2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: South Africa 3-2 Italy
It was a keenly contested game at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup involving two sides with different approaches.
The Azzurre were largely dominant in possession while the South Africans opted for efficiency.
However, history was made by the Bayana Bayana as they qualified to the round of 16, joining Nigeria as the second African side to progress into the next round.
A draw was enough to see Italy through to the next round, while Desiree Ellis’ South Africa needed a win to progress into the round of 16 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Their chances were looking bleak until legendary forward Thembi Kgatlana rose up clutch for her nation in the 2 minute of stoppage time.
Italy had initially gone into the lead in the 11th minute off a penalty dispatched by Arianna Caruso, before an own goal by defender Bendetta Orsi brought the game to parity.
South Africa’s Hildah Magaia scored a beauty of a strike in the 67th minute as they were eyeing the dream.
Anyway, fast-forward 7 minutes later, the Bayana Bayana allowed Italy stroll back into the game off a goal from Arianna Caruso.
Thembi Kgatlana’s goal qualified South Africa for the round of 16
However, Thembi Kgatlana, inspirational captain, scored despite the amount of pressure she had in the box.
After over 90 minutes of grueling action, Desiree Ellis’ South Africa made history by progressing into the round of 16 for the first time in history.
Milena Bertolini would be wondering how the game turned on its head despite her side being in an advantageous position of qualification.
Across the 90 minutes and additional time in the FIFA Women’s World Cup encounter, no yellow card was brandished by referee Maria Belen Carvajal.
Argentina 0-2 Sweden
An underwhelming display across three matches from Argentina, saw them crash out of the tournament as the bottom team in Group G of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Sweden progressed into the next round unscathed as they won all their group encounters convincingly.
It appears they are majorly a second half team in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup as they won their first and last group game via goals from the second 45.
Wolfsburg forward Rebecka Blomqvist took her goals tally in the tournament to two goals, scoring the opener against Argentina.
German Portanova’s side couldn’t match the quality of Sweden and they felt the heat from The Blue and Yellow.
Substitute Elin Rubensson, who came on in the second 45 scored the killer goal in the 90th minute via a penalty to cement the victory.
Peter Gerhardsson’s side will be accompanied by African champions South Africa out of Group G to the next round.
Customarily with less cards being shown in the tournament, only two yellow cards were shown across all 90 minutes and it was brandished to Olivia Schough of Sweden in the 20th minute and Camila Gomez Ares of Argentina.
Panama 3-6 France
It appears Panama touched the lion’s tail by scoring early against France as they were annihilated despite their electric stars.
Pachuca forward Marta Cox put Ignacio Quintana’s side in front before Montpellier defender Maëlle Lakrar equalized for Les Blue.
That goal by the French was accompanied by three extra goals in the first 45 minutes as Kadidiatou Diani scored a brace in the 28th and 37th minute.
After the restart of action in the second 45, Diani took her goals tally in the game to three, scoring a delightful hat-trick.
The hat-trick scored by Kadidiatou Diani is France’s first ever at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Léa Le Garrec scored the fifth goal for Havre Renard’s side before Yomira Pinzon scored for Panama via the penalty spot.
However, that was not the last goal in the encounter as Olympique Lyonnais midfielder Vicki Becho scored in the 9th minute of stoppage time to complete the routing over Panama.
Panama’s Lineth Cedeno scored a consolation in the 87th minute to make the scoreline appear respectable.
Les Blues progressed into the round of 16 without a loss, while Panama crashed out of the tournament without picking up any victory.
Referee Laura Fortunato dished out only one yellow card throughout the 90 minutes and it was shown to Yomira Pinzon of Panama in the 66th minute.
2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup: Jamaica 0-0 Brazil
This is definitely one of the shocking outcomes in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Seeing Brazil crash out in the group stage wouldn’t have resonated with many but the reggae girls ensured that such happened.
The 2-1 loss against France has appeared to be costly for the Selecao as they bow out of the tournament in the group phase.
Lorne Donalson’s side have made history by qualifying for the round of 16 for the first time ever, while Pia Sundhage would be wondering what went wrong.
Despite Brazil’s dominance over the 90 minutes, they couldn’t find a way to penetrate through a determined Jamaican side.
Only one yellow card was shown in the encounter and it went to Cheyna Mathews of Jamaica in the 30th minute.
