Germany-South Africa

Germany pummeled South Africa 4-0 at La Mosson to seal top spot in Group B, with coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side penalising the FIFA Women’s World Cup debutants’ display of some ordinary football.

But it was surprising for many German fans that their team couldn’t score more goals against South Africa’s fragile resistance in this Women’s World Cup.

Melanie Leupolz helped Germany get off the mark on the scoreboard. And a shocking blunder by South African goalkeeper Andile Dlamini gifted Sara Dabritz a tap which she converted into a goal. With her goal, Dabritz scored in two successive games for her country for the first time since 2016.

Alexandra Popp buoyed up Germany’s third with a header before the break and Lina Magull finished the match with a fourth from a yard out.

Germany, who are one of the top picks to win the title besides USA and hosts France, are slated to confront a third-finished team from either Group A, C, or D in the round of 16.

France-Nigeria

Hosts France managed to register a win against Nigeria to seal the top spot in Group A, with a controversial penalty decision gifting them three points against the Super Eagles.

Nigeria had an extremely physical approach to the match in the first half which gradually declined as they moved into the second half of the match.

France failed to kick even a single shot on target for a major portion of the first half and chances from open play in the match were hard to come by.

Their concerns were accentuated by some sloppy passing backed by wayward finishing.

Viviane Asseyi of France, who was making her World Cup debut, was tackled in the box area by Ngozi Ebere and Les Blues. This helped France grab a penalty after VAR intervention.

Wendie Renard ventured up to take the spot-kick and her endeavour zoomed wide, hitting the post on its way out.

In any case, as destiny would have it, Nigeria’s goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie was regarded to have fallen off her line early and the penalty was retaken.

Renard did not miss the second time, shooting the ball into the upper right corner in the 79th minute to seal France’s top spot in the gathering.

Norway-South Korea

In Group A clash of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019, Norway booked a spot for themselves in the last 16 of the tournament with a 1-2 win against South Korea – knocking them out of the tournament.

South Korea had applied a lot of pressure on the Norwegians through their brand of smart football, yet their defence stood firm and defeated all attacks from Yoon Dukyeo’s side.

Cho So-Hyun fouled Maria Thorisdottir in the opening phases of the game, and Caroline Graham Hansen netted her penalty kick smoothly into the bottom corner to give Norway an early lead.

South Korea nearly evened out through Lee Guem-min; however, her shot was saved well by Ingrid Hjelsmeth.

Norway at that point multiplied their lead in the initial minutes of the second half, after Hansen was fouled in the box.

This time, Isabell Herlovsen ventured up and serenely scored for Norway making the score line 2-0.

South Korea soon got their reward, a little too late perhaps when they scored their first goal of this tournament and it was Yeo with the strike from close range.

Norway coach Martin Sjogren expressed concern over star player Hansen’s injury as she injured herself in the second half of the match.