PATH TO GLORY: Matildas’ next rivals locked in

START TIME: When do Australia play their Women’s World Cup games?

AS IT HAPPENED

Stadium Australia was heaving with a record-equalling crowd of 75,784 – identical to the first game of the tournament against Ireland – whose deafening roars urged the Matildas to keep their World Cup dream alive with another win.

But Denmark presented a stern challenge, and they put Australia on the back foot from the outset.

As Australia captain Sam Kerr once again started on the bench, her Chelsea teammate and Denmark’s talismanic captain Pernille Harder gave the Matildas’ defence nightmares.

Time and again she charged past green and gold jerseys with her elite dribbling, she epitomised the Danish threat – attacking with directness and crisp passing combinations that exposed gaps between the Australian lines.

In the ninth minute, Danish right-winger Janni Thomsen perfectly timed a run past Aussie skipper Steph Catley and raced to the edge of the area before squaring the ball for her opposite winger Rikke Madsen.

Madsen was in clear space as she desperately lunged for the ball, but it was inches out of her reach, and Australia breathed a huge sigh of relief as the golden opportunity went begging.

That was the Danes’ best chance of the half, though, with most of their shots coming from range as the Australian defence grimly staved off the assault.

But – just like Canada in the 4-0 win that concluded Australia’s group stages – Denmark’s dominance of possession and territory presented opportunities for the Matildas.

And almost on the brink of half an hour of action, the Matildas struck the first blow with a clinical counter-attack.

Pinned back in their own half, the Matildas burst through the Canadian lines at pace and raced from one end of the pitch to the other in a matter of seconds and just a couple of passes – a trademark Matildas goal, but one which will echo down the years.

Fowler slipped a defender near the Australian area, raced to the centre-circle, and unleashed one of the best through-balls of her life – a perfectly-timed and perfectly-weighted 40m kick that sent Caitlin Foord racing past the defence and into the area. A couple of touches later and she blasted it underneath the Danish keeper Lene Christensen, the ball slamming into the back of the net at 83km/h.

It was Australia’s first shot on target for the match.

At halftime, the Sam Kerr mystery took another twist as she did not warm up with eight Australian players who were put through her paces. Neither team made substitutes during the interval, but just a couple of minutes later the crowd roared at the sight of Kerr and winger Cortnee Vine warming up behind the goal.

The match had turned into an arm-wrestle as both midfields tried to assert control. After having a hard time of things in the first half-hour, Australia’s dynamic duo of Katrina Gorry and Kyra Cooney-Cross settled into the contest and at times gained the upper hand – though things never looked like smooth sailing for the Australian side.

Harder continued to find space as she roamed forward with the ball at her feet, but Denmark was struggling to penetrate into the Australian penalty area thanks to some exceptional defence, particularly from central defensive duo Alanna Kennedy and Clare Hunt.

Meanwhile, Australia’s threat on the counter-attack remained clear.

In the 57th minute, Kennedy lunged at full stretch to get a toe to a Danish pass, gathering the interception and fed van Egmond, who played Foord through into the box with a neat through-ball. Her cross was deflected out for a corner, which was headed away at the near post from a Danish defender as Australia got a second chance.

And in the 65th minute, Gorry and Fowler worked their way through the right side of the pitch before Gorry floated a diagonal switching pass for Foord to chase down the left. The winger burst to the byline and sent it across the face of goal, with Emily van Egmond on the six-yard line. The ball was just behind the lanky veteran, who attempted to flick it with her heel but couldn’t make solid contact.

But the Matildas had turned momentum their way, and Caitlin Foord was at it again when she squared up her opposite fullback and drew a foul on the edge of the area – and a caution for the Dane. The free kick was repelled but Australia won consecutive corners.

Minutes later, Australia’s sustained pressure finally earned its reward, when Fowler ignited another raid down the left flank. It came back to Fowler, who dinked it to van Egmond right in front of the goal. She tapped it to Raso, who made no mistake to double Australia’s lead.

Australia held firm against a Danish side that threw on substitutes but appeared to lack a plan b. Balls came flying into the box, and wild shots were sprayed past Mackenzie Arnold, but Denmark never quite looked like turning their possession into goals. Meanwhile Australia’s midfield of Katrina Gorry and Kyra Cooney-Cross hassled and harried their opponents after every instance, racking up interceptions and timely tackles.

Kerr had the perfect opportunity to cap her return to the fray with a goal when she turned and hit full stride in a race towards the goal in the 87th minute, only to blast her attempt well over the bar.