Morocco makes more Women’s World Cup history by reaching knockout rounds
PERTH, Australia (AP) — After enjoying their half by edging Colombo 1-0, Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses huddled on the pitch in Perth to observe the top of the Germany-South Korea group-stage finale on the Women’s World Cup and hope it remained tied.
“We had the phone and we started praying. We were praying while we were watching the game,” stated midfielder Anissa Lahmari, who scored Morocco’s successful aim in first-half stoppage time on Thursday. “Afterwards it was just a complete explosion of joy.”
Cue celebrations, each in Morocco and different components of the Arab world.
In one of the surprising outcomes within the final days of the group stage, Morocco superior to the knockout spherical in second place behind Colombia whereas No. 2-ranked Germany did not advance for the primary time on the match.
Morocco is the primary Arab or North African nation to qualify for the Women’s World Cup and now the primary to advance past the group stage. That’s one thing not one of the different seven match newcomers managed to do.
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And it began with a thumping 6-0 loss to Germany. While the Moroccans recovered to win their subsequent two video games, Germany misplaced 2-1 to Colombia after which was held 1-1 by South Korea when it wanted a win in Brisbane to keep away from elimination.
“When we had won the match, the most stressful thing was the other match,” Morocco coach Reynald Pedros stated.
The final two group video games began on the similar time on reverse sides of the Australian continent however stoppage time in Brisbane lasted longer.
“We waited, and then the good news arrived. It was incredible,” Pedros stated.
If Morocco’s qualification for the Women’s World Cup impressed a technology, this run to the knockout stage will cement a legacy for the Atlas Lionesses.
The win over South Korea final weekend was historic for the workforce, for Ibtissam Jraïdi scoring the Morocco’s first World Cup aim, and for an additional vital milestone — defender Nouhaila Benzina turned the primary participant to put on a Hijab in a World Cup sport on the senior degree.
“After the first match of the tournament, I think 98% of people thought it was over, apart from us,” Pedros stated. “We thought we may do one thing, as a result of soccer is magic.
“We know that feelings and onerous work can result in good issues. If we’re on the subsequent stage, it’s as a result of we deserve it, for all of the onerous work.”
The sport towards Colombia was a fair contest proper by way of the primary half till Jraidi was fouled within the penalty space within the dying seconds earlier than the break. Ghizlane Chebbak’s penalty try was saved, however Lahmari swooped on the rebound to place her workforce forward of Colombia — and, simply as importantly, forward of Germany within the standings.
Colombia had its greatest scoring likelihood within the 59th minute, when 18-year-old Linda Caicedo served a ball to the far submit, which Daniela Montoya one-timed to the left of goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi. The Moroccan ‘keeper made a reflex kick save, blocking the ball with simply the entrance fringe of her proper cleat.
In the 69th, Caicedo, after a future, stopped and leaned on the sector barrier, reaching all the way down to her left ankle and foot. She appeared hobbled for a number of minutes however stayed within the match.
WHY IT MATTERS
Moroccan soccer followers have had loads of have a good time with their nationwide groups at the latest World Cups. The Atlas Lionesses created historical past simply by qualifying, after which simply by scoring their first win. Beating Colombia to knock Germany out of the match was one other degree.
Morocco’s males’s workforce additionally made World Cup historical past final 12 months. In the 2022 males’s World Cup, the Atlas Lions superior to the spherical of 16 for the primary time since 1986 and have become the primary African or Arab nation to succeed in a World Cup semifinal.
Colombia wins its group for the primary time in workforce historical past and is within the knockout rounds for the primary time since 2015.
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Morocco’s followers “are going to support us one more time. We love them, we cherish them, we feel they’re behind us. It gives us strength. Well done to all the girls and we’re continuing on our merry way.” — Reynald Pedros, Morocco coach.
“It was an intense game and a very strategic game. We lost because of a mistake we made in the goal area, with the penalty.” — Nelson Abadía, Colombia coach.
WHAT’S NEXT
Morocco, because the Group H runner-up, will play Group F winner France in Adelaide on Tuesday. Colombia will play Group F runner-up Jamaica the identical day in Melbourne.
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