Australia knocked Canada out of the 2023 World Cup, with Hayley Raso scoring twice in an exhilarating 4 - 0 win in Melbourne.
Raso netted her goals at either end of the first half, either side of Mary Fowler having a goal ruled out by VAR. Fowler then got her goal in the second half before Steph Catley converted a stoppage-time penalty to finish off a very impressive Australian victory.
Canada tried to come back into the game in the second half but were completely outclassed by the tournament hosts, who go through as group winners after Nigeria were held to a goalless draw by Ireland.
Australia played with electrifying intensity right from the start, taking the lead after just nine minutes through Real Madrid's Raso.
Steph Catley was initially flagged offside in the buildup after being played through by Arsenal teammate Caitlin Foord, halting Australia's celebrations. But a VAR check confirmed that the Australian captain was in fact onside before sending a fantastic cross in for Raso to fire home at the back post.
Canada struggled to get into the game after going behind. Australia almost replicated their opening goal just two minutes later, attacking in exactly the same way only to see Raso denied by Kailen Sheridan.
The Olympic champions had come from a goal down to beat Ireland in their second game but were unable to find the same spirit in Melbourne.
Australia thought they had a second just after the half-hour mark when Mary Fowler fired home following a scramble.
This time however VAR ruled against Australia, with Ellie Carpenter judged to have been blocking Chelsea's Kadeisha Buchanan from an offside position.
Tony Gustavsson was in complete disbelief after seeing his Australia side denied a second goal for a marginal offside, and was booked for continously complaining about it some 15 minutes after the incident.
Gustavsson's players were unfazed by the disallowed goal though, and scored just two minutes after the restart.
Sheridan attempted to punch an Australian corner clear but completely missed the ball, allowing Hayley Raso to double her tally from a yard out.
The Matildas continued to dominate after the break and wrapped up the victory less than 15 minutes into the second half.
Steph Catley sent Caitlin Foord clear down the left wing, allowing the Arsenal winger to tee up Mary Fowler for a tap-in for her first-ever World Cup goal.
Fowler was brilliant throughout for the hosts, thoroughly deserving her goal. Every time Australia had the ball, Fowler was making a run and creating space for either herself or a teammate.
Canada did try to fight back but simply lacked the quality to trouble Mackenzie Arnold. The only scare for Australia was of their own doing when Alanna Kennedy headed the ball straight at Sophie Schmidt, but the Houston Dash midfielder had her shot blocked to clear the danger.
Just when it seemed like it couldn't get any worse for Canada, Fleming conceded a penalty in stoppage time for a foul on Katrina Gorry. The foul was missed in real time but once again VAR came up with the correct decision.
Steph Catley, who scored a penalty in Australia's 1 - 0 win over Ireland in the opening round, thumped home another spot-kick to secure Australia's biggest-ever World Cup win.
It was a dismal end to the tournament for Canada, who became the first Olympic champions to fail to make the quarter-finals, let alone go out in the group stages.
The big focus in the buildup to the match had been on Sam Kerr and whether Australia could call on their star striker. Available or not, Kerr simply wasn't needed.
The combination of Catley and Foord down the left-hand side was deadly, and the deliveries coming from both wings made simple finishes for Raso and Fowler. The rest for Sam Kerr could be crucial, with the Chelsea striker potentially returning for the last 16 on fresh legs.
With or without Kerr, Australia look deadly and, for the first time, showed their potential as real contenders to win this World Cup. They'll discover their first opponents of the knockout stages tomorrow after the conclusion of Group D, with England, Denmark or China potentially facing the Matildas in the last 16.
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