A brace from Hayley Raso saw Australia advance to the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup with a fine win over Canada.

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It’s all to play for at AAMI Park in Melbourne as hosts Australia take on Canada in their final Group B game. (11am).

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Despite a dream start for Ireland with Katie McCabe’s early goal, hopes of progression from Group B in the Women’s World Cup ended in a 2-1 defeat to Canada in torrential rain at Perth Rectangular Stadium this evening.

The result means Ireland will not continue in the competition past their clash with Nigeria next Monday afternoon while Canada have given their hopes of progression a massive boost ahead of their tie with group leaders Australia.

It was a dream start for the Irish as great work from Lucy Quinn and Kyra Carusa forced a corner off the first attack. Katie McCabe whipped in a zinger of a dead ball which evaded the Canadian defenders and keeper to settle in the net coming off the inside of the far post.

Ireland built on their early goal as McCabe once again burst into the box, brushing off the defenders but not able to direct her effort on target. As she was upended in the box, the referee just brushed away her claims.

Sinead Farrelly was next to trouble Sheridan in goal for the Canucks as her forward pass rebounded off Carusa back to the Gotham FC striker and she’ll be disappointed with the connection. It still had Sheridan scrambling to push it around the post for another Irish corner.

Aine O’Gorman, a late replacement for Heather Payne who picked up a recurrence of her injury in the warm up, almost got caught out when she lost her footing and Huitema hit an effort from distance which didn’t bother Courtney Brosnan.

Foreshadowing what was to come for the Canadians a half cleared corner was returned to the box and Gilles’ touch saw the ball fire over the crossbar to the relief of the entire Irish defence.

Canada would find the leveller deep into added time in the first half. Grosso centres and the outstretched foot of Connolly deflected the ball into the Irish net off the post to rip up Pauw’s team talk plans.

The second strike would follow early in the second half. Canada rang the changes at half time with the experience of Christine Sinclair and Sophie Schmidt called from the bench.

It was Leon who would find the lead goal, a cross into the box evaded the Irish defenders and the Portland Thorns forward simply guided the ball to the back of the net to break Irish hearts.

Ireland made their own changes around the hour mark introducing Marisa Sheva, Izzy Atkinson, Lily Agg and Amber Barrett to lift the energy.

With a dozen minutes on the clock when McCabe would lift the crowd to their feet. A mazy run down the right wing would see the captain beat most of the Canadian players before her eventual shot was deflected wide for a corner which Ireland couldn’t take advantage of.

Lily Agg would have the last chance to draw Ireland level with a long range effort as the game ticked over the 90 minutes. Canada managed to run down the clock and hold on to record their first win in the competition.

Ireland face into a do or die scenario against Olympic Champions Canada this afternoon in Perth, Western Australia as Katie McCabe leads her side into action knowing defeat would end their chances of emerging from Group B in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

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Olympic champions Canada will be disappointed to have failed to secure a win in their opening game of the FIFA Women’s World Cup against Nigeria after a goalless draw in their Group B Clash in Melbourne this morning with a Chiamaka Nnadozie penalty save the key moment of the game.

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