The action has hit the first full-week mark after Day 7 at the FIFA Women’s World Cup concluded on Wednesday.
Spain continued to dominate Group C, with Japan not far behind as the two teams both qualified for the knockout stage via wins, while Canada found its first win of the competition with a comeback victory over the Republic of Ireland.
The Results
Group C: Spain 5, Zambia 0 (in Auckland) – Game stats || Report
Group C: Japan 2, Costa Rica 0 (in Dunedin) – Game stats || Report
Group B: Canada 2, Ireland 1 (in Perth) – Game stats || Report
Main Talking Points
Canada secures first victory in comeback over Ireland
Four minutes into their match against Ireland, down 1-0, it looked like all hope for the Canadians at the Women’s World Cup was shattered. They had struggled to find offence against Nigeria, and now had to find a way into the back of the net twice against a tough Irish defence.
Canada would find its first break in stoppage time of the first half, when Julia Grosso’s shot deflected off of Ireland’s Megan Connolly for an own goal that levelled the score going into the break.
Less than 10 minutes into the second half, substitute Sophie Schmidt found Adriana Leon in front of the net. Leon used her first touch to get a step on her defender before firing a shot with her left foot that would hold up as the game winner.
Christine Sinclair and Jordyn Huitema had chances, but both unable to convert. Still, with 17 shots (seven on target) and 75 per cent pass accuracy, the performance was a big step up from Canada’s previous match, and even an improvement from being frustrated by Ireland’s low block and unbreakable defensive lines early in the match.
Spain cruise into the knockout stages
With a goal differential of plus-eight, Spain sits atop Group C and has secured its spot in the knockout stages, defeating Zambia 5-0 with goals from Jenni Hermoso, Teresa Abelleira and Alba Redondo.
Hermoso, Spain’s all-time leading scorer, netted a header off a cross from Alexia Putellas for her first goal, while crashing the net for a rebound and scoring on an empty net for her second. Initially called offside, the goal was awarded after review.
While Spain is a team that was highly regarded coming into the competition, it had the added benefit of facing Zambia’s third-string goalkeeper, as Eunice Sakala started Monday night. Zambia’s top keeper, Hazel Nali, was ruled out of the Women’s World Cup with a torn ACL and Catherine Musonda, the backup, picked up her second yellow card against Japan.
Two goals in two minutes seals win for Japan
Hikaru Naomoto and Aoba Fujino scored two minutes apart in the first half, scoring both of the Japanese goals in the match as Japan defeated Costa Rica 2-0, qualifying for the knockout stage after Spain beat Zambia.
Costa Rica’s Rocky Rodriguez, one of the team’s top players who missed the previous match against Spain, featured midway through the second half but the team could not generate more than two shots on target in the match.
With 25 shot attempts and 11 on target, Japan dominated offensively with its ball movement and precise passing, while also holding Costa Rica to just one attempt on target, thwarting any chance of creating offence for the Costa Ricans, who were eliminated with the loss.
Goal of the Day
Ireland’s Katie McCabe not only scored the fastest goal of the tournament scoring less than four minutes into the match against Canada, which was Ireland’s first-ever goal at a World Cup, but the Irish captain scored an ‘Olimpico’ from a corner that sailed towards the back post and in.
Moment of the Day
Spanish players consoled the Copper Queens of Zambia after their 5-0 loss that eliminated them from the tournament, standing in solidarity as two nations who have dealt with managers with records of alleged misconduct and still qualified for the Women’s World Cup.
Quote of the Day
“Second half, that’s what I love about this team, they did whatever it took to win. We know how to win, and we did it when it really mattered.” — Canada head coach Bev Priestman after Canada’s 2-1 win over Ireland
Three Stars of the Day
1. Jenni Hermoso, Spain: Spain’s all-time leading scorer not only tallied two goals, but also contributed an assist as she became only the second player in men’s or women’s history to score 50 goals for Spain, doing so in 100 matches.
2. Sophie Schmidt, Canada: When Schmidt came on at the half, the intensity changed for Canada. Her tenacity in challenges and excellent vision were a clear difference maker, as she assisted Leon in the game-winner.
3. Aoba Fujino, Japan: The 19-year-old Fujino scored her first-ever goal at the Women’s World Cup to help her team advance to the Round of 16 and is also the first teenager to score for Japan at the competition.
Looking Ahead
A rematch of the 2019 Women’s World Cup Final takes place as the United States takes on Netherlands at 9:00 p.m. ET in Wellington in Group E action, followed by more Group E with Portugal and Vietnam playing at 3:30 a.m. ET in Hamilton. Australia and Nigeria close out the day for Group B at 6:00 a.m. ET in Brisbane.
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