The starting position was not ideal for the Australian hosts, but against co-favourites Canada, the Matildas were determined from the start and did not give their opponents the slightest chance. The reward: the World Cup journey continues.
High tension was guaranteed before the final day of play in Group B. For both the Canadians and the hosts from Australia, everything was possible from advancing as group winners to being eliminated from the preliminary round.
The game was accordingly intense right from the start. The Canadians, with record-breaking player Sinclair replacing Viens in the starting eleven after their 2-1 win over Ireland, pushed forward right from the start. The Australians, also with a change (Fowler for Vine) after the 3-2 defeat to Nigeria, but still without the recovered star player Kerr, did not take long to get going either – fast switching actions were the means of choice here.
Canada makes the play, Australia the goals
Boyed by the home crowd, the ball first floundered in the net after nine minutes, but the big cheer was delayed. Raso had scored after Catley’s cross, but the player who provided the ball was ruled to be in an offside position. Wrongly, as the VAR check showed afterwards. The goal counted.
Canada were under pressure from then on, suddenly in third place in the live standings. So the “Big Red” upped the tempo, but lacked dangerous finishes despite good approaches and fine combinations. Australia were able to defend attack after attack – and were ice-cold in front of goal.
Although Fowler’s goal to make it 2-0 (34th), in which the Canadians showed great gaps and disorder in their defensive formation, was taken back due to a narrow offside position by Carpenter, the hosts were not impressed by this.
Raso scores a brace, Fowler adds to the tally
No sooner had the goal been pulled back than the ball was in the net again: After a corner, Raso pushed the ball over the line for a brace that stood after the third VAR check of the game for a possible foul on goalkeeper Sheridan (39th).
The applause was accordingly thunderous as the crowd in Melbourne accompanied the Matildas into the half-time break, from which Canada came onto the pitch with a completely renewed eleven after four changes, but continued to display familiar problems: little or nothing went forward, and there were still unusual gaps in the defence. At first van Egmond and Raso (51.) as well as Cooney-Cross (52.) did not know how to take advantage of that, before Fowler, after a Foord solo, scored from close range with a bit of luck at the post to make it 3-0 (58.).
Canada harmless – Catley puts the lid on it
It took until the 66th minute before the Canadians had their first dangerous finish: Joker Rose, however, found her master in Arnold. Even though Canada never gave up: Apart from a shot from distance by Viens (80th), Arnold was not to be threatened again.
The Canadians, meanwhile, were in for an even bigger blow: after another VAR check for a foul by Fleming on Gorry, they were awarded a penalty in injury time, which Catley converted to make the final score 4-0. The Melbourne crowd were able to celebrate a place in the last 16 on home soil, while disappointing Olympic champions and joint favourites Canada will have to make an early return home.
The next round of 16 for the Australians will be in exactly one week’s time. As top of the group, they will face the runners-up of Group D on Monday at 12.30pm. England, Denmark, China and Haiti are all still in the draw and will play each other for a place in the knockout rounds on Tuesday.
