The understudies delivered when it mattered.
Looking lost and lackluster without its star player and facing a humiliating group stage elimination in front of an expectant home crowd, Australia finally produced a performance worthy of reaching the knockout stage of the Women’s World Cup, advancing on Monday night at the expense of the Olympic champion, Canada, 4-0.
It was the fate of the star striker Sam Kerr, ruled out with a calf injury just a day before the opening game, that has hung like an immovable cloud over the Australian team throughout the tournament, reaching a fever pitch as the must-win game against Canada neared.
Without Kerr, the Chelsea forward who is considered one of the best players in the world, the Australians had barely resembled the team that had been discussed as potentially serious contenders for the championship. They stumbled to a barely merited narrow…