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Date Time League Season
7 August 2023 11:30 am Women's World Cup 2022/23

Match Report

Dominant Australia Book Quarter Final Place

Host nation Australia secured their place in the quarter-finals with a dominant 2-0 victory in Sydney.

Goals from Caitlin Foord and Hayley Raso were enough as the Matildas breezed past Denmark, whose record of never winning a World Cup knockout match continues.

While, Australia have now matched their best ever finish at the showpiece tournament after also reaching the last four in 2007, 2011 and 2015.

Denmark made the brighter start as Pernille Harder proved a dangerous threat.

Harder made a mazy run through the Australian defence, evading tackles before firing a shot that went just wide.

Raso went close before Australia took the lead through Foord against the run of play.

Australia’s striker scored her 30th international goal through a left footed shot from just inside the box after Mary Fowler picked out the attacker with a precise ball following a fast paced Australian counter attack.

Goalscorer Woord went close again as her curling effort took a deflection and went just wide.

Bayern Munich striker Harder went close once more as she drove at the Australian defence that stood off but her effort was comfortably saved by Mackenzie Arnold. 

Australia started the second half better and were firmly on top and looking threatening from corners.

Kathrine Kuhl went close for Denmark after being picked out by Karen Holmgaard and at the other end, Emily van Egmond had a shot from close range that was well saved by Lene Christensen. 

Eventually Australia’s dominance in the second stanza was rewarded as Raso doubled Australia’s lead and have one foot in the quarter-final.

Van Egmond shifted the ball in the penalty box to the unmarked open Raso, whose right footed shot slid into the bottom left corner.

Superstar Sam Kerr, who is the country’s record goalscorer with 62, made her first appearance of the tournament from the bench as she recovered from her well documented calf injury.

Australia comfortably saw out the win and will face the winner of tomorrow’s last 16 match between France and Morocco.

Australia

18Mackenzie Arnold Goalkeeper
7Steph Catley Defender
9Caitlin Foord 13 Forward 27'
10Emily van Egmond 20 Midfielder
11Mary Fowler 4 Forward
14Alanna Kennedy Defender
15Clare Hunt Defender
16Hayley Raso 5 Forward 71'
19Katrina Gorry Midfielder
21Ellie Carpenter Defender
23Kyra Cooney-Cross Midfielder
1Lydia Williams Goalkeeper
12Teagan Micah Goalkeeper
2Courtney Nevin Defender
3Aivi Luik Defender
4Clare Polkinghorne 11 Defender
5Cortnee Vine 16 Forward
6Clare Wheeler Midfielder
8Alex Chidiac Midfielder
13Tameka Yallop 9 Midfielder
17Kyah Simon Forward
20Sam Kerr 10 Forward
22Charlotte Grant Defender

Denmark

1Lene Christensen Goalkeeper
3Stine Ballisager Pedersen Defender
4Rikke Sevecke 20 Defender
5Simone Boye Sorensen Defender
6Karen Holmgaard 7 Midfielder
9Amalie Vangsgaard 8 Forward
10Pernille Harder Forward
11Katrine Veje Defender
12Kathrine Moller Kuhl 2 Midfielder
17Rikke Madsen 21 Forward
19Janni Thomsen Midfielder 66'
16Kathrine Larsen Goalkeeper
22Maja Bay Ostergaard Goalkeeper
2Josefine Hasbo 12 Midfielder
7Sanne Troelsgaard Nielsen 6 Midfielder
8Emma Snerle 9 Midfielder
13Sofie Junge Pedersen Midfielder
14Nicoline Sorensen Midfielder
15Frederikke Thogersen Defender
18Luna Gevitz Defender
20Signe Bruun 4 Forward
21Mille Gejl Jensen 17 Forward
23Sofie Svava Defender
  • 95'

    Full time: Australia 2-0 Denmark

  • 94'

    Australia sub: Caitlin Foord is replaced by Tameka Yallop.

  • 90'

    Five additional minutes added on.

  • 87'

    Neat flick by Harder but she wasn't picked out with the right reverse ball.

  • 82'

    Denmark subs: Sanne Troelsgaard replaces Karen Holmgaard and Emma Snerle replaces Amalie Vangsgaard.

  • 80'

    Australia sub: Cortnee Vine replaces Emily van Egmond.

  • 79'

    Australia sub: Sam Kerr replaces Emily van Egmond.

  • 73'

    Denmark sub: Josefine Hasbo replaces Kathrine Kühl.

  • 71'

    Excellent goal by Australia as Emily van Egmond shifted the ball to the open Raso whose right foot shot slides into the bottom left corner.

  • 71'

    Hayley Raso doubles Australia's lead and have one foot in the quarter-final.

  • 68'

    Australia win a corner and Alanna Kennedy's header is blocked.

  • 66'

    Jannie Thomsen is yellow carded for a bad foul.

  • 65'

    Emily van Egmond has a shot from close range that is saved well by Lene Christensen.

  • 63'

    Karen Holmgaard picks out Kathrine Kuhl, who takes a shot from outside the box that goes wide.

  • 63'

    Denmark subs: Signe Bruun replaces Rikke Sevecke and Mille Gejl replaces Rikke Madsen.

  • 60'

    The corner is well whipped in again but is punched away by Lene Christensen.

  • 59'

    It's a good ball in and it's just headed behind for another by Simone Boye Sorensen.

  • 58'

    Australia win a corner.

  • 57'

    Pernille Harder goes close once more with an effort from outside the box that is saved.

  • 47'

    Play resumes.

  • 46'

    Delay in match because of an injury to Rikke Sevecke.

  • 46'

    Back underway in the second half.

  • 45'

    Half time: Australia 1-0 Denmark

  • 45'

    Three additional time to be played.

  • 41'

    Lots of Denmark possession but nothing to worry the Australian defence.

  • 38'

    Goalscorer Foord has a curling effort that takes a deflection to go wide. Should have been a corner.

  • 37'

    Deafening noise in the stands from the home supporters.

  • 32'

    Denmark corner as they look to reply.

  • 29'

    The hosts take the lead through Caitlin Foord\'s left shooted shot from just inside the box after Mary Fowler picked out the attacker with a precise ball.

  • 25'

    Hayley Raso then gets into the box for the hosts but her first touch is heavy and her second is to commit a foul.

  • 22'

    Corner is comfortably cleared by the home side.

  • 21'

    Lovely play down the flank as Rikke Madsen flicks the ball on for Katrine Veje, who wins Denmark the game's first corner.

  • 13'

    Those couple of moments for Denmark have unnerved Australia again as they are defending super deep now.

  • 11'

    Pernille Harder is showing the danger she represents as she drives at the defence, Australia players can't get a tackle in before Harder thumps an effort just wide.

  • 9'

    Denmark get the ball out wide to Janni Thomsen, who plays a great cross in behind the defence and Pernille Harder is there but can't get the right connection.

  • 4'

    A couple of loose passes from Australia, who feel a little bit rushed in these early stages. They are dominating possession but just need to settle a bit.

  • 1'

    Katrine Veje takes an early shot at goal that is comfortably saved.

  • 1'

    We're underway at Stadium Australia.

Ground

Stadium Australia
Accor Stadium, Olympic Plaza, Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney, City of Parramatta Council, New South Wales, 2127, Australia

I am a Sports Journalism & PR graduate from Staffordshire University. During my time at Final Whistle, I have covered the LOI National League, international games and the Women’s National League. Outside of Final Whistle, I am a researcher for World Rugby and a writer for The Rugby Paper.