Switzerland won Group A with a 0-0 draw against New Zealand that knocked out the co-hosts thanks to Norway’s big win.
The game was not a thriller. The teams basically split possession 50-50 and there were just five combined shots on target. New Zealand had 12 shots overall knowing that it needed to do more than a draw to get to the knockout rounds.
Switzerland entered the match with four points while New Zealand had three. Switzerland knew that it could win the group no matter what with a tie and was determined to get that result.
New Zealand was knocked out of the World Cup on goal difference. The co-hosts ended up with an even goal difference after a 1-0 win over Norway and a 1-0 loss to the Philippines. Norway’s goal difference ended up at +5 after its thrashing of the Philippines.
Norway 6, Philippines 0
Norway got the big win it needed against the Philippines as it routed the Philippines 6-0 to advance to the knockout rounds of the World Cup.
Norway entered Sunday’s match in last place in Group A with just a single point from two games. The onslaught began early for the Norwegians as Sophie Roman Haug scored twice in the first 17 minutes.
Caroline Graham Hansen added a goal from outside the box in the 31st minute and goals by Alicia Barker and Guro Reiten within the first 10 minutes of the second half made it clear that Norway was going to advance.
Just take a look at Graham Hansen’s goal.
Roman Haug completed her hat trick five minutes into added time in the second half.
The loss ends Philippines’ first World Cup on a sour note. The country had a chance to advance with a draw and would have guaranteed a spot in the knockout rounds with a win thanks to a win over New Zealand earlier in the tournament. But Norway — one of the pre-tournament favorites — just proved to be too much.
Morocco 1, South Korea 0
Morocco became the latest country to snag its first-ever Women’s World Cup win with a surprise 1-0 win over South Korea early Sunday morning.
Morocco’s goal came early as Ibtissam Jraïdi scored in the sixth minute as she became the first player to ever score for her country in the Women’s World Cup.
The Moroccans then held on from there as South Korea pushed forward. South Korea had 16 total shots and controlled the ball but couldn’t put a single one of those attempts on frame.
The victory gives Morocco a fighting chance of advancing out of Group H despite a -5 goal differential through two games after a 6-0 loss to Germany to open the World Cup. The exact scenario for Morocco’s advancement will be known after the conclusion of Germany’s game against Colombia.
Colombia 2, Germany 1
Colombia surged to the top of Group H with a 2-1 win over Germany.
Colombia got an incredible late goal from Manuela Vanegas seven minutes into added time for the win. Vanegas’ goal came less than 10 minutes after Germany tied the game on Alexandra Popp’s penalty kick.
Popp scored from the spot after Catalina Perez was whistled for a foul on Lena Oberdorf.
Linda Caicedo gave Colombia the lead in the 52nd minute with an amazing goal. It made it look for a while like Colombia was headed to a 1-0 lead. The goal was the 18-year-old’s second of the tournament after she scored against South Korea and establishes her as one of the rising stars of this 2023 tournament.
The win means Colombia is through to the knockout rounds and atop Group H with six points through two games. Germany is tied with Morocco on three points while South Korea is eliminated from the knockout stages with zero points through its first two games.
Germany will advance to the next round with a win or draw against Morocco thanks to goal difference. Morocco must beat the Germans to advance.
