Women’s World Cup Roundup: Morocco defies all odds; Germany crashes out in the Group Stage on Day 15

The final day of the group stage at the Women’s World Cup produced two matches that didn’t have many fireworks in terms of goals scored. However, the results that came from these matches have produced even more chaos in Australia and New Zealand! Let’s take a look back at day 15 of this Women’s World Cup!

Women’s World Cup Roundup Day 15

Germany doomed by a 1-1 draw against South Korea

Union — Germany’s Svenja Huth, left, and Lena Lattwein react following the Women’s World Cup Group H soccer match between South Korea and Germany in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Aisha Schulz)

Coming into the final matchday of Group H play the stakes were clear-cut for favorites Germany; win and advance to the knockout rounds, or rely on Colombia beating Morocco. They took on a South Korean side that was already eliminated from making the Round of 16. It was all right there for the number two-ranked team in the World, yet they struggled early and often.

As this crucial match began, it looked like South Korea was the one playing for their knockout lives and that Germany was already knocked out. The momentum was all with South Korea as they almost found the opening goal in the third minute. Germany saw that very early but did not react fast enough to combat it, as South Korea scored in the sixth minute! A surprising through ball from Young-Ju Lee beat all of the German defenders and found the run of So-Hyun Cho. She slotted a chance past the German keeper.

Germany was 1-0 down early, and after that point, they realized that they needed to put the pedal to the medal. They responded decently well creating 14 shots throughout the match; however, the finishing moments were lacking. Germany only registered four shots on target. One of which was a nicely worked buildup play that was able to find Svenja Huth who put a perfect cross into the box for Alexandra Popp to head home! It was 1-1 just before halftime!

As the match moved to the second half, Germany kept moving forward and thought they had the go-ahead goal in the 57th minute. Popp headed another chance into the net, but after a VAR review, she was deemed to be in an offside position when the ball was played to her. It stayed 1-1 and the match descended into chaos past that. The German onslaught continued, but they found no real chance to score.

After a crazy 16 minutes of added injury time at the end of the game, German hopes were dashed. They drew South Korea, putting them on four points; at the same time, Morroco had already won 1-0 over Colombia putting them on six points. The number two team in the World, Germany, has crashed out of the group stage keeping with the chaos of this Women’s World Cup.

Group H Standings

Colombia – 6 pts | +2 GD
Morocco – 6 pts | -4 GD
Germany – 4 pts | +5 GD
South Korea – 1 pt | -3 GD

Morocco finds a historic win over Colombia to book a knockout round spot

Coming into this final game, Colombia was on a high after beating Germany in a thriller booking their spot in the knockout rounds. Moroccan hopes were still alive but just barely. Morocco needed a win and a Germany draw or loss to defy all odds and get out of the group stage at this World Cup. This match had drama written all over it from the jump.

Morocco came out swinging early. They had all the momentum, and it created chances for them. Throughout the entire match, Morocco created eight shots six of which were on goal. That production is very good, and one of those shots was a PK just before halftime. Colombia had some shocking defending shoving Morocco in the box. Ghizlane Chebbak stepped up with the chance to give her nation the chance to go to the knockout rounds. Her pen was not taken well and saved by Colombia’s Catalina Perez, but she gave up a big rebound…

After the penalty kick was saved, Morroco’s Sakina Ouzaraoui was the first to the ball, she tried to fire the ball toward the net but it was blocked by Colombia and fell to Morroco’s Anissa Lahmari who was able to find a way to get the ball across the line. It was 1-0 to Morocco as the match went to halftime! As the match went to the second half, Colombia turned it up a notch. They were able to create 11 shots in the game, but the finishing touch that they had against Germany was missing.

Colombia only produced three shots on goal. Their star Linda Caicedo was able to get a good look in the 73rd minute, but it forced a save from Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi to make a huge save. It was a bit of an off day for a Colombia side that has been electric in their first two matches. They knew they were safe and moving on, but still pushed for a goal late on.

There were 12 added minutes at the end of the match, Colombia was pushing for a goal, and Morocco was defending for their lives. The final whistle came, and Morocco celebrated. They knew that they had done what they needed to do to win, and they knew Germany was drawing South Korea. However, Germany’s match was still going on, so their celebrations ended abruptly as the entire team and stadium turned their attention to the scoreboard to watch the end of the Germany match. When that match went final, Moroccan celebrations went wild as they are off to the Round of 16 at this World Cup!

Morocco’s goal for its Women’s program was to make the African Cup of Nations last year, they did that and made a run to the final, falling to South Africa. In the process of that run, they qualified for this World Cup, and now are off to the knockout rounds knocking Germany out of this World Cup in the process of doing so!