thiney double helps france cruise past canada published: thursday 30 june 2011, 20.14cet
gaëtane thiney struck twice and camille abily and elodie thomis got a goal apiece as les bleues beat canada 4-0 in bochum to advance to the last eight.
france advanced to the fifa women's world cup quarter-finals thanks to an impressive four-goal victory against canada in bochum.
two goals in either half by gaëtane thiney – the second a superb effort from outside the area – and further strikes by camille abily and elodie thomis ensured les bleues strengthened their position at the top of group a, and their progress was confirmed when germany beat nigeria later in the evening. canada's involvement will end at the group stage, meanwhile, following this second reverse.
the result might have been different had diana matheson not miscontrolled a through ball by sophie schmidt after 12 minutes, and then fired across goal towards the end of the first period, but finishing was the difference between the two sides. thiney set the ball rolling when she reacted first to elise bussaglia's deflected shot which she headed over the onrushing erin mcleod.
thiney struck again on the hour mark, after emily zurrer ceded possession on the edge of the area, the striker's fierce shot cannoning in off the post. bruno blini's side now had the bit between their teeth and scored a third when abily rose to head in sandrine soubeyrand's corner and thomis rounded off the scoring with seven minutes remaining when she raced on to louisa necib's long ball and finished coolly.
