Co-host Australia reaches quarterfinals with win over Denmark at Women’s World Cup

SYDNEY (AP) — Australia superior to the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup by beating Denmark 2-0 in Sydney on Monday.

Goals from Caitlin Foord and Hayley Raso ensured the Matlidas weren’t the most recent large identify to crash out following the eliminations of holder the United States, Germany and Brazil.

The event co-host will face France or Morocco in Brisbane on Saturday.

Australian followers will begin to imagine their staff may go on to be topped world champion after star striker Sam Kerr returned from a calf harm to make her first look on the event.

In entrance of a crowd of 75,784 at Stadium Australia, the Matildas already put themselves on the right track for the final eight by the point Kerr made her entrance within the eightieth minute.

Foord fired Australia in entrance within the twenty ninth after operating on to a go from Mary Fowler.

Raso drilled house a second within the seventieth after Emily van Egmond’s lay off.

The Sydney Opera House was lit up within the yellow and inexperienced colours of the Matildas as pleasure grew forward of kickoff.

Australian followers feared their staff wouldn’t even get out of their group after dropping to Nigeria. But a 4-0 win in opposition to Canada in its closing Group B match secured prime spot.

Back in Stadium Australia the place it started its marketing campaign on July 20, the Matildas have been nonetheless with out Kerr from the kickoff.

The striker injured her left calf on the eve on that opening recreation and didn’t play within the group stage. Despite recovering from the harm, she was named as an alternative in opposition to Denmark.

While she sat on the bench, Australia was nonetheless too robust for Denmark.

Foord’s opener got here after Fowler’s incisive go from her personal half. Foord raced ahead and, slicing in from the left, slipped her shot between the legs of Denmark goalkeeper Lene Christensen to spark wild fan celebrations.

Foord was near scoring a second earlier than halftime when a shot throughout objective looped simply previous the submit with Christensen crushed.

Van Egmond’s backheel from shut vary was then saved.

But the group celebrated as if Australia had scored once more when Kerr was proven on the large display making ready to return on.

Moments later, Australia did rating after Fowler discovered Van Egmond within the field and she or he laid off to Raso, who drilled a low shot via a crowded space into the underside nook.

Kerr changed Raso 10 minutes later to crown an evening of celebrations.