Caicedo, Colombia take down Germany
Believe the hype. Teenager Linda Caicedo is for real, and so are Colombia’s chances of going far at the Women’s World Cup.
As for the country’s fans, who gave Sydney Football Stadium the feel of a Colombia home game on Sunday, their passionate support created a jubilant atmosphere that lingered long after a 2-1 win over two-time champion Germany provided one of the tournament’s great upsets.
Germany has never failed to advance from the group stage of the World Cup and this was its first loss in a group game since 1995.
It is still expected to beat South Korea in its last game of Group H, but will likely have to settle for second place, which could set up a round of 16 match with France.
Caicedo, 18, produced another moment of magic to put Colombia on course for backto-back wins with her opening goal in the 52nd minute. She needed treatment late in regulation but stayed on the field and, five minutes later, Alexandra Popp equalized from the penalty spot.
That setback for Colombia in the 89th merely preceded an even later twist when defender Manuela Vanegas headed in a winner in seventh minute of stoppage time.
Cue wild celebrations from Colombia, and looks of disbelief among the German players.
Caicedo and her teammates certainly have had a dramatic campaign.
The Real Madrid star, already a cancer survivor, had a health scare earlier in the week when she dropped to the ground, holding her chest in a practice session. Team officials said it was fatigue, and she certainly appeared to be in full flight for her stunning secondhalf strike.
Caicedo had already scored from distance in a 2-0 win against South Korea on Tuesday. But while that goal involved an error from goalkeeper Yoon Young-geul, on this occasion it was all about individual brilliance.
Collecting the ball from just inside the area after a corner, she worked her way into space by bewildering two German defenders in a fast-stepping move before lashing a shot into the top corner.
Caicedo needed medical treatment behind play in the 84th minute. She dropped to the ground and, as she lay face down on the pitch, was checked by trainers as the referee stood nearby. She got up and started walking to the bench but, after signaling she was OK, went back onto the field and continued the game.
Marsiglia later tried to allay concerns, explaining that the teen had been exhausted but adding that there was a “bit of acceleration” in her heart.
A historic hijab
Stepping onto the field against South Korea in Morocco’s second match, defender Nouhaila Benzina made history as the first player to wear a hijab while competing at a senior-level global tournament.
A FIFA ban on playing in religious head coverings in its sanctioned games for “health and safety reasons” was overturned in 2014 after advocacy from activists, athletes, and government and soccer officials.
Benzina plays professional club soccer for the Association’s Sports of Forces Armed Royal — the eight-time defending champion in Morocco’s top women’s league. She did not play in Morocco’s opening 6-0 loss to Germany in Melbourne, and had to wait six days to finally get her start in the Group H game in Adelaide.
It was worth it. The Atlas Lionesses played with more freedom in an afternoon game against South Korea, scoring in the sixth minute and hanging on for a 1-0 win. Benzina played an important role in the defensive line, and picked up a yellow card late in the game as South Korea counterattacked.
The No. 72-ranked Atlas Lionesses, playing in their first Women's World Cup, got their first goal on a glancing header from Ibtissam Jraïdi in the sixth minute.
New Zealand all done
New Zealand outshot Switzerland and even moved goalkeeper Victoria Esson into an attack position several times, but failed to break a 0-0 tie and became the first host nation to be eliminated in group play in tournament history.
All 25,947 seats at Forsyth Barr Stadiums were filled — the only one of Dunedin’s six tourney matches to sell out. The raucous crowd stomped and cheered all night, to no avail.
The Football Ferns are cohosting the World Cup with Australia, which must win Monday against Canada to avoid its own early elimination.
Switzerland advanced to the round of 16.
Norway romps
Sophie Roman Haug’s hat trick kick-started Norway’s dormant offense and sparked a 6-0 blowout of the Philippines in Auckland, New Zealand, that moved the Norwegians into to the knockout stage.
The Norwegians had yet to score in 2023 before their sixgoal eruption.