Women's World Cup 2019: Australia, Norway renew rivalry in last-16 clash

This will be the third meeting in the last four editions of the World Cup with Australia knocking out Norway in the group stage of the 2011 World Cup.

Australia's Samantha Kerr is the tournament's second top-scorer with five goals.

Samantha Kerr-inspired Australia will take on Norway in a Women's World Cup Round-of-16 clash at the Allianz Riviera in Nice on Saturday.

Both teams come into the clash with two wins and a defeat each. This will be the third meeting in the last four editions of the World Cup with the Aussies knocking out the Norwegians in the group stage of the 2011 World Cup.

Skipper Kerr has five goals in three matches including four strikes in the 4-1 win over Jamaica which sealed the Round-of-16 place for the Matildas.

Norway has so far managed to deal with the absence of its star striker Ada Hegerberg -- who has opted out of international football since 2017 -- and progressed from a group comprising the host France, Nigeria and South Korea.

 

Gresshoppene's best source of goals have been own goals (two) while strikers Lisa-Marie Utland and Caroline Graham Hansen -- Norway's top-two goalscorers from the qualification -- have also found the back of the net with one goal apiece.

Martin Sjorgen's Norway will be confident ahead of the game with Hansen, who suffered an ankle injury against South Korea, passed fit.

The winner of the contest will go on to face either England or Cameroon in the quarterfinals.

Road to knockouts

Australia

Australia's campaign opener in Group C ended in defeat against Italy after Barbara Bonansea struck in the fifth minute of stoppage time to overturn a 1-0 deficit. ( REPORT )

The Matildas were starring at a group stage exit in its second match against Brazil when it fell behind by two goals in the first half before it came back to win 3-2 to keep its qualification hopes alive. ( REPORT )

Norway's key forward Caroline Hansen has recovered from her ankle injury. PHOTO: AFP

Kerr'a four strikes against Jamaica meant Australia qualified as the second placed team in the group ahead of Brazil. ( REPORT )

Norway

Norway got off to a perfect start when it put three past Nigeria in its tournament opener with Guro Reiten scoring a goal while setting up another. ( REPORT )

A controversial penalty decision condemned Sojorgen's side to a 2-1 defeat against the host France. ( REPORT )

A penalty in each half eased Norway's passage into the last-16 stage after a 2-1 win over South Korea. ( REPORT )