Canada joins Australia in Cup quarters
Jun 22, 2015 - 3:23 AM Canada kept their Women's World Cup title dream alive with a 1-0 win over Switzerland on Sunday to reach the last eight along with France and Australia as star-studded Brazil were toppled.A Josee Belanger second-half goal was enough to secure the hosts a quarter-final spot at the expense of newcomers Switzerland.
But the big upset involved Australia who sent Brazil and their star player Marta crashing out of the tournament with a 1-0 win courtesy of a 80th-minute goal from substitute striker Kyah Simon.
"I think exhilarating is the word for such a victory against a big, powerful football nation," said Matildas coach Alen Stajcic of Australia's first win in a knockout round at the World Cup.
"Being in the right place at the right time is what makes great players and Kyah Simon showed that today," said Stajcic.
"A magic moment like that gets us through."
Australia must now travel 4,600km back across the country to Edmonton for the quarter-final clash either against reigning champions Japan or the Netherlands.
Formiga, 37, had Brazil's best chance of the first half, but her curling effort was tipped over by goalkeeper Lydia Williams.
But the game came to life around the hour mark.
Marta, the five-time World Player of the Year, missed a chance to add to her World Cup record 15 goals when she fired wide, and a Formiga header bounced off Williams' near post.
Stajcic brought on Sydney FC player Simon after 64 minutes and it paid off with 10 minutes to go.
Captain Lisa De Vanna had her shot punched out by Luciana in the Brazil goal straight into the path of the onrushing Simon.
It is the third time Australia have reached the quarter-finals after 2007 and 2011, but they had never won a knockout round match before.
The tournament has a last-16 round for the first time as it has been expanded to 24 teams.
In Vancouver, Belanger scored the winner after 52 minutes to the delight of a passionate home crowd of 53,855 at BC Place Stadium.
"Walking out onto the pitch with 50,000-plus people, who would have thought it was for women's football?" said coach John Herdman.
"It was one of those surreal things for staff and players."
In Montreal, Marie Laure Delie scored a brace and Elodie Thomis was also on target to put the third-ranked French through to a last-eight meeting with world No. 1 Germany.
Source: AAP
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