A goal from Valerie Sanderson lifted Canada into the quarter-finals of the FIFA under-17 women's World Cup on Saturday.

The native of Boisbriand, Que., scored in the 48th minute as Canada defeated Azerbaijan 1-0 on Saturday in its final game of the preliminary round.

Canada finished second in Group A behind Nigeria, and will play North Korea in the final eight on Thursday.

Sanderson scored when Nichelle Prince of Ajax, Ont., found Montreal's Amandine Pierre-Louis with a cross from the left side. Goalkeeper Aytaj Sarifova got a hand on the ball before Sanderson tapped in the rebound.

Canada dominated possession, with Prince and Pierre-Louis causing problems for Sarifova for much of the match.