Zac Electrifly

Nigeria vs Canada

Nigeria Played Canada. This was a Group B match. The score was 0-0 at half time. Canada missed a penalty kick in the 50′ minute. Nigeria got a yellow card in 54′ minute. Canada got a yellow card in the 74″ minute. in the 90+8′ minute Nigeria received a red card. The Nigerian player took out the Canadian player behind the play using VAR (replay) the referee determined the foul was worth a red card. In the 90+9 ‘ minute Canada received a yellow card. The final score was 0-0.

This was game Canada was expected to win. They outshot Nigeria and had 68% of the possession. They just weren’t able to translate their on field control into goals. I would chalk this game up to Canada was in control but couldn’t get past the Nigerian defense or goal keeper.

Philippines vs Switzerland

Philippines played Switzerland. This was a Group A match. The match started out with a yellow card in the 8′ minute for Switzerland. In the 15′ minute the Philippines scored. A long ball had reached on e of the Philippines players behind the defenders. The Swiss goaltender came out to the top of the box to challenge for the ball. The Philippines player was able to get around the keeper and chip the ball in. The goal would be disallowed after VAR (review). The scoring player was offsides. The Philippines got a yellow card in the 38′ minute. Switzerland was awarded a penalty kick in the 43′ minute. There was a challenge for the ball in the Philippines box. The Swiss player and the Philippines player both went for the ball at the same time. The Switzerland player barely got the ball first and Philippines player ended up kicking the Swiss player in the heal taking her down. After VAR (review) they awarded a penalty kick to Switzerland. #10 Ramona Bachmann would take the kick and score. The score at half time was 1-0 Switzerland.

Switzerland would score again in the 64′ minute. The goal was from #17 Seraina Severin Piubel. The ball was taken into the box. It was centered. The initial shot was saved. The rebound bounced around before it was put into the back of the net. Switzerland would get another yellow card in the 83′ minute. The final score was 2-0 Switzerland.

Switzerland came in and dominated this game. This put up 17 shots to the Philippines 3. With 74% of the possession they were the clear winner. the way the game was going I think they could have scored two without the penalty kick. It was a disappointing showing from the Philippines. Switzerland got the result they wanted in a dominating performance.

Spain vs Costa Rica

Spain played Costa Rica in the last game “yesterday”. It was a Group C match. Spain got on the board early with an own goal from Costa Rica in the 21′ minute. The own goal came from #5 Valeria del Campo of Costa Rica. Spain had pressure in the Costa Rica box. The ball was centered and the defender basically put the ball right into her net. She was trying to turn around and clear the ball but miss stepped. Spain scored again in the 23′ minute. #6 Aitana Bonmati scored the goal. Spain brought the ball into the Costa Rica box to the left of the goal keeper. The Spain player drew in four defenders leaving her team mate open. They were able to get the ball to her. She made a move on one of the Costa Rica defenders. That gave her space for a shot. Her shot was too much for the keeper. Spain would put the game away in the 27′ minute with their third goal. #19 Esther Gonzalez scored the goal. Spain put the ball into the box. The initial header hit the post. They were able to get the rebound to go in. Spain had a 3-0 at halftime. The final score was 3-0 Spain.

Spain got the win. They were clearly the better team. They had a six minute run that saw them score three goals to win. The first goal showed how large the gap was between these two teams. That third goal was the point where Costa Rica couldn’t come back. Spain had 46 shots. They also had 81% of possession. It was an absolutely dominating performance from Spain. Costa Rica only had one shot. This game was brutal but Costa Rica just couldn’t rise to the same level.

Switzerland now lead Group A. The Philippines are now last in Group A. Australia still leads Group B. The Republic of Ireland are still in last place in Group B. Spain now lead Group C. Costa Rica are now in last in Group C. Group D, Group E, Group F, and Group H have not played any games yet.

The United States is playing Vietnam. The United States should dominate that match. Zambia is playing Japan. Japan should win that game pretty easily. England is playing Haiti. England should dominate that game. All three of those matches have the potential to be extremely one sided. Denmark is playing China. That match might turn out to be the closest match out of all of these. That match also has the potential to be the decider between Denmark and China to see who makes it out of the group stage. I think China will win that match but I want Denmark to win.