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Jakarta: Hosts Australia and Nigeria have assured that they are Group B representatives who will qualify for the Round of 16 of the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Australia beat Canada’s top team with a score crushing 4-0 and eliminated Canada.

Australia, who had 3 points, played a decisive game in Group B against Canada (4 points) in tight position. A 2-3 loss to Nigeria in the second game forced Australia to win to advance to the knockout stages. Meanwhile, Canada only needs a draw to qualify.

Appearing to cheering fans at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Monday (7/31), Australia managed to turn fan support into added strength. As a result, they managed to open the scoring as the game had just entered in the 9th minute through Hayley Raso’s goal.

Hayley Raso, a winger who is playing for Real Madrid again, had the home fans cheering after scoring his second goal in the 39th minute. Australia led 2-0 in the first half.

Not content with two goals, Australia managed to add two more in the second half thanks to Mary Fowler’s action in the 58th minute and Stephanie Catley’s penalty in added time (90+4′).

A resounding 4-0 win saw Australia advance to the knockout stages with group winner status after picking up six points, one point ahead of second-placed Nigeria. Later, in the knockout stage, Australia will face the Group D finalists.

Failed to topple Ireland, Nigeria still through

In another Group B match, Nigeria failed to beat eliminated team Ireland in the final game. Both teams tied 0-0. However, this result was enough for Nigeria to qualify for the knockout stages.

An extra point puts Nigeria in second place in the final Group B standings with a collection of five points. They are one point behind Australia who qualified as group winners. Meanwhile, Canada and Ireland had to be eliminated.

Later, in the Round of 16, Nigeria will face the winner of Group D. So far, England are the strongest contender Nigeria is likely to face. Indeed, England currently sit first in the Group D standings with six points, three points ahead of Denmark and China in second and third.

In the final game of Group D, England will face China, while Denmark will serve against Haiti. Both matches will take place simultaneously on August 1, 2023.(Friko Simanjuntak)