Drama, suspense, history being written, immense heights getting attained and glory being achieved has characterized the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia.
Japan V Costa Rica
The contest at the Dunedin Stadium in New Zealand saw the 2011 Champions pip past the Costa Ricans by 2-0.
Two goals in quick succession was witnessed as Futoshi Ikeda’s side showed their superiority over their opponent.
Japan were in control of the game and they directed the course of it to whatever length they wanted it to go.
Hikaru Naomoto and Aoba Fujino scored for Nadeshiko Japan in the 25th and 27th minute respectively.
After smashing Zambia by 5-0, they have also made light work of Costa Rica and this has obviously earned them qualification to the next round.
Japan will be aiming for glory at the FIFA Women’s World Cup
They will be looking to go past their Round of 16 finish which they ended in the 2019 edition of the mundial.
For The Tricolor of Costa Rica, this is their second appearance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup and they have been faced with two monstrous test.
They can’t come any bigger than Spain and Japan, in both games at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup they couldn’t match up to the quality of their opposition.
Amelia Valverde’s side have conceded a cumulative 5 goals in two games and they might be fighting for only pride when they get to face Zambia in their last group game.
They will be depending on the outcome of the clash between Spain and Zambia, before they can completely decipher their fate for the next round, although it looks like they can start packing their bags for exit.
Former Bayern Leverkusen forward Mina Tanaka provided a brace of assists for Japan.
It also appears there is a scarcity of cards in the tournament as Costa Rica’s Priscila Chinchilla was the only one shown a card in the game and it was a yellow card for a foul on Japan’s Yui Hasegawa.
2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Spain V Zambia
Spain parade array of stars compared to Zambia but in terms of tournament pedigree they aren’t also a very big side in the mundial.
However, for Zambia this is their first appearance at the tournament after finishing third in the last edition of the 2022 African Women’s Cup Of Nations.
Anyway, it was a thumping for Zambia in their second group C game at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup played at Eden Park in New Zealand as they were battered, bruised and annihilated by Spain.
Teresa Abelleira scored the opener in the 9th minute as she raced Spain into the lead.
She finished the ball sublimely, beating Eunice Sakala in goal for Zambia, who had no chance at saving her side.
Forward Jennifer Hermoso also netted a brace in the encounter as she doubled Spain’s advantage in the 13th minute before scoring the fourth goal in the clash.
Alba Redondo scored on either side of Hermoso’s goal after she was introduced in the 46th minute.
Bruce Mwape’s side are the whipping girls of the group and they have conceded an humongous 10 goals in 2 matches.
Zambia are out of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
Definitely, they will be saying bye-bye to the tournament, it’s their first time but certainly they would have picked positive lessons that would be useful in subsequent tournaments.
However, they have to battle for pride in the final group encounter where they will be facing Costa Rica.
Spain sit at the summit of Group C, while Japan are second. Jorge Vilda’s side who parade lots of big names sit at the top due to a one-goal differential which they have over the Japanese. The Spaniards have scored 8 goals, while Japan has scored 7.
We certainly can’t wait to lap up all the excitement in the final group game involving the two sides as they battle for who will top the group.
Only one yellow card was also shown in this game and it was shown to Zambia’s Ochumba Lubandji for a late challenge on Abelleira.
Canada V Ireland
The encounter played at the Perth Rectangular Stadium in Australia was a keenly contested one, both sides brought their all to the table but the Canadians albeit edged it on the day.
Ireland raced into the lead in the 4th minute after Katie McCabe scored an exquisite goal for Vera Pauw’s side.
In the 9th minute, there was a shout for a penalty after McCube ran into the box but she was pushed away from goal.
However, Referee Laura Fortunato turned a blind eye to the remonstrations signaling for play to continue.
In the 5th minute of additional time of the first half, Megan Connolly equalized for the The Canucks and in the 53rd minute, Adriana Leon scored the decisive goal in the Group B affair.
Canada moved to the summit of the group with 4 points, after securing massive points although they could be toppled by Australia or Nigeria on Thursday depending on the outcome of the clash.
There was an outpouring of yellow cards in the game as three yellow cards were shown in the game to Kadeisha Buchanan and Vanessa Gilles of Canada while Katie McCabe was the only one shown a yellow card for Ireland.
