Australia crush Canada to reach World Cup knockouts

Australia crushed Canada 4-0 on Monday to storm into the last 16 of the Women's World Cup and send the Olympic champions spinning out of the tournament.

Hayley Raso scored a brace and Mary Fowler struck after the break to help set up the win in front of a febrile crowd at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.

Raso struck in the ninth minute with a low, right-boot and doubled down in the 39th from a goalmouth scramble as unused captain Sam Kerr cheered by the touchline.

Fowler made sure of the win with a deft touch in the 58th minute that pinged in off the right post, before Steph Catley slotted a penalty in stoppage time as a relieved nation celebrated the co-hosts' advance.

Canada bowed out at the group stage for the first time since 2011 and with some regret after having needed only a draw to advance.

Australia topped Group B on six points, one ahead of Nigeria, who also advanced after a 0-0 draw against Ireland.

Elsewhere, Hinata Miyazawa grabbed two goals as former champions Japan put on a counter-attacking clinic to beat Spain 4-0 and lock up top spot in Group C.

Striker Riko Ueki also scored on the break as Japan cut through Spain's high press with three lightning raids in the first half before substitute Momoko Tanaka added the fourth with another quality strike eight minutes from time.

Japan, winners of the 2011 World Cup and runners-up in 2015, will remain in the New Zealand capital to play Norway in the last 16 on Saturday, while Spain will move north to Auckland to face Switzerland earlier on the same day.