South Korea V Morocco (0-1)
Tournament debutants Morocco stunned South Korea to pick up Arab Nation first win ever at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Ibtissam Jraidi raced the Lionesses of Atlas into an early lead in the 6th minute and they did well to maintain that lone advantage for the entire 90 minutes.
Hanane Ait El Haj sent in a delightful cross into the area for Jraidi to put a glancing header to her, directing the ball to the bottom corner.
Colin Bell’s side enjoyed the larger shared of the possession at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup encounter but Morocco did well to surmount the pressure.
Despite a barrage of 16 shots to Morocco’s 10, Reynard Pedros’ ladies were determined to make history.
Morocco sit in 3rd by virtue of that win, while South Korea sit 4th in the group, the other Group H affair will see Germany squaring off against Colombia on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
The encounter will be played at the Sydney Football Stadium in Australia and both teams have got 3 points.
Only one yellow card was brandished by referee Edina Alves Batista of Brazil and it was shown to Morocco’s Nouhaila Benzina in the 81st minute.
2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Norway V Philippines (6-0)
Powerhouse Norway thumped Philippines by 5-0 in a Group A deciding fixture played at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.
It was a complete domineering victory from the 1995 FIFA Women’s World Cup champions, who sailed the game to whatever course they wanted it to go.
Hege Riise side took an early lead in the 6th minute via a well directed volley by Sophie Haug in the 6th minute.
She doubled Norway’s advantage in the 17th minute through a well placed header off a cross sent in by Vilde Bøe Risa.
Carolina Graham Hansen then increase The Grasshoppers’ lead in the 31st minute before Alicia Barket then put the ball into her own net, 3 minutes after the commencement of action in the second half.
Chelsea women goalkeeper Guro Reiten then netted the 5th goal in the 53rd minute through a penalty.
Sophie Haug then scored a third via a header in the 5th minute of additional time in the second half, which completed a perfect day for her.
Guro Reiten turned provider for Haug sending an inviting cross in the box and the Roma forward wasted no time in scoring a hat-trick.
It was a perfect definition of a white-wash as Norway sealed their entry into the round of 16, while debutants The Philippines were bundled out of the tournament.
Referee Marie-Soleil Beaudoin handed three cards in the game, one yellow to Philippines Katrina Guillou in the 54th minute and a red card to Sofia Harrison for a reckless challenge on Thea Bjelde.
Norway’s Vilde Bøe Risa was also shown a yellow card in the 86th minute for a late challenge on Meryll Abrahamsen.
2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Switzerland V New Zealand (0-0)
It was a day to say bye-bye to co-host New Zealand as they have ultimately had an Okay tournament but not enough to see them qualify to the knockout phase of the tournament.
This is the sixth time out of six FIFA Women’s World Cup that New Zealand would crash out in the group stage.
Both sides huffed and puffed but Switzerland appeared to understand the assignment on the day.
The draw ensured their passage into the round of 16 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, while for New Zealand, a win could have seen them qualify for the knockout phase as well.
Inka Grings side finish Group A in the top spot, while Jitka Klimkova’s New Zealand finish 3rd with 4 points, equal on points with Norway but with a goal difference of 0 to the Norwegians +5.
No yellow cards were shown throughout the 90 minutes of action by American referee Tori Penso.
