University of Texas forward Kelly Wilson scored her third and fourth goals of the FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship on Monday as the United States pulled away from Australia, 4-0, to become the first quarterfinal qualifier.

Santa Clara's Leslie Osborne and New Jersey high-schooler Heather O'Reilly also tallied for the Americans (2-0), who held a one-goal advantage before scoring three times in seven minutes late in the second half at Centennial Stadium in Victoria, British Columbia.

The victory tempered news that defender Amy Steadman, who was to play her freshman season at North Carolina this fall, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee during Saturday's tournament opener and will be sidelined at least six months.

Steadman, who was replaced on the roster by Arizona State freshman Stephanie Ebner, had torn the same ACL last October. She wasn't fit enough to play for the Americans during qualifying in May but regained her starting job in the following months.

Steadman, one of the top recruits in the nation this year, is the second U.S. player felled by an ACL tear this month. Midfielder Annie Schefter, bound for Notre Dame, was injured shortly after Coach Tracey Leone's roster announcement and was replaced by Texas high-schooler Kerri Hanks.

''We are experiencing two extremes of emotions,'' Leone said after Steadman's injury was confirmed. ''We are heartbroken for Amy, and it's a huge loss, but at the same time we are excited to have Stephanie join the team. We've always felt that we had more than 18 players who can contribute, and that's why you develop a pool of players over the past two years.''

The Americans' second four-goal victory of the championships wasn't as simple as the first, Saturday's 5-1 rout of England, in which the Yanks scored three goals just before halftime to take control.

Wilson's header gave the U.S. squad a 14th-minute lead, but Emma Davison nearly pulled Australia even in the 35th, her 25-yard blast beating goalkeeper Ashlyn Harris but striking the crossbar.

The Americans applied pressure throughout the second half, and it paid off with goals in the 74th, 79th and 81st minutes. Osborne chested down a beautiful serve from O'Reilly, who rounded Aussie netminder Luisa Marzotto for an empty-netter for the secoond goal. Wilson's free kick beat Marzotto to the near post to make it 3-0, and O'Reilly slotted the ball under the keeper after slipping her marker two minutes after that.

''I am very pleased with the way we played,'' Leone said. ''It was a tactically challenging game in a physically and psychologically demanding atmosphere. Both sides gritted it out, and I think it was a great game.''

The Yanks conclude Group C action Wednesday against Chinese Taipei (0-2), which was routed Monday by England, 4-0. The Aussies (1-1) face the English (1-1) with a quarterfinal berth on the line. Both could advance — the top two teams in each group plus two of three third-place teams advace to the final eight.

In Group B play Monday in Burnaby, B.C., Kelly scored her second goal of the tournament as Brazil (2-0) qualified for the quarterfinals with a 1-0 win over Germany (1-1); and France (1-1) overcame an early deficit to beat 10-woman Mexico (0-2), 2-1.

In Group A openers Sunday in Edmonton, Canada edged Denmark, 3-2, on 15-year-old Kara Lang's 30-yard chip in the 80th minute; and Japan and Nigeria played a 1-1 tie.

University of Portland star Christine Sinclair scored the first goal for Canada, and Texas Tech freshman-to-be Johanna Rasmussen netted the Danes' first goal.

MONDAY'S U.S. SUMMARY

Aug. 19 at Victoria, British Columbia

United States 4 Australia 0. Goals: Wilson 14, 79, Osborne 74, O'Reilly 81.

United States — Harris; Ballweg, Oakes, Buehler, Fletcher; Osborne, Chalupny, Makoski; O'Reilly, Tarpley (Woznuk, 61), Wilson.

Australia — Marzotto; Slatyer (Dunne, 82), Davison, Reuter, Stocco; McShea, Harch, Neilson, Crawford; Munoz (Stevens, 88), Gill (Mitchell, 71).

Yellow cards — Australia: McShea 46, Neilson 48.

Referee — Anri Hanninen (Finland). A — 2,600.

Monday's other Group C result

England 4 (Maggs 20, Hickmott 26, Ward 47, 85) Chinese Taipei 0.

Monday's Group B results

France 2 (Ramos 21, Abily 39) Mexico 1 (Worbis 15)

Brazil 1 (Kelly 60) Germany 0.

Standings

Group A — Canada 3 points, Nigeria 1, Japan 1, Denmark 0.

Group B — Brazil 6 points, Germany 3, France 3, Mexico 0.

Group C — United States 6 points, Australia 3, England 3, Chinese Taipei 0.

Remaining first-round schedule

Group A (Edmonton)

Tuesday: Denmark vs. Nigeria, Canada vs. Japan.

Thursday: Denmark vs. Japan, Canada vs. Nigeria.

Group B (Burnaby)

Wednesday: Germany vs. Mexico, France vs. Brazil.

Group C (Victoria)

Wednesday: England vs. Australia, United States vs. Chinese Taipei.