The Women’s World Cup has produced thrilling matches throughout its first week. As the tournament moved into its second week, more nations played their second matches. Some booked their spots in the knockout rounds, some will need the final match to know their fate, and some have nothing to play for with one match to go. Let’s take a look back at day eight!
Women’s World Cup Roundup Day Eight
The USA needs to battle to draw the Netherlands
The USWNT started slowly, the Netherlands did not. Lindsey Horan salvaged a point for the USA after an all-time moment; get injured, start a fight, then score a goal. For more on this intriguing match, check out Regina Ham’s recap below!
Group E Standings
- USA – 4 pts | +3 GD
- Netherlands – 4 pts | +1 GD
- Portugal – 0 pts | -1 GD
- Vietnam – 0 pts | -3 GD
Portugal gets first World Cup win over Vietnam
In a meeting between two World Cup first-timers who both saw opening game defeats, this match would prove to be crucial should either find three points. Both Portugal and Vietnam knew that the USA and Netherlands drew, so there was an opportunity to put pressure on both in the Group E standings.
It looked like Vietnam wanted to do just that at the onset of the match. For the first few minutes, Vietnam held the ball and attacked a Portugal side that struggled to maintain possession. It may have taken Portugal a minute to get into the game, but when they finally did, they did so with a bang. Portugal finally got a hold of the ball and immediately created scoring chances, they then found the breakthrough just seven minutes in.
Telma Encarnacao scored Portugal’s first-ever goal at a Women’s World Cup. Vietnam had tried to advance as they did in the opening minutes, but could not stop a strong Portugal attack after losing the ball. Encarnacao finished a nice sequence for Portugal, and they were not settled with just one goal. over the next 15 minutes, Portugal kept the pressure on creating chance after chance yet again. They then found what would be the nail in the coffin of this match in just the 21st minute.
Francisca Nazareth was gifted the goal after Vietnam was caught playing out of the back. Encarnacao stole a pass and squared it to Nazareth who finished the chance. While the game wasn’t even a quarter of the way through, the game was all but over. Vietnam failed to get many looks at goal, and with the loss are eliminated from qualifying for the knockouts. Portugal will need to get points off of the USA if they want to continue a Cinderella run to the Round of 16!
Group E Standings
- USA – 4 pts | +3 GD
- Netherlands – 4 pts | +1 GD
- Portugal – 3 pts | +1 GD
- Vietnam – 0 pts | -5 GD
Nigeria shock co-hosts Australia 3-2
In Group B play, cohost Australia won a close game against debutants Ireland in their first match at this World Cup. Nigeria had to scrap for a nil-nil draw in their first match. The two came into the game with differing circumstances. For Australia, it was win to book a spot in the knockouts; for Nigeria, it was lose and be all but knocked out of the tournament. Because of these circumstances, the match had plenty of fireworks.
This game featured teams with two different styles of play. Nigeria wanted to be compact to stop Australia’s chances and pick and choose when to go forward. Australia put their foot on the gas the entire match to push the game forward, leaving some space open behind them that could cause problems. For the first 45 minutes, it looked like neither team would get a goal, then stoppage time happened.
Australia scored first in the first minute of stoppage time thanks to an Emily van Egmond goal after some pressure that made Nigeria make mistakes in their own half. Nigeria wanted to find their first goal after getting scored on. They did so just before halftime as Uchenna Kanu latched onto a ricocheted shot to get the best of Australia. It was 1-1 going into halftime, but it would not stay that way!
In the second half, Nigeria stuck to their game plan and sat in to stop Australia’s attacks. They did so well and then used the counterattack to create attacks. This paid off in the 65th minute as Nigeria won a corner from a counterattack. Australia wasn’t ready for it as they couldn’t stop an initial header, as they tried to react to the ball going toward goal, Osinachi Ohale headed home an easy chance to help the Super Falcons take the lead.
Just seven minutes later Nigeria created a Lethal attack yet again, Australia were slow to react, and their keeper Arnold came out to get the ball but did not. Asisat Oshoala found the ball and put it into the open net. It was 3-1 Nigeria with just about 15 minutes left.
As Australia frantically tried to force its way to get two goals, Nigeria kept all of its players deep behind the ball. There were 13 added minutes at the end of this game, and in the 10th of those 13 Australia did cut the lead to one. Alanna Kennedy headed home one of Australia’s many chances, but it was too little too late. Nigeria took the top spot in Group B with the win, while Australia fell to third in the group. They need a win over Canada to advance on the final day, and could still be without star striker Sam Kerr for that match…
Group B Standings
- Nigeria – 4 pts | +1 GD
- Canada – 4 pts | +1 GD
- Australia – 3 pts | 0 GD
- Ireland – 0 pts | -2 GD
Best Women’s World Cup Bets
Be sure to return to Philly Sports Network for more on Women’s World Cup content
Follow our Women’s World Cup team on Twitter:
Tim Lovenguth | Regina Ham | Paul Frenzel | Jimmy King | Liam Jenkins
Mandatory Credit: AP Photo/Andrew Cornaga, AP Photo/Alysa Rubin, AP Photo/Abbie Parr, & AP Photo/Tertius Pickard
