![]() The pace came off the match as the first half continued, with the occasional frenetic moment down the flanks enlivening what otherwise became a chess-like tactical battle. A knock to the captain, Steph Catley, briefly silenced the raucous 75,784 crowd – equalling the attendance record set in the opening match against Ireland – only for the noise to resume when the wing‑back jogged back into position. Meanwhile Denmark continued to threaten – Kerr’s former Chelsea teammate Pernille Harder showing why she was once the world’s most expensive player. Unable to find space through the midfield, the Matildas reverted to long diagonal balls to the wings with little effect. The Matildas soon regained composure but struggled to break through Denmark’s robust midfield if Australia’s counterattack against Canada last week had been like a hot knife through butter, this felt like they were running into a brick wall. The last time these teams met, Denmark scored in the first minute – and in Sydney they again started strongly, testing goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold with several early opportunities. ![]() The sort of victory that suggests the Matildas could go deep in this tournament. It was not an easy win, but it was accomplished. The midfielder Hayley Raso put the game beyond doubt in the second half, before the team’s talismanic striker Sam Kerr – the face of this home World Cup – made her return to the pitch following the calf injury she sustained on the eve of the tournament. The moment marked the start of a jubilant night for the Matildas, as they reached the last eight for the fourth time.
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