Group A
Costa Rica 1-1 Brazil
Costa Rica goal: Paniagua (32)
Brazil goal: Iseppe (83)
Costa Rica goalkeeper Valeria Fernandez was the hero as she saved a stoppage-time penalty from Brazil captain Kaylane to earn the Central Americans their first point of the tournament.
After losing their opening match to Italy, Costa Rica began brightly and appeared on course for victory thanks to an opportunistic first-half effort from Lucia Paniagua. Brazil defender Andreyna gave the ball away in her own half and Kiana Lopez set up Paniagua, who struck home with a powerful left-footed effort.
Brazil desperately pushed for an equaliser after the break and struck the post through Maria nine minutes from time. They found the equaliser moments afterwards when Fernandez drifted to the outside of the box to chase down Giovanna Waksman, who crossed the ball for Giovana Iseppe to head into the empty net.
The South Americans were awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time following a clumsy foul by Paniagua on Kaylane, but Fernandez brilliantly kept the ball out to rescue her team.
Quotes
“It’s a draw that means a lot, because we’re coming off a defeat, so scoring points was always going to be important because it keeps us alive in the competition, because we’re faced an opponent like Brazil, which is a very high-calibre rival in everything that has to do with a ball – indoor, beach, women’s, men’s, football. We know that a draw in a World Cup against Brazil, coming off a defeat, would be difficult, and we achieved it with a lot of character.”
Edgar Rodriguez, Costa Rica coach
“I believe we played a good game, a great game, we definitely dominated the game. And I think the only thing missing was the details, right? The ball hitting the back of the net. And I believe we played well. Now it’s about adjusting and focusing on our finishing in the final third.”
Gi Iseppe, Brazil midfielder
Morocco 1-3 Italy
Morocco goal: El Mesmoudi (82)
Italy goals: Galli (5, 13), Giudici (23)
Giulia Galli continued her imperious goalscoring form as Italy followed up their opening victory against Costa Rica with a comfortable triumph over hosts Morocco to punch their knockout round ticket.
The 17-year-old forward scored twice in an eight-minute spell early in the first half, both of which were opportunistic left-footed strikes from close range. She now has four goals so far at the global finals, putting her firmly in the lead for the adidas Golden Boot award.
Italy extended their lead when Morocco goalkeeper Ahlam Boukhorb failed to hold onto a deep free-kick from Giulia Guerzoni and Rachele Giudici tapped the ball in on the goalline. There was drama in first-half stoppage time when Azzurrine keeper Matilde Robbioni was shown a red card for an apparent handball outside the area but the ruling was overturned after a video review.
The home crowd were given reason to cheer eight minutes from time when Morocco scored their first goal of the tournament through substitute Dounia-El Yakout El Mesmoudi after Amana Lakradi won the ball back near the Italy area.
Quotes
“I congratulate our team because we gave everything until the end despite the score. We have the youngest team in the tournament, and we’re still learning. We dominated almost the entire match but couldn’t finish in front of goal. I’m proud of my team – there’s still one game left. It’s through matches like this that we gain experience. Thanks to all the Moroccan fans, men and women, for their presence and support.”
Romaissa Ihssan, Morocco midfielder
“It was incredible, we really wanted to take these three points home. We showed how much we’re worth, all the determination we have, and how much more we can still give. Brazil is very strong technically; it’s going to be a beautiful match, but we have what it takes to compete with them.”
Matilde Robbioni, Italy goalkeeper
“It was a tough match against a well-organized team, especially one playing at home with the support of their crowd. But the girls did a great job, especially in coming onto the pitch and starting off with full intensity. Then, of course, in the second half, when we came back out, we paid a bit for our attitude, but they still did well to suffer together and gradually work their way back into the game throughout the half.”
Viviana Schiavi, Italy head coach
Group B
Korea DPR 2-1 Cameroon
Korea DPR goals: Kim (75, 90+8)
Cameroon goal: Tiwa (45+2)
Korea DPR struck a 98th-minute winner to clinch victory over Cameroon. The African side took a shock lead on the stroke of half-time when Lys Tiwa headed in after Ange Tazanou’s shot was parried by goalkeeper Kim Son-gyong.
Korea DPR steadily applied pressure in the second half in search of a leveller. They finally got their reward when Ri Ui-gyong set up Kim Won-sim to slide home a first-time finish. The title holders then steadfastly hunted another goal but Cameroon held firm and looked set to bank a precious point. There was to be incredible late drama, however, as Kim headed in another Ri cross to secure maximum points and a knockout round berth for Korea DPR.
Quotes
“It didn’t work out very well from the start, so it was very difficult for me. But I did my best and we did everything, we each believed in each other. I was determined to run and run until the last minute of the match, and I trusted in the coaches and my team-mates.”
Kim Won-sim, Korea DPR forward
“I feel disappointed and frustrated. We gave it everything, we deserved something, but we came away with nothing. We lost, but we also learned a lot. We need to stay focused and keep believing, because we have faith. It’s not over yet: if we manage to beat Mexico, we’ll have three points and can still hope to qualify.”
Jessica Mabou, Cameroon goalkeeper
“I feel disappointed – that’s the nature of the game. We had prepared our players because we expected that kind of physical resistance from the (Koreans). Unfortunately, it’s youth, and when the opposing machine got rolling, we broke down. Sadly, we lost just a few minutes before the end, it’s really disappointing.”
Josephine Ndoumou, Cameroon head coach
Netherlands 0-1 Mexico
Mexico goal: Reyes (87)
A stunning, long-range strike from Citlalli Reyes earned Mexico a dramatic victory over the Netherlands.
The first half belonged to Mexico, as they twice hit the woodwork. A long-range attempt from Alexa Martinez glanced off the post, before Dafne Sanchez’s looping effort was tipped onto the crossbar by Netherlands goalkeeper Maren Groothoff.
The Dutch got a break just shy of the hour-mark when Vanessa Paredes took down Sophie Van Hunnik as the last defender on a breakaway, reducing Mexico to ten players.
Now the pressure was on Mexico shot-stopper Valentina Murrieta, but she responded well and kept the Netherlands at bay. Just when it looked like the two sides would share the spoils, Reyes unfurled her right-footed rocket from way outside the area to give her side the full points.
Quotes
“The first half, it was very difficult to play our game, to make the right decisions in our build-up. We controlled the game in the second half – we started well, but sometimes the last pass was not good enough. Once we played against ten men, we were not good enough. We lost two simple balls, we created their chance, and they scored a goal on the shot. That was not good enough.”
Olivier Amelink, Netherlands coach
“I think what I value the most is the girls’ effort — the courage to play with one player less — and they never hesitated to go forward, to chase the win, and fortunately, it worked out for us. Instead of playing not to lose, they played to win. And based on tactical discipline and transitions, that’s exactly what we were hoping for. It means a lot emotionally. I think it comes at a great time for us, and we have to understand that this is just one more step — now we have to focus on the third match.”
Miguel Gamero, Mexico head coach
Group C
USA 5-2 China PR
USA goals: Malsom (27, 68), Dimaria (44), Touray (45+3, 62)
China goals: Xinyi (12), Yijie (85)
USA rallied from an early deficit with five unanswered goals to storm past China PR and book a place in the knockout round.
The Asian side led when Zhou Xinyi curled a left-footed shot that nicked the post before rippling the net. A superb defensive play from Cali O’Neill set the table for USA’s equaliser, as she stole the ball at midfield and fed Lauren Malsom, who raced down the right wing, cut to her left and blasted in a shot.
The momentum was with the Stars and Stripes and they grabbed their first lead of the day when Maddie DiMaria glided through the Chinese defence and fired low into net. Malsom got to play the role of provider, slipping a pass into Nyanya Touray, who finished with aplomb.
Touray notched her second with an easy sweep into net after an excellent cutback pass from Micayla Johnson. Malsom then completed the USA’s scoring, gathering a pass from Dimaria and slotting home for her second of the evening. China found a second in the waning moments on a perfectly-struck free-kick from Zeng Yijie.
Quotes
“Overall, our preparation and tactics were very solid. I think the turning point came when Ke Can got injured. That forced us to reshuffle our positions a bit, and from that moment on, we were a little stretched. Still, I’m proud of how the girls performed. Most of them are still playing in youth leagues back home, while the U.S. players already have experience in professional environments. That gap in experience probably made the biggest difference today.”
Wang Hongliang, China PR head coach
“We knew from the start that it was going to be a tough game. China came out and beat the last team [Norway] 5-0, so we knew we had to come out on the strong foot with energy. Going down a goal, I think adversity was hard to come back, but I think the team did a great job rallying each other, sticking behind each other’s back and coming back and winning the game, obviously.”
Maddie DiMaria, USA midfielder
Norway 0-2 Ecuador
Ecuador goals: Niss own goal (28), Zambrano (74)
Ecuador got their tournament up and running as Norway had an evening to forget.
The Scandinavians first missed a penalty in the 11th minute when Christina Herseth’s spot kick was well saved by Ecuador keeper Maria Rodriguez. And they were made to pay for their profligacy when defender Ebba Niss bundled the ball into her own net after connecting with a speculative strike from Mary Guerra, which was going well wide of the post.
Ecuador doubled their lead in the 74th minute in style when defender Maite Zambrano converted a Guerra corner with a fine finish as Eline Kulstad-Torneus’s players slipped to their second successive defeat.
Quotes
“We didn’t create enough chances to decide the game. We created pretty early on, but sadly, we were not precise enough in the decisive moments, and Ecuador did that better than we did. All in all, we were not good enough in the decisive moments. It’s just a tough loss, we expect more from us, all of us, the whole team. It’s disappointing.”
Eline Kulstad-Torneus, Norway coach
“It’s not easy to bounce back from a loss. But I think we’re a very strong team – both mentally and on the field. We showed that today. We turned the page and got the win. Honestly, we feel very calm after this win. We’re already preparing for the next match, thinking about our next opponent, about doing things right and getting another victory.”
Maite Zambrano, Ecuador defender
