Women’s World Cup Day 11: Colombia stuns Germany in best match of tournament

There was loads of pleasure and drama on Day 11 of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, with Colombia stealing nearly all of the headlines.  

History was additionally made on the match courtesy of World Cup newcomer Morocco, whereas co-host New Zealand disappointingly bowed out of the competitors. 

The Results

Group H: Morocco 1, South Korea 0 (in Adelaide) – Game stats || Report 

Group A: Switzerland 0, New Zealand 0 (in Dunedin) – Game stats || Report  

Group A: Norway 6, Philippines 0 (in Auckland) – Game stats || Report  

Group H: Colombia 2, Germany 1 (in Sydney) – Game stats || Report 

Main Talking Points

Morocco makes historical past thrice in the identical sport 

Tournament debutantes Morocco rebounded from a humiliating 6-0 loss to Germany in its opening match by making historical past on Sunday for all the appropriate causes. The African nation recorded its first-ever victory on the Women’s World Cup with a 1-0 resolution over South Korea, a victory that offers Morocco a stable likelihood of shifting on to the knockout spherical.  

Striker Ibtissam Jraidi was the hero for the Atlas Lionesses, scoring with a deft header off a cross from Hanane Ait El Haj within the sixth minute. The aim was Morocco’s first on the Women’s World Cup. After getting pummeled by the Germans, Morocco stored issues tight on the again as South Korea did not register a single shot on the right track regardless of having 63 per cent possession. It was a shocking upset. Morocco, at No. 72 within the present FIFA world rankings, is among the lowest-ranked nations on the World Cup. South Korea is seventeenth.

“We are just so pleased our efforts have paid off. This victory is for Morocco and Arabs, it’s the fruit of our hard work,” Jraidi mentioned after the win.

Morocco defender Nouhaila Benzina additionally made historical past when she turned the primary participant to put on a hijab on the Women’s World Cup or some other main senior-level girls’s match. FIFA lifted its ban on gamers carrying non secular head coverings throughout video games in 2014. 

Co-host New Zealand bows out of the match 

New Zealand additionally made historical past on Sunday, however for all of the flawed causes. The Football Ferns performed to a 0-0 draw towards Switzerland in Dunedin, a end result that despatched the co-host crashing out of the match. 

Norway thrashed the Philippines 6-0 in Auckland within the day’s different Group A match, which put them degree with New Zealand for second place on 4 factors behind group winner Switzerland. However, Norway superior on the expense of New Zealand based mostly on its superior aim distinction (plus-five vs. zero), despite the fact that the co-host surprised the Norwegians 1-0 of their opening match.  

New Zealand is the primary host nation within the historical past of the Women’s World Cup to exit the match within the group stage. It’s solely occurred twice on the boys’s facet: South Africa in 2010 and Qatar in 2022. 

“I do know it’s tremendous emotional now as a result of everyone’s upset concerning the end result, however this crew could be so proud. There are so many positives that we’re taking away from the entire expertise,” New Zealand coach Jitka Klimkova mentioned.

Colombia upsets Germany in match of the match 

What a sport! 

Colombia and Germany placed on an exciting present for a sellout crowd in Sydney, capped by Manuela Vanegas’s headed aim off a nook kick deep into damage time to seal an enormous win and ship the South Americans to the highest of the Group H desk. In doing so, Colombia ended Germany’s unbeaten run in group-stage play at 20 consecutive matches, a Women’s World Cup file. The solely different time the Germans suffered a defeat within the first spherical of the World Cup got here through the 1995 match to host Sweden. 

Germany, ranked No. 2 on the planet, entered the sport because the heavy favorite towards upstart Colombia (No. 25), particularly after its 6-0 demolition of Morocco in its opening Group H match. But the South Americans weren’t intimidated and took the sport proper to the European powerhouse.  

Linda Caicedo’s incredible aim into the highest proper nook after peeling away from two German defenders contained in the field within the 52nd minute was simply reward for a Colombian facet that attacked with loads of goal. It was a second of pure genius from the 18-year-old Caicedo, who was recognized with ovarian most cancers three years in the past and who collapsed in coaching earlier this week.

The Germans didn’t go gently into that good night time, although. A superb piece of link-up play on the sting of Colombia’s 18-yard field ended with goalkeeper Catalina Perez bringing down Germany midfielder Lena Oberdorf within the 89th minute. Alexandra Popp transformed from the penalty spot, scoring her third aim of this World Cup and seemingly rescuing her crew.

But Colombia discovered one other gear in damage time and Vanegas took full benefit of some abysmal defensive marking by the Germans on a nook kick to attain the winner within the 97th minute. 

Goal of the Day

In the thirty first minute, Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen did effectively to win a free ball outdoors of the Philippines’ penalty field to maintain her crew’s attacking momentum alive. The FC Barcelona winger then took two touches of the ball to tee herself up earlier than unleashing a blistering shot from 23 yards out that whipped previous goalkeeper Olivia McDaniel and nestled contained in the far publish. 

Moment of the Day

Despite a 6-0 loss to Norway that resulted of their elimination, the Philippines had been showered with reward and appreciation by their followers in Auckland.

Quote of the Day

“There’s a sense of pride for us to pull this first World Cup win out of the bag. We didn’t change our philosophy [after losing 6-0 to Germany]. The Korean team is not like the German team, and we got off to a blinding start … We were efficient in the box; that was missing against Germany.” – Morocco coach Reynald Pedros. 

Three Stars of the Day

1. Sophie Román Haug, Norway: The AS Roma ahead turned the second participant at this match to file a hat trick and helped ship her crew by means of to the knockout spherical.  

2. Linda Caicedo, Colombia: The 18-year-old ahead opened the scoring towards Germany with a highlight-reel aim and was an attacking dynamo for her nation the complete sport.

3. Nouhaila Benzina, Morocco: The Moroccan defender made plenty of necessary interventions, she virtually scored off a set-piece, and she or he took an intentional yellow card when she clipped Ji So-yun to interrupt up a South Korean scoring likelihood on the counterattack. 

Looking Ahead

Canada returns to motion when it faces Australia in Melbourne on Monday (6 a.m. ET / 3 a.m. PT), whereas Nigeria faces the Republic of Ireland in Group B play on the identical time. A win or draw by the Canadians would permit them to advance to the knockout spherical. 

Spain and Japan additionally face off on Monday (3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT). Both groups have certified for the round-of-16, however the winner will end first Group C. Spain would additionally find yourself topping the group with a draw. The Group C winner will play Norway within the round-of-16; the runner-up will face Switzerland. 

Zambia faces Costa Rica in Group C’s different match on Monday (3 a.m. ET / 12 a.m. PT). Both nations have already been eradicated from rivalry.

John Molinaro is among the main soccer journalists in Canada, having lined the sport for over 20 years for a number of media shops, together with Sportsnet, CBC Sports and Sun Media. He is at present the editor-in-chief of TFC Republic, a web site devoted to in-depth protection of Toronto FC and Canadian soccer. TFC Republic could be discovered right here.

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