Colombia sink German women in second group stage match
The German women's national team have suffered their first defeat in a Women's World Cup group stage since 1995. Colombia's Las Cafeteras topped Martina Voss-Tecklenburg's DFB XI 2-1 on Sunday evening in Sydney.
The Colombians - who also opened up their WWC campaign with a victory - now top the German group. Germany can still qualify for the knockout stages, but the upcoming opponent may leave Germans feeling familiar pangs of anxiety.
Just as it did for the men's team during the 2018 tournament, it all comes down to a match against South Korea. The final group stage game kicks off on Thursday in Brisbane.
The German women's national team, after opening their 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup campaign with a rout of Morocco, have dropped their second group stage match against Colombia. A dream goal from Colombia mega-phenom Linda Caicedo put the German team behind early in the second half. Martina Voss-Tecklenburg's charges were able to pull back an equalizer via an Alexandra Popp penalty conversion at the end of normal time, but conceded a goal off a corner deep into second-half injury time.
The Colombians - who also opened up their WWC campaign with a victory - now top the German group. Germany can still qualify for the knockout stages, but the upcoming opponent may leave Germans feeling familiar pangs of anxiety.
Just as it did for the men's team during the 2018 tournament, it all comes down to a match against South Korea. The final group stage game kicks off on Thursday in Brisbane.
Having to do without injured left back Felicitas Rauch, Bundestrainerin Voss-Tecklenburg inserted TSG 1899 Hoffenheim fullback Chantal Hagel into her XI. As many had expected, Voss-Tecklenburg inserted just one of her other two returning injured starters into the lineup. Midfield wizard Lena Oberdorf got the nod over Melanie Leupolz while Sara Doorsoun retained her starting place over central defender Marina Hegering. With the versatile Oberdorf in the mix, the German system more closely resembled a 4-1-4-1 than its usual 4-2-3-1.
The two sides mostly neutralized one another in the opening minutes, with the South Americans accomplishing just a bit more penetration and a pair of half-chances prior to the quarter-of-an-hour mark. Many interruptions - and an extended treatment break for DFB captain Popp - precluded either side from getting into much of a flow as the first-half dragged on. Germany finally broke through with their first real chance of the match when Oberdorf and Lina Magull missed a double chance in the 22nd.
The Germans were able to combine forward effectively enough with creative combos and rotations. Their South American opponents nevertheless defended resolutely. Both teams traded chances as the opening 45 drew to a close. DFB keeper Merle Frohms had to be alert to save a Mayra Ramirez effort in the 39th. Three minutes later, an attempted close-range trickle finish from Popp off a deflected Oberdorf effort went just over. The match remained goalless at the half.
Voss-Tecklenburg introduced Sjoeke Nüsken for Doorsoun at the half. Early reports indicate another injury in the defensive corps. After a cagey start to the second 45, an open exchange-of-blows broke out around the 50th. Las Cafeteras emerged the winners after a series of rolling end-to-end counters. It was none other than highly-touted Colombian phenom Caicedo with the dream goal in the 52nd. The 18-year-old remained remarkably poised in the box, shifting her way past the marking Svenja Huth and Sara Däbritz before firing an emphatic finish past Frohms into the far corner of the net.
The Germans continued to encounter frustration from open play, but did come close to snatching an equalizer twice from dead-balls. Jule Brand saw a free-kick service sail just past her in the 62nd. One minute later, an Oberdorf effort off a Klara Bühl corner sailed just wide. Popp unfortunately made something of a hash of a quality set-piece opportunity outside the box in the 71st, skying her effort over. Bühl sent another free-kick from a promising position directly into the wall in the 74th. Oberdorf saw an effort blocked off a Hagel free-kick in the 81st.
As normal time drew to a close, the DFB-Mädels were extremely lucky not to concede a second goal in the 86th. Caicedo had a wide open net and a brace on her foot, yet came in one step behind a close-range finish at the far left post. Some seconds after the scare, the chance to equalize from the spot came. The ever-determined Oberdorf trotted into the box with some impressive footwork. Colombian keeper Catalina Perez was forced to commit a tactical foul. DFB skipper Popp dispatched the 1-1 cooly from the spot.
A pacey six minutes of injury time featured plenty of desperate long balls from both teams. Neither side appeared content with a draw. The Germans were caught at the back as the allotted extra time neared its end. Colombian striker Ramirez burst free on a quick counter at 90+5, with German defender Kathrin Hendrich only able to stop her with a last-second intervention. The play resulted in corner, from which the South Americans snatched the winner. Fullback Manuela Vanegas, completely unmarked, headed home a finish against which Frohms was once again powerless.