By Ivan Yeo
Mexico 1, Colombia 1
In what turned out to be a wild match, Mexico took the lead late in the first half and controlled most of its opening match against Colombia, but a late strike by Las Cafeteras, followed by a controversial disallowed goal in stoppage time denied Mexico its first World Cup win.
Mexico jumped out to the lead in the 35th minute. Following a short corner kick, Veronica Perez crossed a ball right for goal, Colombian keeper Derly Castano got a piece of the ball, but not enough of it as the ball hit off the crossbar and across the goal line, which replays later confirmed, and Mexico had themselves a lead to work with.
Mexico controlled the possession throughout the match, but Colombia got one chance in the 82nd minute, and made the most of it. Tatiana Ariza brought down a ball inside the penalty area, played it back out to Danielle Montoya and she let loose a volley from outside the penalty area that sailed past keeper Cecilia Santiago, hit off the crossbar and across the goal line for the equalizer.
Controversy came in the 90th minute. It started when Monica Ocampo sent a long ball towards the penalty area, the ball bounced into the box and Charlyn Corral chased it down and shot a ball between the legs of Castano and the ball slowly rolled across the goal line for what should’ve been a game winner for Mexico. However, the goal was waived off by the referee, even though replays appeared to show no infringement by Mexico on the play.
France 1, England 0
It wasn’t the best of matches, but France, considered one of the favorites in the tournament, got the start it needed in its World Cup opener. Eugenie LeSommer tallied in the first half and Les Bleues rode the goal all the way to the win.
France’s moment came in the 29th minute. Gaetene Thiney took a ball away from Katie’s Chapman deep inside England territory, Le Sommer took a couple of touches before firing outside of the penalty area that beat keeper Karen Bardsley near post.
