In the Stadium Australia, within the Olympic Park of Sydney, the "Matildas" were carried by the 76,000 spectators from the kick-off.

And Tony Gustavsson's players made efficiency speak: on their first real opportunity, Caitlin Foord made the star Sam Kerr, substitute, forget for a moment and won her duel against goalkeeper Lene Christensen (29th).

Launched in her left corridor, the Arsenal striker was untenable: the one who scored her first goal of the World Cup after two assists, almost repeated a few minutes later with a powerful strike, which flew out of the frame (38th).

Australian striker Hayley Raso celebrates her team's second goal during the knockout stages of the World Cup between Australia and Denmark in Sydney on August 7, 2023 © FRANCK FIFE / AFP

In the second half, the rare Australian chances also came from the left side, always initiated by Caitlin Foord (64, 66th).

'A great relief' for Sam Kerr

The Danes had started strong, with a shot in the first minute: captain Pernille Harder made the difference several times against the Australian defense, but the Bayern Munich striker repeatedly stumbled on goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold (10, 17th).

The Australian goal stopped any construction and chances for the Danes, who were not very dangerous afterwards.

After her double at the festival against Canada, the reigning Olympic champion (4-0), Hayley Raso gave her teammates some breathing space by scoring her third goal of the competition. The new Real Madrid striker deceived the goalkeeper with a cross strike, after a beautiful work in the box (70th).

Immediately after, the party continued with the entry into play, to the ovations of the public, of the star Sam Kerr, who replaced the scorer (80th).

While doubt still hung around the Chelsea striker, injured in a calf since the beginning of the World Cup, she played a quarter of an hour. She was already scheduled to play against Canada, as her team was leading by a wide margin, she remained on the bench.

Australian coach Tony Gustavsson and Australian striker Sam Kerr celebrate their victory during the match between Australia and Denmark, in Sydney on August 7, 2023 © DAVID GRAY / AFP

On one of her first balls, she eliminated a Danish woman before trying her luck, but did not find the frame (87th).

"It's a great relief to be back. I feel good. I thought I was a little rusty, but no, I feel great. I'll sleep better tonight than I've been in the last three weeks," Kerr said after the match.

For Caitlin Foord, "It's a huge boost for us. For the other teams it's scarier that she's back in our team."

Denmark, 13th in the FIFA rankings and second in Group D, once again stumbled in the knockout stage, matches that the Danes have never won at the Women's World Cup: the team, which is playing its first World Cup since 2007, had already failed in the quarter-finals in 1991 and 1995, in editions with twelve participating teams.

For their part, the Matildas, semi-finalists of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, mark a big blow, after their elimination in the knockout stages in 2019 in France. They had reached the quarters three times in a row before.

At home and pushed by the "Aussie", they are one game away from signing their best ever performance, it will be against France or Morocco in Brisbane.

© 2023 AFP