The women’s national soccer team is on the brink of elimination after two consecutive defeats in the group stage of the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia-New Zealand 2023. The round of 16 has become a slim prospect, with the only “ifs” remaining a multi-goal win in the final group game against favorites Germany.먹튀검증
Colin Bell’s South Korea failed to capitalize on a first-half goal and lost 0-1 to Morocco in their second group game at Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide, Australia, on Tuesday (Sept. 30). It was the second straight game without a goal, following a 0-2 loss to Colombia.
In the next game, Colombia avoided an early exit thanks to a stunning 2-1 victory over Germany. Manuela Banegas scored a dramatic winner in stoppage time after the score was 1-1 to secure the three points.
However, South Korea’s chances of reaching the round of 16 are slim. They will need to win by at least five goals in the third leg against Germany on March 3 and for Colombia to hold off Morocco. A four-goal win would equalize the goal difference at “+1” but give Germany the advantage on goal difference. But with an offense that hasn’t scored a single goal in two games, it would be a miracle to beat the second-ranked team in the FIFA rankings.
The current standings in Group H are Colombia in first place (W6 D3 L3), Germany in second (W3 D5 L5), and Morocco in third (W3 D3 L5 L5). South Korea is in fourth place (0 points, -3 goals against).
Manuela Banegas (2nd L) of the Colombia women’s national football team scores a second-half stoppage time theater goal to give her team a 2-1 victory over Germany during the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia-New Zealand 2023 Group H match at Sydney Football Stadium on Tuesday, June 30, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. Sydney=AFP Yonhap
South Korea made one change to its starting lineup against Morocco on Sunday. Veteran strikers Park Eun-sun (Seoul City Hall) and Son Hwa-yeon (Incheon Hyundai Steel) started up top, and Hong Hye-ji and “eldest sister” Kim Jung-mi (both Incheon Hyundai Steel) replaced Shim Seo-yeon (Suwon FC) and Yoon Young-gul (BK Hecken), who made defensive mistakes in the first leg. But there was a twist. Defender Lim Sun-ju (Incheon Hyundai Steel) complained of calf pain just before kickoff and was urgently replaced by Shim Seo-yeon. Amid the chaos, South Korea conceded a header to Morocco’s Ibtisam Zaidi in the sixth minute of the first half.
South Korea utilized 180-centimeter striker Park Eun-sun in the first half, but the goal was not forthcoming. Park Eun-sun had chances in the 16th and 19th minutes, using her head to clear the ball to her teammates, but she was unable to capitalize. On a free kick in the 25th minute, Park received a cross from Ji So-yeon (Suwon FC), but her header went just wide of the goal.
South Korea pushed forward in the second half, introducing strikers Moon Mi-ra (Suwon FC), Choi Yuri (Incheon Hyundai Steel), Chun Garam (Hwacheon KSPO), and Casey Eugene Fair (PDA), but lacked the decisive “one shot” on many set pieces, including corners and free kicks. Korea had 14 shots on goal on the day, but only 0 on target.
Ji So-yeon said after the game, “It’s unfortunate that we conceded so quickly at the beginning of the game. We had a lot of people cheering for us, and I’m very sorry.” Captain Kim Hye-ri also said, “We were ahead in possession, but it was a disappointing result because soccer is decided by goals. We will definitely try to get a good result in the last game and return to Korea.”