(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-09-20 20:45

TIANJIN, China  - Norway and Australia reached the women's World Cup quarterfinals on Thursday, leaving only two spots to be filled.

Norway hammered Ghana 7-2 in Hangzhou, leaving the Africans with three losses in three games. Australia rallied to draw Canada 2-2 on an extra-time equalizer by Cheryl Salisbury. Australia needed only a draw to advance, with Canada needing a victory in its final Group C game in the southwestern city of Chengdu.

Australia's captain Cheryl Salisbury (R) heads the ball away from the goal during their Group C soccer match at the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup against Canada in Chengdu September 20, 2007. Australia entered quaterfinals with a 2-2 draw with Canada. [Reuters]

Quarterfinal matchups between the No. 1-ranked United States and England, and defending champion Germany and North Korea were decided on Tuesday as Group A and B finished play. The four quarterfinals are set for Saturday and Sunday.

Norway, the winner of Group C, is likely to face China in the final eight. The Chinese faced New Zealand later Thursday in a Group D game in Tianjin and were heavily favored.

Australia is likely to face Brazil, which played Denmark later in Group D in Hangzhou.

"I think if we are at our best, we can go to the semifinals," Norway coach Bjarne Berntsen said. "We were very casual in defense at times. We have to be much better defensively in the quarterfinals."

Ragnhild Gulbrandsen scored three - one in the first half and two in the second - to give her five for the tournament. Lene Storlokken, Ane Stangeland Horpestad, Isabell Herlovsen and Lise Klaveness also scored for Norway.

Adjoa Bayor and Florence Okoe scored for Ghana.

In Chengdu, Salisbury's extra-time equalizer gave Australia a 2-2 draw and put the Aussies into their first quarterfinals in the women's World Cup. Salisbury scored in the second minute of extra time to cancel out Canada's 85th-minute goal by its own captain, Christine Sinclair.

Had that goal stood, Canada would have reached the quarterfinals instead of Australia.

In a thrilling match, Canada went ahead 1-0 on the second-fastest goal in women's World Cup history through Melissa Tancredi before Colette McCallum equalized for Australia early in the 53rd.

Tancredi scored on a volley after 32 seconds to beat goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri. The quickest goal in the World Cup came in 1991 in 30 seconds by Sweden's Lena Videkull in 1991.