To quote a lyric from Murray Head’s “One Night in Bangkok”, “Not much between despair and ecstasy.”
Indeed, South Africa would experience ecstasy in the closing minutes while Italy will despair. Same thing for Jamaica over Brazil. It’s also a signal that this may be the most competitive Women’s World Cup yet and that the feared thrashings have been few and far between. Let’s get to the matches.
South Africa 3-2 Italy
Few have gone through what Thembi Kgatlana has had to go through. She suffered an achilles injury last season while with Racing Louisville. She lost three family members over the last two weeks. Yet, she decided to stay with her team because of what it would mean for South Africa to advance to the Round of 16. A win would give them that chance.
It would be Kgatlana who would score the stoppage time winner to defeat Italy, 3-2, and send the Banyana Banyana to the Round of 16. This time, South Africa would hold on to the lead once they took it after having leads against Sweden and Argentina and only getting one point from those matches.
“They fought like warriors,” manager Desiree Ellis said.
“They fought like the heroines that we know that they are. They fought to be historically remembered and they’ve made history not just getting our first win, but going to the round of 16 and that is freaking amazing.
“This victory is for everyone back home, people that got up in the early hours of the morning to support us – that is for them.”
Now, they will face the Netherlands on Sunday in Sydney (9pm CT Saturday night, FOX/Telemundo).
Argentina 0-2 Sweden
Sweden sent Argentina home with a 2-0 decision in Hamilton. They will take on the USA in Melbourne on Sunday (4am CT, FOX/Telemundo). Sweden had made nine changes from the match against Italy, but it mattered little as Argentina could not get a decent chance on net and goals from Elin Rubensson and Rebecka Blomqvist sealed the deal and they now have a chance to knock out the same team they did at the Olympics two years ago at the semifinal stage.
Jamaica 0-0 Brazil
Few teams ever have a chance to eliminate Brazil from the group stage in any tournament. Jamaica had that chance by getting a draw and they decided to go for one and were successful. Brazil hardly looked like they would threaten Rebecca Spencer’s net. This was a Brazil team that lacked the flair of teams’ past and some have criticized coach Pia Sundhage for that. It is the first time since 1995 that Brazil has failed to make it out of the group stage and it’s a sad end for Marta’s international career as she will go down of one of the best players to never win a title for her country.
As for Jamaica, they have gone from a GoFundMe and demanding systemic change in their federation as it relates to funding of the women’s team, to going to the Round of 16 where they will face the winner of Group H. It is a tremendous achievement for the Reggae Girlz who went three-and-out in 2019 allowing 12 goals. They are one of three teams who have yet to concede in this tournament along with Switzerland and Japan.
Panama 3-6 France
Panama was already eliminated, but they did give the French a bit of a freight to the point where they had the lead and France were on pace to be eliminated at one point. That was temporary though, and a Kadidiatou Diani hat trick would put paid to Panama’s hopes of getting a point in this World Cup. The French will now face the runners-up of Group H which could end up being Germany if results go a certain way. There’s also a chance they could face Morocco just like their male counterparts did in Qatar in the semifinals.
Group H concludes its group play on Thursday and that would complete our Round of 16 and continue one of the most competitive World Cups we have seen. Some will feel an angle sliding next to them. Others will feel the devil walking next to them. Not much between despair and ecstasy.
