Canada eliminated from Women's World Cup after crushing loss to Australia

Australia ended Canada's FIFA Women's World Cup campaign with a lopsided 4-0 win Monday, putting the Olympic champion Canadians to the sword.

It was not pretty, unless you were Australian. The 10th-ranked Matildas needed to win to be sure of moving on to the tournament's knockout round and they wasted little time getting the job done.

It was one-way traffic from the get-go. And rubbing salt in the wound, Steph Catley scored on a stoppage-time penalty after video review confirmed a foul against Canada's Jessie Fleming on the edge of the box.

A draw or win would have moved the seventh-ranked Canadians into the round of 16. But they soon found themselves with a mountain to climb before a partisan crowd announced at 27,706.

And now they go home after three games, finishing third in a tough Group B with a 1-1-1.

It's Canada's worst finish at the Women's World Cup since it went winless in 2011 and finished last. It's likely also the Canadian women's worst game in recent years.

WATCH: Sinclair says early exit a 'wake-up call' for Canada Soccer:

And it's another body blow for Canada Soccer in a year blighted by a bitter labour dispute.

"Football can be cruel sometimes," Canada coach Bev Priestman told reporters. "I think the team lacked belief.

"I didn't think the team would be as rattled as we've seen tonight."

Hayley Raso scored twice for the tournament co-hosts as Canada's vaunted defence was carved open in the first half. It could have been 3-0 at the break but a third Australian goal was ruled offside.

Canadians failed to put a shot on target in a first half in which they looked rattled.

It soon got worse as Mary Fowler made it 3-0 in the 58th minute.

Talismanic Canadian captain Christine Sinclair, who came off the bench in last Wednesday's 2-1 win over Ireland, returned to the starting lineup but only lasted a half. One wonders if it is the last game for the 40-year-old icon, the world's all-time leading scorer.