OneFootball
Alex Mott·1 August 2023
OneFootball
Alex Mott·1 August 2023
With the World Cup taking place in Australia and New Zealand, plenty of fans around the world will be in bed when some of the games take place.
Not to worry, we have you covered.
USA survived a late scare as Portugal hit the post in injury time to draw 0-0 and exit the tournament at the expense of the States.
Vietnam’s tournament ended in acrimony as they were hammered 7-0 by table-toppers Netherlands.
Haiti, once again, showed their dogged determination but they were downed 2-0 by Denmark.
England finally showed up at this World Cup as they dismantled China in a 6-1 drubbing.
As Portugal’s game with USA entered stoppage time, hearts were racing and nails were being bitten.
With Netherlands hammering Vietnam in Group E’s other game, this was a straight shoot-out to see who would be going into the last 16.
USA, the reigning champions, were struggling in front of goal and their profligacy in the final third very nearly cost them.
A long ball into Portugal forward Jessica Silva saw the 28-year-old flick a header on into the path of Ana Capeta.
Capeta raced on to the ball, ahead of the American defence, and entered their penalty box with the goal at her mercy.
For a brief second it looked as if her late strike could produce probably the biggest shock in Women’s World Cup history.
But Capeta’s effort came crashing back off the post and saw the Seleçao go home.
Jubilation for America, heartbreak for Portugal.
This is Lauren James’s world, we’re just living it.
The England forward had proved her class in England’s previous group game against Denmark.
Coming in for Lauren Hemp, James scored the only goal of the game as the Lionesses beat their Scandinavian rivals 1-0.
But James went to another level on Tuesday.
The Chelsea winger was involved in five goals – scoring two herself and setting up another three – as England beat China 6-1.
Both of her goals were special but the second, a volley at the back post from Jess Carter’s cross, was something else.
Esmee Brugts scored her first ever World Cup goal on Tuesday as Netherlands overwhelmed Vietnam in one of the tournament’s more one-sided encounters.
But whether it’s one goal in a seven-strike drubbing or a last-minute winner in the latter stages – your first World Cup goal still means everything, as this hug proves.
The group stage reaches its penultimate day on Wednesday with Groups E and F coming to their conclusion.
It really is all to play for in Group F with France and Jamaica tied on three points whilst Brazil are in third on three points.
The South American giants take on the Reggae Girls in what should be the game of the day.
In Group G meanwhile, Sweden have already booked their place in the knockout stages and take on bottom side Argentina.
But it’s a straight play-off for second place with Italy and South Africa going head-to-head.
The Azzurri currently have the advantage with three points compared to South Africa’s one.