Simon, Australia surprise Brazil 1-0
MONCTON, New Brunswick — Substitute Kyah Simon scored in the 80th minute to lift Australia to its first Women’s World Cup knockout victory — a 1-0 upset of Brazil and star Marta on a rainy Sunday.
After Katrina Gorry won a ball at midfield, Lisa de Vanna’s shot from the top of the penalty area was turned aside by Brazilian keeper Luciana.
But the rebound went to Simon, who had entered in the 64th minute. She scored the first goal allowed by Brazil all tournament.
“I was just thinking about the slippery conditions,” Simon said. “It’s wet, and I needed to follow up, and thankfully, I was in the right place at the right time.”
Aussie goalkeeper Lydia Williams stopped Christiane’s header off a long free kick in the 90th minute to clinch the win.
Williams finished with six saves.
Australia moves on to Edmonton, Alberta, to face the winner of Tuesday’s match between Japan and Netherlands in the quarterfinals Saturday.
It was Simon’s third goal of the tournament. She scored both goals in a 2-0 group-stage victory over Nigeria.
“It was just one moment of magic,” Australia coach Alen Stajcic said. “It’s a big moment there, showing we can compete with the world’s best, and we did it here again today.”
Seventh-ranked Brazil won all three matches in its group and was the only team in the field to advance without conceding a goal.
Brazil had been to every World Cup since the women’s version started in 1991. The Brazilians’ best finish was runner-up in 2007, when they lost 2-0 to Germany in the final.
Brazil was seeking its fifth consecutive trip to the quarterfinals.
“It was one detail,” Brazil coach Vadao said through a translator. “One ball that we lost at midfield. We had control of the game — especially in the second half.”
Marta, who was making her fourth World Cup appearance and holds the all-time record for goals with 15 in the tournament, was stymied.
Her best chance came in the 62nd minute, when she charged down the left side, but Williams dived to pushed the shot away.
CANADA 1, SWITZERLAND 0
Josee Belanger’s left foot propelled Canada right into the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals on home soil, with her goal in the 52nd minute lifting the tournament hosts past Switzerland in a knockout-round match in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Belanger controlled a pass from Christine Sinclair and struck it left-footed to finish into the lower corner of the net past diving Swiss goalkeeper Gaelle Thalmann.
That’s all it took to send the 53,855 fans filling BC Place rocking into a frenzy.
Canada advances to face sixth-ranked England or No. 11 Norway in the quarterfinals Saturday at BC Place.
FRANCE 3, SOUTH KOREA 0
In Montreal, Marie Laure Delie scored two goals to help France take down South Korea and advance to the quarterfinals.
France will play Germany on Friday at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium.