr, who missed Australia's first two games with a calf injury, declared herself fit but remained on the bench as her team-mates more than compensated for her absence. Real Madrid's Raso put them ahead in the ninth minute, then made it two half an hour later with a close-range tap-in. A shellshocked Canada made four changes at half-time as coach Bev Priestman attempt to salvage their World Cup.
But the comeback never materialised and Mary Fowler bagged Australia's third from a counter-attack before Steph Catley sealed victory with an injury-time penalty. — Japan thrash Spain — Earlier, Japan sent a World Cup warning with a clinical 4-0 thrashing of Spain. The 2011 champions Japan were 3-0 up by half-time in Wellington as they romped to a victory that allowed them to finish top of Group C and set up a last-16 tie against Norway.
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