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Matildas thump Canada, move into knockout stages in historic scenes

The Matildas went into their do-or-die World Cup match under threat of crashing out of the tournament. Their reponse was stunning.

Andrew McMurtryAndrew McMurtry
@AndrewMcMurtry
7 min read
July 31, 2023 - 11:33PM
The Matildas have done it. Picture: Mark Stewart
The Matildas have done it. Picture: Mark Stewart

The Matildas needed a win against Canada to keep their Women’s World Cup campaign alive and Australia could not have had a better result.

Not only have the Matildas claimed a stunning 4-0 result over Canada, knocking the reigning Olympic champions out of the World Cup, but Australia will top group B after a 0-all draw between Ireland and Nigeria.

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It was dubbed the Group of Death, nonetheless the Matildas topped the group, the first time they have do so at a Women’s World Cup.

It was an incredible result as Canada had formerly held the wood against the Matildas. Australia had not beaten Canada across all competitions since a 2-1 friendly win in May 2008 in Australia.

But history is there to be made and the Matildas added a pretty amazing chapter to the history books in Melbourne with the incredible victory against the Canadians.

The result means the Matildas will top group B, and unless England suffers an upset loss to China, will likely face Denmark on Monday August 7 at Stadium Australia from 8.30pm AEST.

However, group D is up in the air with all four teams able to finish second, even the winless Haiti, who play Denmark. Group D is decided on Tuesday night with the matches played simultaneously at 9pm.

Hayley Raso, you deadset legend! Picture: Mark Stewart
Hayley Raso, you deadset legend! Picture: Mark Stewart

Post-match on Channel 7, Bruce McAvaney highlighted the fact it was the greatest World Cup winning margin in Matildas history and also the first time the defending Olympic champs hadn’t made at least the quarterfinals.

“I think the head of FIFA is almost as relieved as we are that the host nation goes on, at least in the round of 16,” McAvaney said.

“What an awful, awful evening for the Olympic champions,” Simon Hill said on Optus Sport after Steph Catley kicked a penalty for the fourth goal.

It was Australia’s night from the outset with Hayley Raso unleashing a stunning strike for the first goal after some nervous moments when the decision went to VAR.

In the lead up, Steph Catley was called off-side by the line judge but it was overturned as the Aussie skipper was well onside.

Australia looked to have doubled the score around the 30 minute mark when Mary Fowler blasted the ball into the back of the net but the call went the other way with a controversial call against Aussie defender Ellie Carpenter, much to Australia’s chagrin.

But it was quickly forgotten when Raso did it again, slotting a bouncing ball from a corner to give Australia the 2-0 lead.

The Matildas top the group. Picture: Mark Stewart
The Matildas top the group. Picture: Mark Stewart

It got even better in the second half when Fowler got a goal after a Caitlin Foord cross deflected off the far post and bounced in.

While the celebration was already well under way, Catley sealed the result with an injury time penalty to make it 4-0.

10.02pm — MATILDAS SCORE AGAIN

4-0 — this is madness.

Steph Catley has made no mistake with the injury time penalty after the Canadians gave away a penalty on the edge of the box.

The Aussie skipper nailed the spot kick to give the Matildas the history result.

Even better, Australia have topped the group of death.

9.38pm — Hayley Raso, what a performance

It’s the 75th minute and Hayley Raso has because Australia’s first sub of the match.

If anyone deserves an early mark it’s Raso after her brilliant brace which has put Australia in the box seat to go to the knockout stages.

9.20pm — 3-0 MATILDAS!

Australia are up 3-0 against Canada after Mary Fowler only just dragged a Caitlin Foord cross onto the far post and in.

It’s a stunning result that has the Matildas on the cusp of going to the knockout stages after scoring a third in the 58th minute.

Fowler looked stunned by the goal, seemingly unsure whether she had scored.

On Optus Sport, Simon Hill said she looked “almost apologetic”.

9.02pm — Matildas in the box seat at halftime

Australia is 45 minutes from punching its ticket to the round of 16 after the perfect half against the Olympic champions.

The 2-0 lead on the back of two goals from Hayley Raso had the Matildas flying high.

“Couldn’t have gone any better, 2-0 at halftime I would take that any day of the week,” ex-Matilda Elise Kellond-Knight said on Channel 7.

And it could get even better.

The Ireland-Nigeria match is also going on at the same time as the Matildas-Canada match and at halftime it’s 0-all.

If both matches have scoreless second halves, Australia will top group B.

8.34pm — Matildas score after VAR robbery

Mary Fowler looked to have doubled the lead but Australia is not happy after Ellie Carpenter was ruled off-side.

Melbourne may have been a bit quieter earlier in the day but the city has gone absolutely wild as Fowler blasted the ball into the back of the net.

It came after Kailen Sheridan made a fingertip save off a huge strike from Hayley Raso but deflected the ball behind the chasing players overran the ball, with Ellie Carpenter running back as Fowler blasted the ball into the net.

The crowd went wild, before its displeasure when the referee denied the goal.

“After the review No. 21 is in an off-side position, she is off-side,” the referee said.

It was seemingly her back heel and right shoulder that was off-side.

But the Matildas did not have to wait long as Hayley Raso scored her second of the half, slotting the goal after a corner fell to her close to the goal line.

It’s 2-0 after 39 minutes.

8.10pm — MATILDAS GOAL!!!

10 minutes in, the Matildas are 1-0 up.

Hayley Raso has scored a crushing blow off her right foot.

Aussie skipper Steph Catley was initially called off-side by the line judge but the VAR overturned the decision, giving the Matildas a 1-0 lead.

It was an exceptional strike from Raso and it’s the perfect start.

“The early goal is just what Australia was looking for and needed in this tournament,” David Basheer said in commentary on Channel 7.

It’s a controversial moment with some believing Catley was well off-side.

However, the VAR disagreed with the replay showing Catley was well onside.

The VAR decision was controversial. Picture: Supplied
The VAR decision was controversial. Picture: Supplied

While Canada might be resenting the call, Australia was rejoicing.

Raso almost doubled up but was only just denied by Canada’s Kailen Sheridan.

8.01pm — Kick-off – and we’re underway

Can Australia do the unthinkable and beat the Olympic champions to move into the knockout stages of the World Cup?

We’ll find out in 90 minutes.

7.15pm — Worrying photo spells trouble for Australia

Let’s hope Sam does play. Picture: Mark Stewart
Let’s hope Sam does play. Picture: Mark Stewart

The Matildas have named Sam Kerr on the bench for its must win clash with Canada but the Aussie skipper has not warmed up with the team.

While the rest of the side warmed up, Kerr stayed in her big parka and didn’t run.

While it was brushed off as “she doesn’t need to run at the start of the game”, it’s a sign Kerr’s involvement will be limited at best for the star who hasn’t played any time in the match so far this World Cup.

But CODE Sports and Seven’s Adam Peacock said: “Sam Kerr not warming up with group. Not unusual, no point warming up given her role at best is off the bench in the second half.”

Others were not so sure.

Chelsea assistant coach Tanya Oxtoby told Optus Sport: “If you’re not planning to use them in the first half and worried about loading, it’s not unusual, but it’s a concern.”

If it is just a precaution because Kerr will play very limited minutes, the commentators have questioned whether it wouldn’t be a better plan to warm Kerr up to give the crowd — and all of Australia — a lift.

7pm — Why will the Matildas be in blue?

If you tune in to watch the Matildas and don’t see the side’s traditional green and gold, it’s because the Matildas will be the away team for the match.

So instead of gold, we’ll be in light blue.

Could the Matildas follow in the footsteps of the Socceroos and win in their alternate strip?

The Socceroos beat Tunisia in last years’ men’s World Cup to book its place in the round of 16.

OK, it may be a long bow but we’ll take anything if it sees the Matildas through to the next round.

6.30pm – Matildas’ bombshell Sam Kerr call revealed

The Matildas have named Sam Kerr to come off the bench for the side’s must-win clash against Olympic champions Canada.

Kerr declared herself fit and available for the match against Canada over the weekend but didn’t say much more.

While the world has been desperate to see if and how Kerr will be used, the Matildas have been able to keep their cards close to their chest.

But Mary Fowler will start for the Matildas on her return from concussion while Kerr will come off the bench.

Before the news came through, former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer said Fowler would be expected to come straight back into the Matildas side, but he said the Sam Kerr decision was still up in the air.

“We don’t know whether she’s going to start, whether she’s going to come off the bench — my gut feeling is she’s going to come off the bench if needed,” Schwarzer said on Optus Sport.

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“I think they’ll also be hoping that they don’t need her off the bench.”

He added that coach Tony Gustavsson wasn’t committal about Kerr’s role but added that Fowler was available.

He also believed Emily van Egmond would also retain her spot in the side.

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/football/matildas-vs-canada-live/news-story/03a72f78d1a749f03f3262dbb90c953f