Zac Electrifly

Argentina vs South Africa

Argentina played South Africa. It was a Group G match. South Africa scored the games opening goal in the 30′ minute. #10 Lina Motlhalo scored the goal. The South African player got the ball behind the Argentina defense and was on a breakaway running towards the net. She passed it to her teammate who scored. The goal was initially called off sides but after video review was called a good goal. South Africa got a yellow card in the 43′ minute. Argentina got a yellow card in the 45+1′ minute. The score was 1-0 South Africa at halftime.

South Africa got a yellow card in the 56′ minute. In the 66′ minute South Africa scored their second goal. The goal was scored by #11 Thembi Kgatlana. Argentina gave up the ball in their own end. It was put towards the center of the box. Thembi Kgatlana had enough time to get a point blank shot off that went in. Argentina scored in the 74′ minute. That goal came from #13 Sophia Braun. South Africa cleared the ball out of their box. Sophia Braun recovered the ball. she took an amazing shot from about twenty yards out to score. I remember thinking in real time that there was no way she just shot and scored that. I was stunned. Argentina tied the game in the 79′ minute. #7 Romina Nunz scored the goal. The ball was crossed into the box where it was deflected towards the net and in. The final score was a 2-2 draw.

This game was thrilling to watch. Argentina stuck with it. They managed to bring the game to a draw. That first Argentina goal was amazing. This is up there as one of the top matches so far in the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

England vs Denmark

England played Denmark. This was a Group D match. The game started with an early goal from England in the 6′ minute. #7 Lauren James scored the goal. The goal came from a shot that was about eighteen yards out that was taken while under pressure. In the 38′ minute #4 Keira Walsh had to be stretchered off the field. England lead 1-0 at halftime. The final score was 1-0 England.

The early goal would be the decider in this one. As I was watching I kept thinking maybe Denmark would tie it. It just became a waiting game. Could England hold on or would Denmark tie it. In the end England held on. With this result England will be moving on to the Round of 16.

China vs Heiti

China played Heiti. It was another Group D match. In the 28′ minute Zhang Rui of China got a red card. She was challenging for the ball. It was an aggressive tackle that ended up with her kicking the Haiti player in the knee with the studs from her cleat. It was just a hard tackle that did’t need to end like that and could have destroyed the Haiti players leg. The score was 0-0 at halftime. Haiti got a yellow card in the 63′ minute. China got a penalty kick in the 73′ minute. The play was initially ruled offsides. After review a penalty kick was awarded for the foul that happened in the box prior to the play being called back for offsides. #7 Wang Shuang scored on the penalty kick. Late in the game Haiti was awarded a penalty kick but never took it because VAR (review) said it was not a penalty kick. There were two other plays after that that should have been called penalty kicks in Haiti’s favor but were not called. The game ended 1-0 China.

China won kind of a screwy game here to keep from being eliminated. I don’t think they should have gotten a penalty kick because the play was called offsides. Then there were two no calls at the end of the game that favored China. I understand why Haiti didn’t get a penalty kick but there were two hard fouls by China in the box after that didn’t get called. Ultimately it is not a game that either team was playing like they should have won.

England lead Group D. Sweden still lead Group G. Japan, Spain, and England are advancing to the Round of 16. Costa Rica, Zambia, the Republic of Ireland, and Vietnam have been eliminated in the group stage.

Sweden are playing Italy. The winner of this game will advance past the group stage. If the game ends in a draw then it will be down to the results of the final games for Group G. Sweden should win that win. It should be a good game though. France is playing Brazil. That should be a close game. With a win Brazil will advance past the group stage. With a draw Group F will come down to the final matches to see who advances. Panama is playing Jamaica. Jamaica should win this game. Panama needs at least a draw to stay alive. Jamaica still has a chance to advance no matter the result.