Hayley Raso fires Australia into World Cup knockouts after 4-0 win, Nigeria join them
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Hayley Raso celebrating her second goal with her Australia teammates at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on July 31.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
MELBOURNE – Australia coach Tony Gustavsson said his team “didn’t shy away from” their date with destiny as they hammered Olympic champions Canada 4-0 to storm into the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup after topping Group B without their star striker Sam Kerr playing a single minute.
Hayley Raso scored a first-half brace and Mary Fowler struck after the break before Steph Catley scored a late penalty which sent the Tokyo 2020 gold medallists crashing out of the tournament. Nigeria finished second in Group B after a goalless draw with Ireland in Brisbane.
The Matildas’ Swedish coach told Optus Sport: “Look at the way the fans carried the team tonight. So every single fan out there, thank you.
“And then the players, there is something special about this group. I hope coaches out there get to experience what I have experienced the last three days because it is unique.
“Someone asked yesterday is this a legacy-defining moment? Is that a crossroads moment? Yes it was and we didn’t shy away from it.
“These players, the way they performed tonight and all the talk about Sam and is she available or not, all the noise outside. The way they just went out, played the game and stayed true to who they are (was special).”
In front of a febrile crowd at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Raso struck in the ninth minute with a low, right-footed shot and doubled down in the 39th from a goalmouth scramble as captain Kerr cheered from the touchline.
Fowler made sure of the win with a deft touch in the 58th minute that pinged in off the right post, before Catley slotted in a penalty in stoppage time as a relieved nation celebrated the co-hosts’ progression.
“It means so much to us,” Raso told Channel 7.
“I’m so proud of the girls. We put in a real shift tonight and everybody fought for one another and to come away with a pretty convincing win is very exciting.
“We had our backs against the walls after the last game and we knew that we needed to come out and put in a big performance. We knew we needed to win, we wanted to top the group. We showed that never-say-die attitude and we gave it all tonight.”
Canada bowed out at the group stage for the first time since 2011 and with some regret after having needed only a draw to advance.
Said Canada coach Bev Priestman: “An early goal rocks you. We are not used to this level of pressure but we will bounce back... I think the team lacked belief. I didn’t think the team would be as rattled as we’ve seen tonight...
“These are the moments that make you as a player and person and we will bounce back... This moment can make you and a year from now are the Olympics.”
There was no need for Kerr to be Australia’s saviour and the striker can rest her injured calf for a week before the co-hosts’ next clash in the last 16, most likely against Denmark.
Australia topped Group B on six points, one ahead of Nigeria, who will likely face European champions England.
Nigeria’s Onome Ebi and Osinachi Ohale celebrating after the 0-0 Women’s World Cup Group B draw against Ireland in Brisbane on Monday.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“I don’t think anybody, before we got here, believed that we could get out of this group and go through it without losing a match,” Nigeria coach Randy Waldrum said.
“So I’m so proud of them and the effort they put in and so happy for them that they’re getting to experience this.”
The Nigerians, who upset Australia 3-2 in their last visit to Brisbane, recovered from a sloppy first half to get the draw they needed and reach the knockout stage for only the third time in nine attempts.
“We knew this was going to be the Group of Death, we knew it was going to be hard,” midfielder Toni Payne said.
“If we play like how we’re playing, if we improve on each game, I think we can go all the way to the final.” REUTERS, AFP
