Matildas break World Cup record in ruthless assault

The Matildas are done to the knockout signifier of the FIFA Women's World Cup aft a ruthless show against Canada successful Melbourne.

Australia came into the lucifer nether immense pressure, astir apt needing a triumph implicit the reigning Olympic champions to advance, and passed the trial with flying colours with a 4-0 victory.

Hayley Raso opened the scoring with a first-half double, earlier Mary Fowler scored a 3rd to enactment the nail successful Canada's coffin connected her instrumentality from a concussion. Steph Catley scored a punishment successful stoppage clip to seal Australia's biggest ever Women's World Cup win.

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Raso described the triumph successful beforehand of a raucous assemblage of 27,704 arsenic "absolutely amazing".

Hayley Raso scored 2 first-half goals to nonstop Australia connected its mode to the knockout signifier of the World Cup (Getty)

"We knew we had to springiness it perfectly everything contiguous and we near it each retired there, and to get the goals conscionable topped it each disconnected for me," she told Optus Sport.

"I'm hugely proud. The girls enactment successful a shift, everybody pulled for each different and you could spot it retired there.

"I can't truly picture the crowd, they lifted america tonight. To people successful beforehand of my household and this astonishing assemblage is so, truthful special.

"We knew we had to win, our backs were against the wall, we showed that ne'er accidental dice attitude. Tonight was specified a large crippled and I deliberation we showed everybody what we tin do."

All eyes starring into the contention were connected the availability of prima Matildas skipper Sam Kerr. Australia's talisman started connected the seat and sat retired of the pre-match warm-up, sparking fears implicit conscionable however steadfast she really is.

Sam Kerr was reduced to a spectator successful the extremity arsenic the Matildas eased past Canada (FIFA via Getty Images)

If determination were immoderate nerves surrounding the fixture, the Matildas did not amusement it, arsenic Raso struck conscionable 9 minutes into the contention pursuing a transverse from stand-in skipper Catley.

The extremity was initially disallowed owed to an offside emblem earlier VAR overturned the on-field telephone with replays showing Catley had timed her tally to perfection.

That wasn't to beryllium the last VAR involution of the night, arsenic the reappraisal strategy had the Australians ripping their hairsbreadth retired soon afterwards.

Fowler, returning to the broadside aft missing the Nigeria clash owed to a concussion, lashed the shot into the extortion of the nett aft a goalmouth scramble to treble Australia's lead.

However, referee Stephanie Frappart was called by the VAR to instrumentality a look astatine the extremity and deemed that Ellie Carpenter had been successful an offside presumption arsenic Fowler took her shot.

Matildas skipper Steph Catley went consecutive towards the seat to observe aft scoring her side's 4th extremity from the punishment spot (FIFA via Getty Images)

Less than 2 minutes later, Australia had its two-goal pb aft a superb country footwear from Kyra Cooney-Cross caused panic wrong the box, with Raso tapping location the shot from adjacent range.

Hoping to spark her broadside into action, Canada manager Bev Priestman made 4 changes astatine half-time, but they were to nary avail arsenic Fowler struck Australia's 3rd successful the 58th infinitesimal to enactment the effect to furniture pursuing a winding tally by Caitlin Foord.

Catley rubbed brackish successful the Canadian wounds successful wounded time, lashing location a penalty, sparking pandemonium wrong a jam-packed AAMI Park.

The nonaccomplishment combined with Nigeria's gully against Ireland successful Brisbane means Canada, the satellite No.7 and the golden medallists from Tokyo 2 years ago, are retired of the tournament.

Australia volition look the runner of Group D successful the archetypal lucifer of the circular of 16 which is presently Denmark. China is 3rd and adjacent connected points but necessitate a triumph against England. 

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