Colombia stun Germany; Norway score six; South Korea hopes still alive | OneFootball

With four games scheduled, there was plenty to be decided at the Women’s World Cup on Sunday.

Colombia leapfrog Germany in finely poised Group H

Scorers: Popp (PEN) 89′; Caicedo 52′, Vanegas 90+7′

Colombia produced a spirited display to leapfrog Germany in a finely poised Group H.

A victory for the former world champions would secure their place in the knockouts as well as eliminate South Korea.

Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side enjoyed the best chance of the first half when Alexandra Popp fired over following good work by Lina Magull.

Linda Caicedo delivered a breakthrough shortly after the interval for Colombia with a stunning curling finish inside the penalty area.

Germany struggled to impose themselves for large parts yet received a lifeline when Catalina Pérez brought down Lena Oberdorf in the penalty area.

Alexandra Popp’s cool spot kick in the 89th minute temporarily restored the Frauenteam as group leaders ahead of Colombia on goal difference.

However a pulsating encounter delivered another twist deep into added time as Manuela Vanegas headed her country back into the lead.

Co-hosts out as Norway blow Philippines away

Group A came to a close with Switzerland topping the group and Norway winning big to knock co-hosts New Zealand, and the Philippines, out.

It was a cagey affair in Dunedin with Switzerland requiring just a point to win the group.

With Norway leading comfortably in the other game, New Zealand needed to win to secure a place in the knockout rounds but could not make the breakthrough.

The Ferns piled on the pressure in the closing stages with a series of set-pieces but could not find the goal that would have seen them beat Switzerland to a spot in the last 16.

Scorers: Haug 7′, 17′, 90+5′, Graham Hansen 31′, Barker (OG) 48′, Reiten (pen) 53′

Norway may have been without Ada Hegerberg but Sophie Román Haug stepped up with a crucial early brace against the Philippines, scoring superbly from a tight angle before heading home.

A stunner from Caroline Graham Hansen has made it three before the break and a quick-fire double — an unfortunate own goal from Alicia Barker and a penalty won and converted by Chelsea’s Guro Reiten — has seen it quickly go from three to five after half-time.

Haug finished things off, completing her hat-trick with a simple finish in added time.

Norway hadn’t scored at the World Cup heading into the final group game but will now head into the last 16.

Moroccan history stuns South Korea

Scorers: Jraïdi 6′

Morocco’s first ever win at a Women’s World Cup means South Korea are on the verge of going home after an enormous shock. Both teams needed a result on Sunday as South Korea, ranked 17th in the world, met Morocco, ranked 76th in the world, met having lost their opener.

And it took just six minutes for Ibtissam Jraïdi to stun the Asian Cup runners-up, stooping to glance a header into the far corner for Morocco’s first ever goal at a Women’s World Cup.

The early goal put a spring in the Moroccan step and they continued to impress early on, Jraïdi continuing to impress with her work-rate and link-up play.

South Korea grew into things in possession but struggled to create chances, with Morocco defending resolutely when pushed back into their own half.

A one-sided second half was a story of intense pressure. With time running out, South Korea’s best chance of the game fell to 16-year-old Casey Phair, who sorted her feet well in the area before dragging her effort wide of the post.

Morocco offered a threat on the break into added time, with Tottenham’s Rosella Ayane scuffing an opportunity late on, but they did not need a second.