Matildas oust Denmark as Kerr makes return
Goals to Caitlin Foord and Hayley Raso lifted Australia to a 2-0 win over Denmark and sealed a place in the FIFA Women's World Cup quarter-final as Sam Kerr made her long-awaited return from a calf injury in front of 75,000 fans at Stadium Australia.
The Matildas weathered a fast start from the Europans, spending much of the opening half hour camped in their own half.
Momentum began to shift after Arsenal star Foord fired the home side in front in the 29th-minute, before Real Madrid winger Raso added to her brace in the win over Canada, with a 70th-minute strike that effectively ended the Danish resistance.
A short time later Raso was substituted for Kerr, who entered the pitch to a raucous reception from the home crowd. The Chelsea star manufactured a typically powerful shot that flew over the crossbar, before enduring a nervy moment in the shadows of full-time, after appearing to twist and fall to the floor in the Denmark penalty area.
The 29 year-old recovered from that moment, flashing a reassuring grin at Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson. Kerr survived her 10-minute cameo, and the Matildas survived a physical encounter to advance to the quater-finals, where they will take on either France or Morocco.
