In a surprising turn of events, Morocco defeated South Korea 1-0 in their Group H match at Hindmarsh Stadium at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 on Sunday, 30 July.
The game started with South Korea donning red jerseys and Morocco in white, with a mild winter day in Adelaide but a strong northwesterly breeze adding difficulty to the playing conditions.
Morocco made several changes to their lineup, with Nouhaila Benzina and Nesryne El Chad joining the defence, Salma Amani in midfield, and Ibtissam Jraidi in attack. South Korea also made some changes, including 38-year-old Jung-Mi Kim in goal after Young-Geul Yoon’s mistake in their previous match.
The match kicked off with both teams vying to remain alive in Group H. Nouhaila Benzina made history as the first player to wear a hijab in a Women’s World Cup match.
Morocco started strongly, with Hanane Ait El Haj delivering a cross that Ibtissam Jraidi expertly headed into the far corner for Morocco’s first-ever World Cup goal.
Despite Korea’s efforts to equalise, Morocco continued to defend well and create chances. The first half ended with Morocco leading 2-0, surprising many spectators. The second half saw Korea pushing for a comeback, making immediate substitutions to inject energy into the game. However, they struggled to convert their opportunities into goals.
As the match progressed, Korea intensified their attacks and resorted to combination plays to break down Morocco’s defence. Despite their efforts, Korea failed to find the back of the net, with Morocco holding their ground and countering with purpose. The match ended with a scoreline of South Korea 0-1 Morocco.
Morocco’s victory in Group H propelled them to third place in the group, with Germany and Colombia leading but having played fewer matches. The result showcased the growth of the women’s game and highlighted Morocco’s strong performance in the tournament.
Switzerland Top Group A, While Norway Dominates in Women’s World Cup 2023 Clash
The Women’s World Cup 2023 Group A clash between Switzerland and co-hosts New Zealand was crucial for both teams’ chances of progressing to the knockout stage. Switzerland entered the game at the top of the group with Three points, while New Zealand was in second place with three points. Both teams knew that a victory would secure their spot in the next round.
The match started with Switzerland enjoying early possession, while New Zealand looked to counterattack. New Zealand had a promising chance in the 10th minute with their first corner of the game, but they couldn’t capitalise on the scramble in the box.
Switzerland continued to press forward, but New Zealand’s defence held firm.
The Kiwi fans in the crowd were getting behind their team, urging them to find a breakthrough. However, it was Switzerland who had the better chances in the first half, with Jacqui Hand hitting the post just before halftime.
The second half began with New Zealand needing a goal to secure their spot in the knockout stage. Switzerland started brightly and looked dangerous going forward. However, New Zealand’s defence stood strong and denied them any clear-cut opportunities.
As the clock ticked down, it became clear that New Zealand’s World Cup campaign was coming to an end. Switzerland held firm and secured a goalless draw, which was enough for them to top the group and progress to the next round.
Meanwhile, in the other Group A match between Norway and the Philippines, Norway dominated from start to finish. Roman Haug opened the scoring in the 6th minute, and Norway never looked back.
They added two more goals before halftime through Haug and Caroline Graham Hansen.
In the second half, Norway continued to dominate, adding three more goals to complete a comprehensive 6-0 victory. Haug completed her hat-trick, and Norway secured their spot in the knockout stage alongside Switzerland.
With these results, Switzerland topped Group A with five points, followed by Norway with four points. New Zealand finished in third place with four points, while the Philippines ended their campaign in last place with three points.
The Women’s World Cup 2023 Group A concluded with Switzerland and Norway progressing to the knockout stage, while New Zealand and the Philippines were eliminated.
Full time:
Switzerland 0-0 New Zealand
Norway 6-0 Philippines
Colombia Shocks Germany with 2-1 Victory
In an electrifying Group H clash in Sydney, Colombia shocked former champions Germany with a 2-1 victory. The result puts Germany’s qualification hopes in jeopardy, while Colombia now sit at the top of the group.
The match started with an early chance for Colombia to apply pressure with a free-kick, but Germany’s Hendrich cleared the danger with a strong header. Germany then had their own opportunity with Buhl delivering a fantastic cross that eluded everyone. Both teams had their moments, with Brand skating across the face of the Colombian line but being stopped by a crucial tackle from Carabali.
Colombian goalkeeper Catalina Pérez proved to be a formidable obstacle for Germany’s attack, making several impressive saves. Colombia struggled to create momentum initially, but Carabali managed to slow down Germany’s progress with a well-timed tackle on Brand. Germany continued to press forward, but Colombia defended resolutely, keeping the scoreline at 0-0.
In the 52nd minute, Colombia struck with a stunning goal from Linda Caicedo. With a flick of her hips and quick footwork, Caicedo left the German defenders in her wake, curling the ball into the far side netting to give her team a 1-0 lead.
Germany fought to find an equaliser, with Popp leading the charge, but Colombia’s defence held firm.
As the game progressed, both teams made substitutions to inject fresh energy. Germany had a chance to level the score with a free-kick, and Popp converted from the penalty spot in the 89th minute to make it 1-1.
However, Colombia responded brilliantly, scoring a sensational winner in the seventh minute of added time through Vanega’s magnificent header.
The final score ended 2-1 in favour of Colombia.
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