Matildas through to FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinals as Sam Kerr returns in 2-0 victory against Denmark, England edge Nigeria
Hayley Raso added the Matildas second goal to seal victory and progression to the quarterfinal.()
The Matildas are through to the FIFA Women’s World Cup quarterfinals after recording a 2-0 victory over Denmark at Stadium Australia in Sydney/Wangal.
Caitlin Foord scored on the half hour mark against the run of play to settle Australia’s nerves after a bright start from Denmark, led principally by Pernille Harder.
Hayley Raso made sure of the victory with a powerful finish mid way through the second half.
In another huge boost for the Matildas, Sam Kerr returned to playing action from a calf injury, coming off the bench for 10 minutes at the end to the delight of the capacity crowd of 75,784.
Earlier in Brisbane/Meanjin, England beat Nigeria 4-2 on penalties after a tension-filled 0-0 draw, despite having a player sent off late in the contest.
In stark contrast to the blood-and-thunder start against Canada in the must-win final group game, the Matildas were nervy in the opening half hour.
Denmark, led by Harder, were asking serious questions of Australia’s defence as they transitioned quickly and bullied Australia into giving the ball away.
The Matildas struggled to get Foord into the game, while Mary Fowler was offered little space to work her magic.
But on the half hour mark they both combined to create the opener.
Very much against the run of play, Fowler showed great composure in the middle to pause and release Foord down the left.
The Arsenal striker made no mistake with the opportunity that presented itself, drilling a low ball between the legs of goalkeeper Lene Christensen to send Stadium Australia wild.
That settled Australia, who preceded to dominate the remainder of the half.
The Matildas retained that level of control for the rest of the match, but never felt safe until Raso hammered home Australia’s second with ten minutes to go and set up a quarterfinal clash with either Morocco or France in Brisbane on Saturday.
England edge ‘intense’ battle against Nigeria
In Monday’s earlier match, England prevailed against a battling Nigeria side, progressing to the quarter finals after a tense 4-2 penalty shootout victory after a 0-0 draw at Brisbane Stadium.
Chloe Kelly drilled the deciding spot kick home to seal a dramatic victory in front of 49,461 supporters.
The Lionesses had to play the whole of extra time a player down after star striker Lauren James was sent off for stepping on Nigeria defender Michelle Alozie.
Nigeria had plenty of chances, hitting the crossbar twice, and dominated extra time, but could find a winner.
In a nervy shootout, Georgia Stanway missed her opening penalty for England, but Desire Oparanozie and Alozie both missed Nigeria’s opening two spot kicks to put England in control.
“I don’t know what my heart rate is, I just know I feel ten year’s older,” England coach Sarina Wiegman after the match.
“It was a really intense game.”
Wiegman said the game was “equal” but in truth Nigeria had the better of an incredibly tight contest and were unfortunate to miss out on becoming the first team from Africa to win a knockout match at a Women’s World Cup.
“I’m so proud of them,” Nigeria coach Randy Waldrum said.
“There is such a bright future for this group.”
In a goalless 120 minutes, an Englishwoman almost found the back of the net twice in a matter of seconds in the first half, but she was on the Nigerian side.
Nigeria left-back and former England youth international Ashleigh Plumptre, who was born in Leicester, England but has Nigerian heritage on her father’s side, hit the crossbar with a brilliant, curling, first-time shot after a ball came over the top of the box before forcing goalkeeper Mary Earps into a strong two-handed save.
England felt they should have had a penalty in the 31st minute when Rachel Daly went down in the box after off-ball contact from Rasheedat Ajibade.
Referee Melissa Borjas pointed to the penalty spot but, with Georgia Stanway all set to take the spot-kick amid Nigeria’s protestations, Borjas sprinted over to the video review screen to have the decision overruled.
The teams remained locked at 0-0 through the first half, with Nigeria hitting the woodwork again immediately after the resumption when Uchenna Kanu leapt over Daly to get her head to Toni Payne’s cross, but it only lobbed over the top of the goal.
As Nigeria tired, England started to get back into the game, but that all changed late in the regulation 90 when James’ brain fade gave Nigeria the initiative.
James had been stifled all night by some robust defending and, with time running out, her composure cracked for an instant.
“I think in a split second she lost her emotions,” Wiegman said.
“That happens sometimes in games, you are in such an intense game, and in a split second you lose your emotions.”
Fortunately for England it did not cost them in Brisbane, but it might yet come back to haunt them later in the tournament, with the Chelsea star bound to miss at least one match.
ABC
