Congratulations to Morocco on their seismic achievement. Commiserations meanwhile to Germany. What a World Cup this is turning out to be, huh? Thanks for reading this MBM and we hope to see you again for the knockouts.
All of a sudden, the travails of the USA don’t seem quite as hellish. Hey, at least they’ve scraped through to the knockouts. Here’s the latest edition of Moving the Goalposts, which addresses what the defending champions have to do if they’re not to go home unexpectedly early like Germany and Brazil.
Morocco’s reward: a Round of 16 tie against France! An opportunity for the women to avenge the men’s defeat in Qatar last year. Meanwhile today’s defeat hasn’t done Colombia any damage, as they’ve still won the group and will face Jamaica in the first knockout round. This tournament really has opened up now. What. A. World. Cup!
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Make no mistake, Morocco deserved their victory over Colombia today. They defended staunchly for the most part, but were dangerous whenever they did attack. Almost to a woman, they look stunned and astonished at the sheer scope of their achievement. As the footage flicks between Perth and Brisbane, it’s clear that the Germans are stunned and astonished too. Just in an extremely different way. This has to be one of the biggest shocks in the entire history of the Women’s World Cup, if not the biggest. It’s big all right, that much we know.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colombia | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 2 | Morocco | 3 | -4 | 6 |
| 3 | Germany | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| 4 | South Korea | 3 | -3 | 1 |
It’s all over in the other match! Germany can’t find a winner against South Korea! The two-time champions are out … and Morocco, the 72nd-best team in the world, are through to the last 16! Huddled in a circle around someone’s phone, the news finally gets through to the Lionesses of Atlas … and they rise as one to celebrate their astonishing achievement! Tears! Prayers! Party time! What a story this is! A reminder: they were beaten 6-0 by Germany in their opening match, but now look! What a turnaround in fortunes! What a team! Wow, wow, wow.
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FULL TIME: Morocco 1-0 Colombia
The whistle goes! Morocco have done their bit! They scream collectively in celebration, then fall quiet as they realise the Germany-South Korea game hasn’t finished yet. They’re into the 16th added minute of that!
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90 min +12: Colombia launch it long. Ouzraoui goes up for a header and is tipped to the floor by Ramirez. A free kick and that’s surely it!
90 min +11: Chebbak is booked for time-wasting. She eventually whips the free kick straight out of play for a goal kick.
90 min +10: Ayane takes the ball towards the left-hand corner flag this time. She’s needlessly barged from behind by Carabali. Free kick, which they take their sweet time over.
90 min +9: Er-Rmichi is back up and running. Play restarts.
90 min +8: Ramirez crosses from the right. Er-Rmichi claims under pressure from Chacon, and takes the opportunity to go down. She was whacked, to be fair, but you can bet your last bronze centime that she’d do it anyway. Who wouldn’t in her position? Morocco so, so, so close!
90 min +7: Caicedo looks for Ramirez, who is in acres of space out on the right. She can’t find her team-mate. Morocco have the chance to counter. Ayane attempts to find Tagnaout on the left flank but clumsily rolls the pass out of play under no pressure whatsoever. She yells in frustration.
90 min +6: The tension is palpable and the atmosphere is electric. We’re so close to another huge stock, another huge story. Yesterday Jamaica did for Brazil; will Morocco send Germany home today? So close now!
90 min +4: Ayane chases a long pass down the inside-right channel but can’t get there before Perez. Colombia counter through Ramirez, who has been relentless during this second half. Her cross flies straight at Er-Rmichi, though.
90 min +3: Ayane takes the ball towards the corner flag on the right, the Lionesses of Atlas making an ersatz tribute to the Lionesses of England maybe. She can’t keep it in play, though.
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90 min +2: Ramirez rolls infield from the right for Garcia, who crosses towards the far stick. There’s nobody in yellow there, and Er-Rmichi ushers the ball out for a goal kick.
90 min +1: Colombia replace Carolina Arias with Restrepo.
90 min: Tagnaout is sent scampering down the left. She rolls infield for Ayane, who spins on the left-hand edge of the D only to send a weak shot towards the bottom left. Easy for Perez. There will indeed be nine added minutes.
89 min: Germany still haven’t found the winner they need, by the way. They’re about to play nine additional minutes in their match against South Korea. Word is that there’s going to be nine extra minutes in this one as well. A long way to go yet!
87 min: Carabali is good to continue by the way. That really was a brave intervention of hers to stop that Chebbak piledriver.
86 min: Both teams make a change. Jraidi is replaced by Ayane … and takes her sweet time to depart, much to Colombia’s annoyance … while Chacon comes on for Bedoya.
85 min: Tagnaout crosses from the left. Colombia half clear. Chebbak takes a whack from 25 yards. She really connects with the shot, but the ball catches Carabali flush in the face. Ooyah, oof. That’s gotta hurt. She’s poleaxed. Play stops as she receives treatment.
83 min: Chebbak quarterbacks from deep, sending Tagnaout into acres down the left. She’s got Jraidi free in the middle, but opts to take the shot on instead. She whistles it straight into Perez’s midriff. Colombia go up the other end, the increasingly dangerous Ramirez again probing down the right … but she runs the ball out for a goal kick.
81 min: For the first time tonight, Morocco are beginning to look a bit leggy. A chance to send Redouani into space down the left is spurned. A poor pass flies out of play, but the full back appeared to be out of juice anyway.
79 min: Ramirez goes at Benzina again down the right. She dribbles into the box only to slip over. There’s a half-hearted ask for a penalty kick, but nobody’s really convinced. Benzina did nothing wrong.
78 min: A huge let-off for Benzina, who trips herself up and allows Ramirez to stride into the box from the right. Ramirez should surely score, but slams her rising shot off the right-hand post and out for a goal kick. This is wonderful drama.
77 min: Caicedo is still inserting herself in the thick of the action, despite her injury. She takes up possession just inside the Moroccan box on the right and shoots. Deflected wide. Nothing comes of the resulting corner, but this is a staunch effort by Caicedo.
76 min: Caciedo still doesn’t look comfortable, though, and discusses the matter with her bench. A concern for Colombia’s star turn.
74 min: That was an absolutely outrageous save by Er-Rmichi. The flag popped up for offside just afterwards, and Caicedo did look just off, but VAR would have needed to get busy with the rulers, and the keeper wasn’t to know any of that. Simply majestic play all round.
72 min: A free kick into the Moroccan box from the right. Daniela Arias heads softly into the arms of Er-Rmichi. Then Colombia come again. Ramirez drives into the box from the right. She rolls infield for Usme, who unselfishly shuttles the ball on to Caicedo. She’s free on the left-hand corner of the six-yard box! Caicedo opens her body and steers a sidefoot across Er-Rmichi and towards the top-right corner. It’s a wonderful effort … and an even better save, Er-Rmichi sticking up a strong arm and deflecting the ball over the bar!
71 min: The goalscorer Lahmari has covered eight kilometres tonight, and at some speed. Her last few metres of the evening are more of a meander, as she trudges off to be replaced by Amani. Meanwhile Caicedo returns to the field of play.
69 min: Caicedo turns on the jets and skedaddles down the left touchline. Brilliant wingplay. She cuts infield and enters the Moroccan box, but when El Chad arrives on the scene, she overruns the ball. Goal kick. As play restarts, Caicedo remains propped on the hoardings, stretching her hamstring.
68 min: This game is developing a basketball rhythm. Both sides going for it. It certainly doesn’t feel like it’s going to end 1-0.
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66 min: Tagnaout has the opportunity to slip Jraidi clear on goal, but overcooks the pass. She wears a look of genuine distress over the spurned chance.
65 min: Er-Rmichi is good to continue after a quick blast of magic spray.
64 min: Santos delivers again. This time there’s a messy brouhaha in the six-yard box but Morocco eventually hack clear. Suddenly they’re hanging on a little bit, so Er-Rmichi does the professional thing, going to ground with a shoulder complaint. On comes the doctor, and Morocco have time to catch their breath and regroup.
63 min: Santos sends the corner in from the right. Er-Rmichi does her best to punch it into her own net, but fortunately the ball flies over the bar.
62 min: That near miss has given Colombia a bit of a boost. They had been concentrating on the developing scrap; now they’re pinging some passes around in the progressive manner. Ramirez strides down the right and shoots ferociously towards the bottom right. Er-Rmichi only just manages to turn around the post for a corner.
60 min: That was a brilliant effort from Montoya, with a save to match. It’s Montoya’s last contribution this evening, as she’s replaced by Ospina Garcia.
59 min: Caicedo draws two players out on the left, then loops long for Montoya, who aims low and hard across the keeper and towards the bottom left. Er-Rmichi sticks out a boot to brilliantly block. The ball breaks to Bedoya on the edge of the area. She fizzes a low drive wide right. Inches away from an equaliser!
58 min: Perhaps as a result of those robust challenges, the game has become a bit scrappy.
56 min: This is getting a bit feisty now. Ramirez comes through the back of Nakkach, then Caicedo gets up in the referee’s grille to complain about an earlier challenge by Lahmari on Usme that the official let slide. For a second, the throwing of hands seems a distinct possibility, but common sense prevails.
54 min: Redouani receives some running repairs and is good to continue.
53 min: Redouani is down after coming off second best in a 50-50 with Montoya. The physios have been busy since the restart.
52 min: Vanegas had the good grace not to complain about the booking, which is a refreshing approach.
51 min: Jraidi one-twos at speed with Ouzraoui down the right touchline. Just as she threatens to tear clear, Vanegas comes across and kicks her into the air like an old sock. Vanegas, the late, late hero against Germany, goes immediately into the book and will miss the next match should Colombia get through.
49 min: Nakkach can spot a pass all right, and this time she plays a smart reverse ball down the inside-right channel to release Ouzraoui into space. Ouzraoui wins a corner off Daniela Arias, but nothing comes of it. What a ball by Nakkach, though. Colombia were momentarily split apart.
47 min: Happily, Ramirez is quickly back up and running, albeit while rubbing the back of her noggin gingerly.
46 min: Seconds after the restart, Ramirez goes down having clashed heads with El Chad and come off very much second best. On comes the physio.
Colombia get the second half underway. No changes! So yes, as things stand, Morocco are going through at Germany’s expense. But should Germany go on to beat South Korea, all hope is not lost for Morocco. They could still progress, but only if they go on to beat Colombia by four clear goals. In that scenario, they’d go through at Colombia’s expense on goals scored.
More half-time entertainment!
Half-time entertainment.
Half-time analysis. Well, well, well. Well, well, well, well, well, well, well. Morocco deserve their lead, and Germany are in a wee spot of bother here.
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HALF TIME: Morocco 1-0 Colombia
Colombia claim Lahmari had encroached before Chebbak took the penalty, but VAR checks and the goal is good! What a dramatic end to the first half … and once again, as things stand, Morocco are going through at Germany’s expense!
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colombia | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| 2 | Morocco | 3 | -4 | 6 |
| 3 | Germany | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| 4 | South Korea | 3 | -3 | 1 |
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GOAL! Morocco 1-0 Colombia (Lahmari 45+4)
Chebbak sends a well-struck kick towards the bottom right. Perez stretches to save spectacularly! But she can only push out towards Ouzraoui, who rolls back into the centre from the right. Lahmari, arriving late, slams home!
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45 min +3: Colombia are far from happy about that. It was a weak challenge and there wasn’t that much in it. The referee needed a while to think about it. But there was just enough contact for the decision to be made. Chebbak to take.
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Penalty for Morocco!
45 min +2: A cross comes into the Colombian box from the left. Jraidi attempts to control and turn down the inside-left channel. Daniela Arias comes across and clumsily skittles her over. The referee points to the spot!
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45 min +1: More space for Caicedo out on the right. Another cross, another mistimed header, on this occasion by Usme.
45 min: There will be two additional minutes at the end of an entertaining first half.
44 min: … and things nearly get even worse for Morocco in short order, as Caicedo romps down the right and stands one up beautifully for Santos, who from ten yards should hit the target at least but heads high and wide.
43 min: Bad news for Morocco: Germany have equalised against South Korea through Alexandra Popp. As things stand, Germany go through at Morocco’s expense on goal difference.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colombia | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| 2 | Germany | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| 3 | Morocco | 3 | -5 | 4 |
| 4 | South Korea | 3 | -3 | 1 |
41 min: Chebbak stays down a while, as though to force home her point, but the referee’s not to be swayed and eventually the Morocco midfielder gets up again. We plough on.
39 min: Tagnaout and Chebbak worm their way down the left and win a corner. Chebbak swings it into the mixer. Nakkach goes down in a heap, having run into Carabali’s outstretched arm from behind. The ball is eventually claimed by Perez, at which point several Moroccan players surround the referee while performing the internationally recognised mime for TV screen. There was nothing in the challenge, and safe to say VAR will not be getting involved.
37 min: Carolina Arias throws in from the right. Ramirez crosses near the byline. Benzina sticks out a leg to intercept and sends the ball looping miles into the air. Er-Rmichi does extremely well to claim the high ball under intense pressure in a crowded box. Hearts in Moroccan mouths for a second there.
35 min: Lahmari sends a clever pass down the inside-left channel for Tagnaout, who cuts back for Jraidi to head powerfully wide of goal. It wouldn’t have counted had Jraidi found the net; the ball was well out of play before the cross, and though it wasn’t signalled by the on-field officials, VAR would have most certainly got involved.
33 min: Nakkach executes a cute Cruyff Turn out on the right touchline, only to be blocked unceremoniously by Vanegas. No free kick, which is something of a surprise, not least to Nakkach who looks righteously affronted.
31 min: Lahmari tries her luck from 25 yards after exchanging passes with the lively Tagnaout. The ball flies harmlessly over the bar, and she takes a whack for her trouble, but she’s up and about again quickly enough.
29 min: Chebbak and Lahmari combine smoothly down the left to find Tagnaout on the touchline. Tagnaout tries to poke the ball past Carabali – if she manages it, she’s running clear on goal – but the defender reads her intention well and intercepts. Great play all round.
27 min: Lahmari rolls a pass down the left for Tagnaout, who can’t get past Carabali, turns tail, runs the ball out of play, then smashes it against the hoardings in frustration. It’s understandable: she’s had a couple of decent opportunities that haven’t quite panned out as she’d have hoped.
25 min: A half-hearted claim for a penalty as El Chad goes up for a clearing header and the ball brushes her arm. The referee shows no interest in the matter whatsoever.
24 min: Colombia have enjoyed 61 percent of possession in the last ten minutes, Morocco just 17. And yet the Lionesses of Atlas still look dangerous whenever they get the ball.
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22 min: Colombia send a free kick into the Moroccan box only for their opponents to launch an immediate counter. Tagnaout is sent scampering into acres down the left, but she doesn’t have the pace to reach the Colombian box before she’s swarmed by yellow shirts. Both teams are clearly determined not to leave the stadium tonight wondering.
21 min: Ramirez hoicks in high from the left flank. Montoya lurks. Er-Rmichi punches away … not particularly decisively, but she does just enough and a team-mate clears. Colombia come again through Caicedo down the right. Caicedo enters the box and has the right to shoot, but she attempts a cutback for Santos that’s cleared.
19 min: Ouzraoui probes hard down the right. She momentarily looks to have got the better of Daniela Arias but the Colombian defender eventually battles her way between opponent and ball, ushering the latter out of play for a goal kick. It’s a bright, open game, this.
17 min: Benzina hangs out a leg and stands on Caicedo’s foot. Caicedo hops around in agony, as Benzina holds her breath: if she’s booked tonight, and Morocco get through, she’d miss the Round of 16 tie. But it’s just a free kick, from which nothing develops. Moving on.
15 min: Chebbak doesn’t spot the killer pass this time, though, and Tagnaout, in acres on the left flank, isn’t of a mind to hide her displeasure.
14 min: Chebbak, quarterbacking from deep, plays a pass around the corner and down the inside-left channel. Ouzraoui nearly latches onto it but Perez bravely claims at her feet.
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13 min: Lahmari sends Tagnaout into space down the left. She curls a cross towards Jraidi, who stoops and leans back to improvise a clever looping header in the direction of the top-right corner. Perez claims well, but for a second that looked as though it was flying in. Great football from Morocco, who have the upper hand here all right.
11 min: … so having said that, Colombia get their first shot of the evening away, Ramirez barrelling down the inside-right channel before whipping a shot into the side netting. Er-Rmichi had it covered.
10 min: Morocco need to better Germany’s result tonight, and they’re definitely trying to do their bit. They’ve been the better side in the early exchanges here in Perth.
8 min: There’s already been a goal in the other game .. and it’s a jaw-dropper! South Korea have taken the lead against Germany through Cho So-hyun, and as things stand, Morocco are going through at the expense of one of the pre-tournament favourites!
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colombia | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| 2 | Morocco | 3 | -5 | 4 |
| 3 | Germany | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| 4 | South Korea | 3 | -2 | 3 |
6 min: Nakkach dribbles neatly down the inside-right channel before feeding Jraidi, who can’t quite get into position in the box for a whack at goal. Colombia were nevertheless pulled about a bit there. Morocco look extremely dangerous in these early attacks.
4 min: Colombia are beginning to show in attack after their slow start. Ramirez barges her way in from the left but can’t quite make enough space to shoot.
2 min: From the resulting corner, Chebbak whips low and hard towards the same bottom-left corner. Obviously a plan to catch Perez out. Carolina Arias pokes out for a second corner that leads to nowt. A fast start by Morocco, though.
1 min: With less than 50 seconds on the clock, Jraidi is sent racing into space down the left. She tries to beat Perez at her near post. The keeper turns out for a corner.
Morocco get the ball rolling. Anticipation bubbling away in the stadium.
The teams are out! Morocco wear their red shirts, Colombia their yellow. We’re a couple of national anthems away from the last game in this tournament to be played at the Perth Rectangular Stadium.
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The story so far. This is what Morocco got up to last time …
… while Colombia were stunning the world by doing this.
The first round of fixtures saw Colombia beat South Korea as Germany were spanking Morocco.
In case you’ve arrived late to the party, step inside, grab yourself a drink and a snack. Here’s what our experts said before the tournament about the Lionesses of Atlas …
… and here’s their take on the Coffee Growers.
Colombia make one change to their starting line-up from the 2-1 win over Germany. Leicy Santos replaces Lady Andrade in midfield.
Morocco also make one change, from their 1-0 victory over South Korea. Anissa Lahmari takes the place of Salma Amani up front.
The teams
Morocco: Er-Rmichi, Ait El Haj, Benzina, El Chad, Redouani, Ouzraoui, Nakkach, Chebbak, Tagnaout, Jraidi, Lahmari.
Subs: Arouaissa, Zouhair, Amani, Ayane, Badri, Bouftini, Chapelle, Gharbi, Kassi, Mazrouai, Mrabet, Seghir.
Colombia: Perez, Carolina Arias, Carabali, Daniela Arias, Vanegas, Durango, Montoya, Caicedo, Santos, Ramirez, Usme.
Subs: Giraldo, Sepulveda, Andrade, Bahr, Baron, Caracas, Chacon, Guzman, Ospina, Ramos, Restrepo, Reyes.
Referee: Maria Ferrieri Caputi (Italy).
Preamble
Colombia top Group H after beating the two-time winners and section favourites Germany. They did so thanks to this outrageous Linda Caicedo goal …
… followed by a super-dramatic 97th-minute header from Manuela Vanegas. Having also beaten South Korea, they’re as good as in the knockout stage already: a point here will mean they finish top and qualify for a Round of 16 match against Jamaica.
Morocco aren’t totally without hope, though. They can pip Colombia if they beat them this evening by four clear goals, though their more realistic chance is to better what Germany achieve against South Korea.
The most likely scenario? Given Germany skelped Morocco 6-0 in their opening match, while South Korea have lost both of their fixtures without scoring, Colombia will win this group with Germany in second spot. But then most people thought Brazil would get past Jamaica yesterday, and look what happened there. Kick off at the Perth Rectangular Stadium is at 6pm local time, 11am in Morocco, 5am in Colombia, and 11am BST. It’s on!
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Colombia | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 2 | Germany | 2 | 5 | 3 |
| 3 | Morocco | 2 | -5 | 3 |
| 4 | South Korea | 2 | -3 | 0 |
