Brilliant Matildas sail past Denmark – and superstar Sam is back
The Matildas have charged into the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals and welcomed back Sam Kerr in style with an imperious 2-0 win over Denmark.
Caitlin Foord’s goal in the 29th minute, brilliantly teed up by Mary Fowler, sent the Matildas on their way before Hayley Raso added a second in the 70th minute in front of 75,784 screaming fans at Sydney’s Stadium Australia.
After originally being named on the bench as coach Tony Gustavsson stuck with an unchanged starting line-up, Kerr entered the field to a standing ovation in the 80th minute.
They were her first minutes of the tournament, after overcoming a calf injury suffered on the eve of Australia’s opening game.
Australia will next play either France or Morocco, who face off in Adelaide on Wednesday. That quarter-final match will be played at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
It is just their second time in the final eight of the World Cup after reaching the marker in Canada in 2015. It was also the latest step in the team’s remarkable journey, which had to claw its way back from the brink of elimination in the group stages last week.
The magnificent Foord gave Denmark right-back Janni Thomsen nightmares all night, while Fowler’s sublime passing range unlocked both goals.
Centre-back Alanna Kennedy was dominant in the air and consistently thwarted Danish attacks as the Matildas sealed a professional victory.
The Australians looked nervous early and were given some troubles by a determined Danish outfit.
Mackenzie Arnold was forced into a low but comfortable save by Katrine Veje in the opening minute.
Danish star Pernille Harder caused headaches and spurned chances after superb bursting runs in the 10th and 17th minutes.
Stand-in skipper Steph Catley went down and
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