The Matildas have charged into the Women’s World Cup quarter-finals and welcomed back Sam Kerr in style with an imperious 2-0 win over Denmark.

Caitlin Foord’s goal in the 29th minute, brilliantly teed up by Mary Fowler, proved the difference before Hayley Raso added a second in the 70th minute in front of 75,784 screaming fans at Stadium Australia.

After originally being named on the bench in an unchanged team, Kerr entered the field to a standing ovation in the 80th minute for her first minutes of the tournament after overcoming a calf injury.

Australia will next play either France or Morocco, who face off in Adelaide on Tuesday night, at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

The Matildas have only reached the final eight on one other occasion, in Canada in 2015.

Australia took the lead when Fowler cut past a defender in midfield, then neatly turned on the ball and switched onto her left foot, before launching a precise ball into the path of a charging Foord out wide.

Foord took a touch, steadied then buried a cool shot through goalkeeper Lene Christensen’s legs before wheeling away to the crowd, cupping her ear in celebration.

For Australia’s second, Fowler whipped a ball into Kyra Cooney-Cross on the left wing, then burst forward to receive it back.

Fowler slipped through to Emily van Egmond, who had the presence of mind to knock it back for Raso to drive home her third goal of the tournament.