South Africa continues inauspicious streak
South Africa was in a mustwin situation in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in a Group B match against China on Thursday in Paris, France.
It was also a daunting task, considering South Africa’s previous four competitive matches against China, the tournament’s runner-up in 1999.
Entering Thursday’s contest, South Africa had lost all four previous matches by a combined 28-0 score.
In Paris, South Africa continued its streak of failing to score against China as the Chinese won 1-0 through a Li Ying goal in the 40th minute.
China, meanwhile, extended its streak to 16 matches without a loss in the World Cup when scoring first.
South Africa’s chances at advancing in its debut World Cup are slim, though not impossible. There are four berths into the Round of 16 given to the top four third-place finishers in the group stage. Automatic qualification is given to the top two teams in each group.
South Africa, however, plays one of the tournament favorites, Germany, in its final group stage game. Germany leads Group B with six points after two victories in two matches.
For the second consecutive day at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, VAR produced a controversial result.
On Thursday, it was in the second half of Brazil’s 3-2 loss to Australia, a battle of top 10 ranked teams in the world.
Australia’s prolific scorer Sam Kerr was in an offside position when a cross was looped into the box in the 66th minute. Brazilian defender Monica was in front of Kerr when she leaped to head the ball away, except it went right on target and slipped into Brazil’s net for an own goal.
It gave Australia a 3-2 lead temporarily as referee Esther Staubli, of Switzerland, was summoned to check via VAR.
Surely, it was going to be disallowed. Kerr was standing in an offide position when the ball was played, though she didn’t touch the ball at any point. However, Monica may not have knocked the ball at all if she knew Kerr couldn’t be involved in the play.
Instead, Staubli ruled the goal stood.
And it buoyed the Aussies past Brazil for a second straight World Cup, ruining a record-setting day by Brazil legend Marta.
Marta scored a penalty in the first half as Brazil built a 2-0 lead. Her goal, in her first match of this World Cup, set a record by becoming the first player — female or male — to score in five different World Cups.
Brazil sits even with Australia and Italy at three points in Group C, finishing group play against the Italians next Tuesday. Italy plays Jamaica on Friday with a chance to take the pole position in the group.