Recap

FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Group B

Melbourne Rectangular Stadium

July 31, 2023, 11:00 AM

Canada Women

Australia Women

–

Preview

Game Timeline

KO

KO

16. Hayley RASO

9'

16. Hayley RASO

39'

2. Allysha CHAPMAN

46'

6. Deanne ROSE

46'

13. Sophie SCHMIDT

46'

20. Cloe LACASSE

46'

9. Caitlin FOORD

58'

11. Mary FOWLER

58'

11. Evelyne VIENS

64'

10. Emily VAN EGMOND

68'

5. Cortnee VINE

75'

23. Olivia SMITH

77'

18. Mackenzie ARNOLD

81'

4. Clare POLKINGHORNE

84'

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7. Steph CATLEY

90+4'

22. Charlotte GRANT

96'

FT

Hayley Raso scored a first half brace and Mary Fowler struck after the break as Australia crushed Canada 4-0 on Monday to storm into the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup and send the Olympic champions spinning out of the tournament.

In front of a febrile crowd at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Raso struck in the ninth minute with a low, right-boot and doubled down in the 39th from a goalmouth scramble as unused captain Sam Kerr cheered by the touchline.

Fowler made sure of the win with a deft touch in the 58th minute that pinged in off the right post, before Steph Catley slotted a penalty in stoppage time as a relieved nation celebrated the co-hosts’ advance.

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.

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 also advanced after a 0-0 draw against Ireland.

Canada’s talismanic captain Christine Sinclair started on the pitch but bowed out of her sixth and final World Cup in disappointment at halftime when coach Bev Priestman triggered a raft of substitutes.

With their tournament on a knife-edge after the 3-2 shock by Nigeria, Australia played with courage and were quickly rewarded when a Steph Catley cross found Raso in the box.

She drilled a low shot inside the far post to put Australia in front. Although an offside flag went up, the goal was confirmed by VAR, sending the crowd into raptures.

They almost made it 2-0 minutes later, but Raso’s shot was well saved by goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.

Home fans were roaring again in the 34th minute as Fowler charged in to thump the ball in from close range, with Raso providing the cross.

VAR again intervened, this time cancelling the goal for offside, triggering a huge round of booing.

It scarcely mattered as five minutes later, Raso was celebrating her second strike after Sheridan failed to clear the ball from a set-piece.

Priestman made changes at halftime, with the retiring Sophie Schmidt coming on and blazing over the bar in the 56th minute.

But another Australian raid minutes later ended with Fowler slotting in a cross from Caitlin Foord to blow out the lead.

Worse was to come for Canada as Jessie Fleming clattered into Katrina Gorry just inside the area to concede a penalty, allowing Catley to blast into the net for the coup de grace.

The post Match Report: Australia demolish Olympic champions 4-0 to reach Women’s World Cup knockouts appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.

Recap

FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Group B

Melbourne Rectangular Stadium

July 31, 2023, 11:00 AM

Canada Women

Australia Women

–

Preview

Australia and Canada will battle it out for a place in the knockout rounds of the Women’s World Cup 2023 when they go head-to-head in Melbourne on Monday.

The tournament co-hosts occupy third place in Group B and are one point adrift of Canada, who currently sit in second position.

After being held to a goalless draw by Nigeria on Matchday one, Canada would have been concerned when they fell behind in the fourth minute of Thursday’s meeting with the Republic of Ireland.

Katie McCabe scored direct from a corner to give the Girls in Green the early advantage, but the Canucks managed to pull themselves level just before the break courtesy of a Megan Connolly own goal.

With momentum in their favour, Canada took the lead through Adriana Leon in the 53rd minute, and they managed to see out the remainder of the contest to claim their first victory of the tournament.

Having made an unbeaten start to their campaign, the Canucks are hoping to make it out of the group stage for the third consecutive World Cup.

There is still work to do, though, with Canada requiring at least a point to guarantee their place in the last 16, while defeat would leave them requiring an Ireland win in the group’s other match against Nigeria and a favourable swing in goal difference.

Australia’s home tournament got off to the perfect start with a narrow 1-0 win over Ireland, but the co-hosts were brought back down to earth by Nigeria on Matchday Two.

The Matildas took the lead through Emily van Egmond in first-half stoppage time, before Uchenna Kanu quickly restored parity to ensure that the two sides headed down the tunnel on level terms.

Nigeria took Australia by surprise in the second period, as they netted twice in seven minutes to establish a 3-1 lead, and although Alanna Kennedy pulled a goal back deep into additional time, it proved to be little too late.

With Australia a point adrift of Canada and Nigeria, they need to claim all three points on Monday if they want to guarantee themselves a place in the last 16 for the fifth consecutive World Cup.

If they were to draw against Canada, Tony Gustavsson’s side would need Ireland to beat Nigeria by a two-goal margin.

Team News

Kadiesha Buchanan will resume her central defensive partnership with Vanessa Gilles, while Jayde Riviere and Ashley Lawrence will operate as Canada’s two full-backs.

After returning from injury to play the duration of the win over Ireland, Chelsea’s Jessie Fleming will retain her place in midfield.

Christine Sinclair dropped out of the starting lineup on Thursday, but the world’s all-time leader in international goals could be recalled for the final group game.

As for Australia, Chelsea striker Sam Kerr has confirmed that she is available after missing the first two games through injury.

If Kerr is fit enough to start against Canada, Caitlin Foord could drop into the number 10 role, with Hayley Raso and Cortnee Vine operating as the two wingers.

Aivi Luik and Mary Fowler were ruled out of the defeat to Nigeria due to concussion, but they will provide Gustavsson with additional options off the bench for Monday’s encounter.

Quotes

“I said at the end, ‘It [the Republic of Ireland game] can be the making of us’. We wobbled in the first half, our bravery wasn’t there and I felt we played a little bit scared. I reminded them that we’re Olympic champions and that we’ve got to take a step forward and be brave and get after this, and it’s not going to be easy. The character, the quality, the experience that came about in the second half, that’s the type of performance that we need.”
Bev Priestman, Canada coach

“I’ve enjoyed being on the other side and realising how important it is, the role you play from the bench. If anything, it’s given me a new perspective on this whole team sport and how it takes a whole team [to succeed]. I’ve done everything I can and no matter what happens, I know that I’ve given everything, not just in the last 10 days, but in the last four years. I’ve given everything to be here.”
Sam Kerr, Australia captain

Stats

• These two sides last met at the global finals in 2007, when Christine Sinclair netted in a 2-2 draw in Chengdu.
• Sinclair is aiming to become the first-ever player to net at six Women’s World Cups.
• Prior to this tournament, no host nation has ever failed to make it out of the group stage.

The post Match Preview: Australia determined to avoid group stage exit with Kerr’s Return appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.

Recap

FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Group B

Lang Park

July 27, 2023, 11:00 AM

Australia Women

Nigeria Women

–

Preview

Nigeria claimed their first win at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, shocking Australia in Brisbane with a 3-2 comeback victory, putting the co-hosts’ chances of securing a fifth straight WWC knockout stage qualification in jeopardy.

How it happened

Nigeria’s intention to utilize the low block invited Australia to exert pressure on the front foot, with stand-in captain Stephanie Catley coming the closest to breaking the deadlock for the co-hosts as she forced Chiamaka Nnadozie into a fine save.

Shortly after, Hayley Raso spurned a sitter at the far post after connecting with a rogue corner delivery, before the visitors saw a few openings of their own.

A half of end-to-end action was ultimately capped off with successive strikes at either end as the match came to life in the first minute of additional time.

Any doubts regarding Australia’s ability to penetrate Nigeria were put to rest when Emily van Egmond tucked a tidy finish past Nnadozie following a swift counterattack from the left flank.

The joy inside Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium lasted less than four minutes though, as Uchenna Kalu struck an opportunistic finish from inside the box with the final kick of the opening period to leave everything to play for after the restart.

Perhaps inspired by their equaliser, Randy Waldrum’s Super Falcons exhibited resilience and grabbed the lead after the hour mark.

Just minutes after a pair of substitutions, the tide turned in favour of the Africans when Osinachi Ohale poached a header following a defensive mishap to shock the co-hosts.

Substitute Asisat Oshoala‘s presence proved absolutely instrumental in dictating the pace of play thereafter, as she added to Nigeria’s lead by rounding goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold and slotting the ball into the far corner, all but sealing a first win in the tournament.

Nonetheless, a consolation awaited the Matildas at the death, as Alanna Kennedy rose high to make it 3-2.

Ultimately, a Sam Kerr-less Australia couldn’t help but succumb to a spirited Nigeria side whose hopes of qualifying for the knockout rounds in consecutive WWCs remains alive.

Nigeria are now on a five-match unbeaten streak, with Asisat good form the chance to go one better in the decisive encounter against the Republic of Ireland.

Meanwhile, Tony Gustavsson’s side will feel sheepish following the defeat as they failed to win their opening two games at a WWC for the first time, ahead of a match-up with Canada next.

2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Group B

Pos	Club	P	W	D	L	F	A	GD	Pts
1	Australia W	3	2	0	1	7	3	4	6
2	Nigeria W	3	1	2	0	3	2	1	5
3	Canada W	3	1	1	1	2	5	-3	4
4	Ireland W	3	0	1	2	1	3	-2	1

 

Advance to Round of 16

Key stats

Emily van Egmond scored the 50th goal at Australia & New Zealand 2023.

Asisat Oshoala is the first Nigerian player to score in three Women’s World Cups.

Official player of the Match

Osinachi Ohale (Nigeria)

The post Match Report: Asisat Oshoala makes history as Super Falcons sink Australia appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.

The news that striker Kerr had been ruled out by a calf injury stunned the record crowd of 75 784 as it filtered into Stadium Australia, but Catley stepped up to take the captain’s armband and score the decisive goal in the 52nd minute.

Ireland, cheered on by a noisy band of compatriots, made life difficult for the Australians with their compact defence and might have forced an equaliser during a period of sustained pressure late in the second half.

Australia, however, held on to make a winning start to a tournament in which they feel they can be genuine contenders after wins over England, Spain and France this year.

How it happened

A fairly cagey first half saw Australia, whose star striker Sam Kerr was missing through injury, largely reduced to chances from set pieces, as a well-drilled Irish defence held firm on their global finals debut.

Ireland captain Katie McCabe‘s full-blooded battle with Hayley Raso defined a combative first-half in which the Matildas’ best chance came from a Katrina Gorry pot-shot from range.

It took the co-hosts just six minutes to break Ireland’s resistance after the break. Raso was clumsily pushed over by Marissa Sheva in the box – giving Steph Catley the chance smash home the opener from the spot.

The Girls in Green responded by making attacking changes to try and rescue a result, but were unable to break through a defence that coach Tony Gustavsson shored up by introducing veteran Clare Polkinghorne in the final stages.

Megan Connolly‘s late free kick hit the roof of Australia’s net, and McCabe’s last-second chance was scuffed towards goal, but after a hard-fought 96 minutes, the final whistle went to the delight of the Sydney crowd.

Official Player of the Match

Steph Catley (Australia)

The post Match Report: Catley’s penalty propels Kerr-less Australia to victory over Ireland appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.