Marcela Restrepo of Colombia passes the ball beneath strain from Kathrin Hendrich of Germany in the course of the FIFA Ladies’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group H match between Germany and Colombia at Sydney Soccer Stadium on July 30, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.
| Photograph Credit score: Getty Photographs
Colombia scored a 97th-minute winner to stun Germany 2-1 on an evening of Ladies’s World Cup drama Sunday which additionally noticed Norway and Switzerland into the final 16 however co-hosts New Zealand dumped out in tears.
Germany smashed Morocco 6-0 of their opener to underline why they have been among the many pre-tournament favourites, together with Spain and England, to grab away the US’ crown.
However they got here crashing again all the way down to earth by the hands of a Colombia aspect impressed by 18-year-old Linda Caicedo and roared on by nearly all of a rowdy 40,000 crowd in Sydney.
The Actual Madrid attacker scored the most effective targets of the match thus far, darting previous two Germany defenders earlier than curling the ball into the highest nook to open the scoring.
Germany thought they’d salvaged a degree within the 89th minute when skipper Alexandra Popp defied the whistles to attain from the penalty spot.
However with a pulsating recreation that deep into stoppage time appeared destined for a draw, Manuela Vanegas popped as much as head house from shut vary and put Colombia on the verge of the final 16.
“Germany is a world energy, that is a actuality, however Colombia has been making nice strides and as we speak Colombia is a world energy,” mentioned the defender Vanegas.
“I dreamed of scoring a objective in a World Cup, I knew it was going to return and I made a decision to do it for as we speak’s recreation.”
Going into the final spherical of group matches, Colombia are high of Group H on six factors, Germany and Morocco have three and South Korea have zero.
Germany’s destiny continues to be in their very own arms once they face the Koreans subsequent, with Colombia towards Morocco.
Morocco gained a Ladies’s World Cup match for the primary time after Ibtissam Jraidi struck early to provide them a 1-0 victory over South Korea.
Within the match, Moroccan defender Nouhaila Benzina turned the primary participant to put on a hijab on the Ladies’s World Cup.
Norway and Switzerland each emerged out of an excruciatingly tight Group A.
Former champions Norway thrashed the Philippines 6-0 in Auckland to squeeze into the final 16 on objective distinction from New Zealand.
A full home in Dunedin noticed the co-hosts held 0-0 by a cussed Switzerland because the Soccer Ferns bowed out of their house match in tears.
The 1995 champions Norway wanted a win and so they did it in model towards World Cup debutants the Philippines, who themselves have been nonetheless in with an opportunity of reaching the knockouts.
Sophie Roman Haug scored a hat-trick because the Philippines’ fairytale journey got here to a shuddering halt.
With Norway properly forward, New Zealand now wanted to beat Switzerland.
The hosts had the higher of the primary half with a string of possibilities, the decide of which noticed ahead Jacqui Hand rattle the put up on 24 minutes.
As Norway chalked up the targets in Auckland, the New Zealanders upped the depth, realizing solely a win can be ok to advance.
However the objective they so desperately wanted by no means got here.
“There are loads of tears on the market, however they need to be so proud to complete on 4 factors,” captain Ali Riley mentioned.
On Monday, Australia will hope to keep away from the identical destiny as their co-hosts.
The Matildas should beat Olympic champions Canada to ensure a spot within the final 16 however are nonetheless sweating on their skipper and talismanic striker Sam Kerr.
She has declared herself obtainable after a calf damage however it stays to be seen how a lot of an element she performs.
“Everybody concerned in sport is aware of that with calf accidents it is one factor that you just’re obtainable, however there’s additionally threat while you come again from a muscle damage,” mentioned Australia’s coach Tony Gustavsson.
Additionally in Group B, surprise-package Nigeria want simply to keep away from defeat towards already-eliminated Eire to progress.
Former champions Japan and title contenders Spain meet to resolve who tops Group C with each already into the final 16.