Co-hosts Hayley Raso scored twice to lead Australia to a 4-0 victory against Canada on Monday, propelling the Socceroos into the round of 16 of the Women’s World Cup. Nigeria also advanced to the next round with Australia.
The reigning Olympic champions from Canada were eliminated at the hands of an energized Australian team that was well aware that they needed to win in Melbourne in order to advance.
They achieved it in grand fashion, as their decisive victory placed them on top of Group B and advanced them to the next round as victors. This means that they will most likely not have to face England, who won the European championship.
That is likely to fall on Nigeria, since they finished in second place in Brisbane and were held to a scoreless tie by a team that had already been eliminated, Ireland.
The Australian squad captained by Tony Gustavsson entered their match against Canada under a mountain of pressure after suffering a shocking defeat to Nigeria by the score of 3-2, which put their chances of winning the tournament in a precarious position.
However, rather than wilting, the Matildas flourished, much to the pleasure of 27,706 rowdy supporters who kicked every ball. The crowd was kicking every ball.
Sam Kerr, Australia’s star striker who had been out with a calf injury for the team’s first two matches, announced that she was well but continued to sit on the bench while the rest of her teammates more than made up for her absence.
Raso gave Real Madrid the lead in the ninth minute, and then he doubled their advantage with a tap-in goal from close range after half an hour had passed.
An exhausted and shell-shocked At the halftime break, Canada’s coach Bev Priestman made four substitutions in an effort to save her team’s World Cup chances.
However, the comeback never materialized, as Mary Fowler scored Australia’s third goal off of a counterattack before Steph Catley clinched the win with a penalty kick in injury time.
– Japan completely dominates Spain –
In an earlier match, Japan humiliated Spain 4-0, sending a message to the rest of the World Cup field.
Japan, who won the World Cup in 2011, raced out to a 3-0 lead at the break in Wellington on their way to an easy win that propelled them to the top spot in Group C and set up a match against Norway in the round of 16.
After Hinata Miyazawa scored twice and Riko Ueki scored once, Mina Tanaka scored the game-winning goal in the last minutes to complete an incredible comeback victory.
Their first victory in five tries against Spain was so convincing that it gives the impression that Japan, now placed 11th, may be in the running to win the competition.
They finished the group stage with 11 goals, which was more than any other side, and they did not allow any goals to be scored against them.
Miyazawa, who was replaced at the break, is now the top scorer in the competition with four goals after his performance thus far.
“I could have never foreseen it. Every one of the goals is a direct result of the other players setting me up with the perfect ball. “This ought to be everyone’s objective, not just mine,” she said.
Spain, which along with Japan had already qualified for the round of 16, finishes as the runner-up in their group and will now face Switzerland in Auckland on Saturday. Spain and Japan both advanced to the round of 16.
In the other matchup in Group C, Zambia defeated Costa Rica by a score of 3-1 to cap off an impressive showing at the Women’s World Cup. This victory was Zambia’s first ever victory in a Women’s World Cup match.
– The United States, then England –
On Tuesday, the United States and England will compete in an attempt to secure a position in the round of 16.
The United States of America are trying to win their third consecutive World Cup, but they haven’t been playing very well and their most recent match was tied 1-1 by the Netherlands.
The United States of America may require a significant victory to finish on top of Group E ahead of the Netherlands, but a shocking loss would almost likely result in the conclusion of their participation in the tournament.
According to their coach, Vlatko Andonovski, “the most important thing obviously is getting in the knockout stage first and foremost, and that is our main focus right now.” “The most important thing obviously is getting in the knockout stage,”
It is not desirable for us to gaze two, three, or even four steps ahead. If we start thinking too far in advance, our opportunity could never present itself.
In the other match in the group, the Dutch will play a Vietnam team that has already been eliminated.
Due to a knee injury, England’s important midfielder Keira Walsh will be out for their match against China on Tuesday. England can advance to the next round with a tie, which is all they need to do.
Denmark, who are now in first place to advance out of Group D with England, will compete against Haiti.
If England comes out on top of their group, they will play Nigeria, and whichever side finishes second in Group D will take on Australia.