Canada progress to last 16 at World Cup after Jessie Fleming and Nichelle Prince push New Zealand towards brink

Canada booked their place in the last 16 of the World Cup with a 2-0 win over New Zealand in Grenoble on Saturday night.

Captain Christine Sinclair had hit the crossbar during the first half before Jessie Fleming broke the deadlock soon after the restart.

Houston Dash forward Nichelle Prince capped an impressive individual display when she knocked in a late second from close range after Sinclair's header came back off the post.

Canada, hosts four years ago, opened the tournament with a 1-0 win over Cameroon in Montpellier and went close to taking the lead in the 18th minute against New Zealand.

Defender CJ Bott picked up a hand injury when the ball hit her, and with New Zealand down to 10 players, Canada almost snatched the lead from a corner.

Sinclair's header come back off the crossbar, with the follow-up from Prince nodded clear by Abby Erceg on the line.

New Zealand had lost their opening match to an injury-time goal against Holland and struggled to create many clear openings.

When they did get an opportunity after a cross was pushed out by Canada keeper Stephanie Labbéand dropped for Olivia Chance, the former Everton defender could only knock her effort well wide.

Canada finally broke the deadlock three minutes into the second half. Prince broke down the left and into the penalty area, before cutting the ball back for Fleming to slot past Erin Nayler.

With 73 minutes gone, the Bordeaux goalkeeper produced a superb reflex save to push Prince's glanced header up over the bar when it looked destined for the top right corner.

Nayler, though, could do little to prevent Canada's second goal with 11 minutes left.

Sinclair got up at the far post and her downward header bounced back off the woodwork and Prince was alert to knock in the rebound.

Canada progress to the knockout stages along with Holland, who earlier beat Cameroon in Valenciennes, and will next tackle the Dutch for top spot in Group E on June 20.

Match details

Canada: Labbé, Riviere (Chapman, 75), Buchanan, Zadorsky, Lawrence,  Prince (Leon, 84), Scott, Schmidt, Beckie, Sinclair, Fleming.
Subs not used: Quinn, Rose, Grosso, Huitema, Carle, Sheridan, Woeller, D'Angelo, Agnew, Hellstrom.
Goals: Fleming 48,Prince 79.
New Zealand: Nayler, Bott (Longo, 18), Stott, Erceg, Riley, Chance, Percival, Bowen, Hassett (Kete, 85), Gregorius (Green, 62), White.
Subs not used: Stratford, Morton, Duncan, Wilkinson, Skilton, Satchell, Cleverly, Esson, Olla.
Referee: Yamashita Yoshimi (Japan).