Canada’s hopes at the FIFA Women’s World Cup were crushed as they suffered a devastating 4-0 loss to Australia, leaving the Olympic champions shell-shocked and in tears. The Matildas, ranked 10th, needed a win to advance to the knockout stage, and they wasted no time securing their victory.
The match was one-way traffic from the start, with Hayley Raso netting two goals against Canada’s vaunted defense in the first half. An additional Australian goal was disallowed due to offside. Canada struggled to generate any offense in the first half and looked visibly shaken.
In the 58th minute, Mary Fowler extended Australia’s lead to 3-0, and in stoppage time, Steph Catley scored on a penalty after a video review confirmed a foul against Canada’s Jessie Fleming. The Canadians were unable to recover, and the defeat saw veteran midfielder Sophie Schmidt express her devastation and heartbreak, while Jessie Fleming and defender Vanessa Gilles were left fighting back tears.
The loss left Canada with a 1-1-1 record, finishing third in Group B, and failed to advance to the round of 16. It was their worst finish since the 2011 tournament when they finished last. The result is a significant blow for Canada Soccer, especially after a year marked by a bitter labor dispute. Coach Bev Priestman acknowledged the tough year but stated they had come to the tournament expecting to win and now must reflect on the outcome.
The Canadians faced an uphill battle in Group B, which lived up to its tough reputation. With no goals scored and five conceded in two games, Canada’s chances of advancing were slim. Australia and Nigeria secured their spots in the knockout stage, while Ireland finished fourth.
The defeat marked the first time a defending Olympic champion failed to progress past the first round of a Women’s World Cup. As Canada reflects on their performance, it will be a challenging time for the team and coach Bev Priestman, who pointed to the team’s struggles with the pressure and being a target as Olympic champions.
For talismanic captain Christine Sinclair, it is unclear what the future holds after her sixth World Cup appearance. Canada’s attention now turns to a two-game Olympic qualifier against Jamaica in late September.
Australia’s dominant performance secured them the top spot in Group B. They face the Group D runner-up, while Nigeria will take on the Group D winner in the round of 16 on August 7th. The final positions in Group D will be determined in the upcoming games.
Overall, it was a devastating exit for Canada, leaving fans and players heartbroken after high hopes for a successful tournament. The team must now regroup and strategize for future competitions as they aim to bounce back from this disappointing outcome.