Defeat England 1-0 to become first time winners of FIFA Senior Women’s World Cup tournament

Women’s World Cup: Spain vs England | Photo: AP/Abbie Parr

By Ed Emeanua

Spain’s starting XI: Coll (GK), Batlle, Paredes, Codina, Carmona, Abelleira, Bonmati, Hermoso, Redondo, Caldentey, Paralluelo

England’s starting XI: Earps (GK), Bronze, Walsh, Greenwood, Bright, Stanway, Daly, Toone, Hemp, Carter, Russ

Center Referee: Mary Victoria (Tori) Penso, USA

 

 

Spain became the lowest ranked team on number 6 to win the Women’s World Cup with an Olga Carmona lone goal effort to defeat England Sunday at the Stadium Australia in Sydney.

 

Spain a first-time winner, now join previous champions the United States (1991, 1999, 2015, 2019), Norway (1995), Germany (2003, 2007) and Japan (2011) in this elite catalogue.

 

 

Thirty two began this journey  a month ago and we are now left with the last two. England kicked off the game at Stadium Australia, as both teams eagerly begin their dream to record the first Women’s World Cup victory for their country.

 

 

It was a frenetic start in this boiling pot of hot tension as England went into the attack early attack with Russo down the right on the opening minutes as the Lionesses Lauren Hemp gets clanked by Irene in the opening seconds.

 

On 3′, Spain begin to get into their groove with first productive touches on the ball. Lax England defensive line plays La Roja’s Salma in off Aitana’s feed. The Barça player then tried to wing it to her support-Ona-who but the cross is too heavy into the box and England is spared early blushes.

The first shot of the game came from Hemp in the 5th minute, who has started this tie on the front foot. The forward is on the end of a bouncing ball from a throw-in in the box but could only direct a weak shot which goalkeeper Cata Coll easily deals with.

England’s Alessia Russo in action with Spain’s Olga Carmona [Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/Reuters]

On 13′, England got their first corner kick. It is whipped in from the right side of the field with a looping delivery, but Coll rises high above all in her goal area to easily cuddle the ball before it could pose any more danger.

Salma Paralluelo has continued to pose a threatening presence for the La Roja backline. The Spain attacker has created some runs from the left flank and has already asked some questions of the England defense. On 15′, Spain continue to probe for a way in through the Lionesses defense, and look the more threatening side so far.

However, it was England’s Hemp hitting the cross bar a minute later. Daly laid on a ball in her path outside the box, as Hemp is stationed just right of centre the area. The England forward went for testing the Spain keeper with a curling effort, but ended up clipping the crossbar instead. What a close shave for England.

On 18′, it was the turn of the England keeper to go on the receiving end. Spain was on a swift counter, with Paralluelo once again in the thick of the affront on the English backline. The lithe attacker whipped in a cross from the left side of her team’s end of the field which finds Abelleira about five yard out, forcing her to make a go at the far post, but Mary Earps takes the ball easily.

Spain’s Salma Paralluelo controls the ball against Millie Bright of England [Robert Cianflone/Getty Images]

Spain’s goalkeeper, Cata Coll dives full length as England’s Lauren Hemp fires a shot that hits the crossbar [Quinn Rooney/Getty Images]

On 37′, a free kick is taken from the left side, finding Bright who volleys the ball away from her danger area, but her kick ends up finding Paredes inside the box on the right side. The Spaniard fires in a shot at the near post, but ends up missing the mark, much to the relief of a concerned Earps.

Spain will take their 1-0 lead into the break. In the second half, Spain’s Jennifer Hermoso had a penalty saved by England goalkeeper Earps in the second half. Spain drove into the box as their pressure in the England danger area forced the ball to brush the hand of England’s Keira Walsh.

After VAR had reviewed the incident, Center referee Tori Penso also took time to check the video for confirmation of a penalty kick award to Spain.

The Spanish maintained impressive control and edge in possession, 46%-37%, also edging out England on attempts on goal, 14-7, as well as shots on target, 5-3.

Though, Spain’s skipper Carmona’s goal in the 29th minute produced the winner, the margin of the win could have been wider since Hermoso’s had a low spot-kick shot saved by England’s goalkeeper Earps in the second half.

Women’s World Cup: Spain vs England | Photo: AP/Rick Rycroft

Women’s World Cup: Spain vs England | Photo: AP/Alessandra Tarantino

Also, Paralluelo appeared to have sealed the game with a strike from inside the area, but England’s Lucy Bronze blocked it from going into her net as another goal for Spain.

A massive 13 minutes of added time by the referee failed to provide England an avenue for reprieve, as their desperate search for the equalizer remained elusive.

Despite England’s desperations and futile enterprise, the added time was deserving considering the time taken to treat England’s Alex Greenwood, who unfortunately got hammered by a knee to the head. The VAR review that led to a penalty also contributed to the extended play.

Blue and Yellow defeat Matildas 2-0 to take third place

Matildas fall 2-0 to Sweden in FIFA Women’s World Cup third-place playoff – ABC News

Cheryl Foster has already refereed four matches at the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Photograph: Jan Kruger/FIFA/Getty Images

Sweden women’s national team stretched their unbeaten run in World Cup third-place finishes to four, through Fridolina Rolfo and Kosovare Asllani goals Saturday in a masterful 2-0 win over co-hosts, Australia,  in the third-place playoff match at Lang Park in Brisbane.

The Blue and yellow are now four out of four in third-place triumphs at the Women’s World cup with their victory over the Matildas at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, through goals from Fridolina Rolfo and Kosovare Asllani.

All the same, the losing side are still short of making their first-ever Mondial cup podium climb despite recording their initial semi-finals Women’s World Cup berth in the current edition of the game.

“It feels amazing. We showed from minute one, we were the better team,” Rolfo, who scored Sweden’s first goal in the game said afterwards. “We deserve this medal.”

Single goal a half, ensured that the clinical Swedes should find success as their persistent attacking forays and crisp finishing paid off.

Australia were without doubt, a very spirited foe that was further buoyed by a possessed but appreciated home crowd, but for all the right foot they put forward in the encounter, Matildas just were not meant to win.

Sweden secured a fourth third-place finish at the Women’s World Cup on Saturday with a 2-0 victory over Australia

Fridolina Rolfo opened the scoring from the spot after Sweden were awarded a penalty following a VAR check

Kosovare Asllani added another after the break as she finished a nice team move with a finish from outside the area

Sweden’s victory made Blue and yellow the first national team to win the third place game four times at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

European champion England and Spain are scheduled for a showdown in Sunday’s final in Sydney, and Sweden’s win means European nations will now end first, second and third on the podium.

For the Matildas, FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 saw a disappointing end for a national side that enthralled their country with their performance that saw Australia reach semifinals for the first time.

Australis’s star striker Sam Kerr struggled to get into the game against well-drilled opponents

Clare Hunt of Australia fouls Stina Blackstenius of Sweden, giving Sweden a penalty after VAR review

While resigned to end another World Cup with a loss, the Matildas still somehow emerged from all of it with their best outcome at the event having never before now, progressed farther than the quarter-final stage.

The championship that is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand has already seen attendance records set and then broken, with two of Australia’s matches having stood out as the most-watched programs on Australian commercial TV in 20 years.

“We wanted to win, we wanted to have some hardware to take home. Wasn’t to be,” Sam Kerr said.

“The way the fans have got behind us, the way girls have carried themselves, I think we’ve proven to the world we are a footballing nation. We couldn’t get it done tonight, but hopefully we’ve inspired people for many years to come.”

The Swedes began sprightly and should have made a dream start with Blackstenius directing a low shot across goal in the opening minute, had her effort not pawed clear by Arnold, then booted off the danger area by defender Ellie Carpenter.

Having found their passing rhythm, the Matildas soon began pouring forward in torrents on counter attacks through Hayley Raso but the Australia’s winger’s effort was blocked. Raso was turned down again midway through the half by Sweden goalkeeper  Zecira Musovic, whose fine save kept the Matildas’ attacker at bay.

Sweden was the most dominant of the sides for most of the encounter, maintaining a tight and cohesive shape as well as unearthing and taking advantage of cracks in Matildas’ defense.

Sweden, the third ranked women’s team in the world, were awarded a penalty in the 28th minute after a VAR review showed Australia’s Clare Hunt clipped Stina Blackstenius’ heels, allowing Rolfo score the spot kick. The decision was very well roundly booed by the capacity crowd of 49,461.

That was after Rolfo had crashed her header against the bar from Asllani’s sensational pullout. As the pace of the game picked up, Arnold made an eye-catching low save to redirect Rolfo’s free kick from goal in the closing minutes of the half.

Moments after Australia coach Tony Gustavsson initiated his first changes, the Matildas fell further behind. Australia had pushed forward in numbers but soon appeared out of vigor and purpose.

Their attempts at a comeback were impeded when star striker Sam Kerr copped a knock late on and Sweden sealed the game with ease.

Sweden captain Asllani increased the Blue and Yellow’s lead just outside the hour mark, scoring off her shot from the perimeter of the penalty area on the farther side of goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold, from yet another another fast counter-attacking play.

Asllani’s polished and insightful finish from a break saw her being greeted by her ecstatic team mates.

Matildas fall short of reaching the Women’s World Cup final game after losing 1-3 to the Lionesses

Samantha May Kerr OAM enroute to scoring her wonder goal of the tournament in Matildas’ 1-3 loss to England at the Stadium Australia on Wednesday

By Ed Emeanua

Line-Ups

England’s starting XI: Earps (goalkeeper), Bronze, Carter, Bright, Greenwood, Daly, Walsh, Stanway, Toone, Hemp, Russo

Australia’s starting XI: Arnold (goalkeeper), Carpenter, Hunt, Polkinghorne, Catley, Raso, Gorry, Cooney-Cross, Foord, Fowler, Kerr

FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosts Australia failed to bestride a surge of Women’s World Cup intensity after falling to rivals England 1-3 in their semifinal game at Stadium Australia, in Sydney on Wednesday.

England now advances to their first ever final of the FIFA championship which will take place on Sunday when they will clash with Spain for the main prize of the championship.

Australia prevailed to the semifinal for the first time following victory over France in a thrilling penalty shootout, while England notched third shot of making the final following their overpowering of Colombia 2-1 in the last eight.

The Matildas could become the third hosts to win this tournament after the USA in 1999 and their first round of last two qualification equaled USA’s records of 1999 and 2003 for a host nation reaching the semifinal.

The Matildas were clearly bullied out of making the final match by the Lionesses silencing the nationalistic fervor of an expectant nation three times with goals from the boots of Ella Toone (36′), Lauren Hemp (71), and Alessia Russo (86).

Three times, Matilda switched off completely and three times, the Lionesses made them pay. But the highlight of the game was Sam Kerr’s 63′ goal of the tournament which captivated the soccer world and ignited some hope in the Matildas.

It was also the 64th goal of the illustrious career of Matildas star woman and gave credence to the special qualities of the Australian captain.

The Chelsea striker had been in scintillating form this past season, finding the net 29 times in 38 appearances for the Blues, but missed the group stage of the tournament due to a calf injury.

Her being named in the starting XI, increased the hopes of Australia fans over the chances of Matildas progress even more.

Toone began the Lionesses precise mission for a peculiarly smashup of the hope of the Aussie nation with her 36th minute strike.

Hemp did exceptionally well near the byline, before hooking the ball into the danger zone, Australia failed to clear the danger, and Toone thrusts the ball from 10m out, sending it with precision at ferocious pace into the top corner of the net for England’s first goal of the match.

England’s Ella Toone, 10, scores their first goal [Jaimi Joy/Reuters]

England’s Ella Toone celebrates scoring their first goal with her teammates [Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/Reuters]

England’s Lauren Hemp in action [Hannah Mckay/Reuters]

Before Toone’s opening strike, Matildas’ Hayley Raso intercepted a cross on the right side in the 33rd minute before setting off a counter attack. She located Carpenter to her right, who then squared in a cross to the box after running out of space. Strangely, her delivery was allowed to go to waste, and England are saved from what could have been an embarrassing situation.

As if out of character, the Australians switched off allowing England’s Toone to score three minutes later.

Australia’s Hayley Raso makes an attempt to score [Alessandra Tarantino/AP Photo]

England held on to their 1-0 lead into the break, and it was deservedly so based on the balance of play, having moved the ball with better fluidity and enjoying far more control than the co-hosts, especially following Toone’s crisp opening goal. So far, Matildas have created chances, but have failed to get Kerr into the groove at and present a rather too passive appearance.

England’s Lauren Hemp heads the ball [Hannah Mckay/Reuters]

England’s Lucy Bronze in action with Australia’s Caitlin Foord [Carl Recine/Reuters]

That sprint in the Matildas game did arrive in the 63rd minute but their talismanic star had to do it all by herself. From nowhere and out of sheer nothing, Australia find themselves on level terms with the Lionesses, as Kerr drove deep at the center of the England defense before scuttling her powerful shot into the top corner of the net, leaving Earps in goal for England simply hopeless. Again, Stadium Australia erupts in salute to a splendid goal from their outstanding star.

The build up to the goal is revelation that Matildas can do it if only they put their minds to it. Kerr’s goal has sent Australian fans into ecstasy. Her effort was simply a phenomenal goal from distance.

The Chelsea forward was sent scuttling towards the England goalposts after being freed just after the halfway line with a sublime pass.

She then drove through powerfully towards goal, and with her marker closing in, Kerr hit an unbelievable shot from outside the box which beats Earps all ends up.

This goal could easily be the goal of the tournament given the circumstances and occasion. This Lady is exceptional! This is a phenom of a star! Give it up for Sam Kerr! What a goooooolazooooo!

Australia’s Sam Kerr scores their first and only goal [Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/Reuters]

Australia’s Sam Kerr celebrates scoring their first goal [Amanda Perobelli/Reuters]

In the 84th minute, Matildas got what was arguably their best chance in the entire encounter when Cortnee Vine picked up the ball just inside the box on the right side.

She then fired in a shot towards the far post, with Earps just doing enough to get a hand on it.

The rebound landed in the path of the arriving Emily van Egmond, whose marker made it to the ball before her and just in the nick of time.

Two minutes later, it was Kerr who was scuffing a glorious chance to level up for the Matildas. Australia won a corner kick on their right side of the field.

Australia’s Sam Kerr reacts after a missed chance to score [Asanka Brendon Ratnayake/Reuters]

The delivery arrived with the crossed effort pinballing between the players in the penalty area before landing perfectly for Kerr, who tried to volley the effort to the top corner of the near post, but just misses her mark.

A minute later, England again teaches Australia a lesson in clinical finishing, allowing Russo to hand England one more foot in the World Cup final on Sunday against Spain.

Russo is located on the right side of the field by Hemp following a counter attack from an earlier corner kick by Australia.

She then struck a wonderful effort towards the far post which eludes Arnold’s save. The Australian backline have done it once again by letting the rest of the units of the team down when it most mattered. It is England now 3-1 up.

The Australian players look downcast and out as their World Cup hopes look done and dusted. And it is just as well.

Though it was indeed a very difficult night for Matildas and least of all the type of delivery they expected put on the showcase, Australia should be take enough satisfaction out of their achievement and the unity they have harnessed for the country.

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023: The Red One defeats the Blue and yellow 2-1

CREDIT: Getty Images/Hagen Hopkins

By Edwin Emeanua

Spain’s XI: Coll, Batlle, Paredes, Codina, Carmona, Abelleira, Bonmati, Putellas, Redondo, Hermoso, Caldentey

Sweden XI: Musovic, Andersson, Eriksson, Ilestedt, Bjorn, Rubensson, Angeldal, Rolfo, Asllani, Kaneryd, Blackstenius

Spain’s national Women’s football side, La Roja (The Red One) have become the first team to qualify for the final of the ongoing FIFA Women’s World Cup tournament after their 2-1 victory over Sweden’s Blågult (The Blue and yellow), in the first semi-finals of the event at the Eden Park  in Auckland, New Zealand.

Spain had the initial moments of sustained attack, after easily settling into their renown possessive football brand early on with which. Three minutes into the tie, Caldentey outmaneuvered a Blågult defender on the left but her decent cross was easily claimed by La Roja Goalkeeper Musovic.

A minute later at the other end, Sweden’s Blackstenius’ feed to Asllani instead of taking a shot from outside the area was as well good enough only as a lost opportunity for the Swedish striker to score.

By the 7th minute of the game, Sweden have already caught up with Spain on the possession tally in the attacking data, and easily drop drop into a very tight defensive shape when they lose the ball.

CREDIT: Getty Images/Saeed Khan

CREDIT: Reuters/Amanda Perobelli

Bonmati’s decent run on the right in the 11th minute met with a tight Sweden defense to deal with the threat, and Redondo’s cross moments later only sailed out of play as the game continued with the expectation for one of the sides to usurp the creativity.

At the 16th minute mark of the encounter, Sweden are having difficult to put together a string of attacking play but continued to hold their defensive line against a La Roja cohesive attacking setup. Then Rolfo did enough to win the ball back in midfield and drove into the Spanish defense but is swiftly outnumbered by several Women in red and blue.

Then in the 33rd minute, the highly talented Spanish side from deep in their own half clearly played six first-touch passes in a row to extricate themselves from trouble before earning a free-kick on the half-way line that also failed to break the deadlock despite their overwhelming dominance.

As the las soñadoras (the dreamers) of Spain continued to press their advantage in possession football play, the Blågult’s defensive line also persisted in holding their line ultimately leading to scores remaining scoreless at half time.

CREDIT: Getty Images/Phil Walter

CREDIT: Reuters/Hannah Mckay

On resumption of play in the second half, Caldentey drifted inside in the 47th minute with Redondo making a good run from the right to make herself the target of a cutting ball from Caldentey, but she only succeeded in putting too much on it for Musovic to claim the ball.

Then in the 56th minute, Spain turned over the ball it in a dangerous area leaving Blackstenius free inside the box, but she strayed with the ball to such an acute angle that she couldn’t generate enough power on her shot to trouble Coll.

At this stage, Paralluelo is on for Spain to replace the quiet Putellas.

CREDIT: Getty Images/Marty Melville

CREDIT: Getty Images/Saeed Khan

Then the goals started to pour in. Spain took the  lead in the 85′ and it was yet again the boots of the fabulous Paralluelo shooting La Roja ahead.

Sweden failed to deal with a cross from the left allowing it to fall perfectly for Paralluelo, who lashed a right-footed shot past Musovic.

Spain take the lead with their first shot on target, with eight minutes to go.

Two minutes later, it was Blomqvist’s turn and she leveled the scores as two of Sweden’s substitutes combined to notch the equalizer. Hurtig delivered a nicely guided header from a cross from the left for Blomqvist to smash past Coll.

A minute later, it was again Spain going ahead. The ball come to Carmona on the left side of the box and she was allowed too much time on her own to punish the Blågult for their lack of concentration. Carmona unleashed a powerful left-footed strike which crashes into the underside of the bar to elude Musovic effort at a hand save. It is Spain 2-1 Sweden on 90 minutes.