Catching Up on Women's World Cup Action

Group A

FRANCE 4 CANADA 0

After narrowly defeating Nigeria in their opener by a score of 1-0, the French steamrolled the Canadiens by a score of 4-0, clinching a spot in the Round of 8. 25 year old Gaëtane Thiney led the attack with a pair of goals, the 20th and 21st of her international career, while Camille Abily and second half substitute Elodie Thomis each tacked on goals in the 2nd half. France outshot the Canadiens 23-7 and Canada did not manage to put a shot on frame the entire match. Through two matches, France is yet to concede a goal.

GERMANY 1 NIGERIA 0

The host nation also clinched a spot in the Round of 8 with a 1-0 win over the Nigerians behind a goal from 24 year old Simone Laudehr. Laudehr, who was also a member of Germany's 2007 World Cup team, has now scored ten times for Germany's senior national team after playing extensively with their youth squads. The reigning two time champions have not lost in World Cup play since 1999 when they fell in the quarterfinals to the United States by a score of 3-2. They have outscored their opponents 49-5 in World Cup play since that loss. 




Group B


JAPAN 4 MEXICO 0


The Japanese are headed to the quarterfinals after a 4-0 route of Mexico behind 3 goals from Homare Sawa. The 32 year old midfielder is Japan's all time leading scorer with 78 goals. The Japanese are advancing beyond the group stage for the first time since 1995 when they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by the United States. Shinobu Ohno also scored for the unbeaten Japanese.


ENGLAND 2 NEW ZEALAND 1


The English all but guaranteed themselves a spot in the quarterfinals with a 2-1 win over New Zealand. 23 year old Sarah Gregorius gave New Zealand an early 1-0 lead in the 18th minute, but England rallied with a pair of second half goals, one from Jill Scott and one from Jess Clarke to win it. New Zealand is now winless in eight World Cup matches. They will take on Mexico in their final match in Group B play.




Group C


SWEDEN 1 NORTH KOREA 0


Sweden clinched a spot in the quarterfinals with their second 1-0 win of the tournament and eliminated the North Koreans. Sweden outshot the North Koreans 14-7 and 24 year old Lisa Dahlkvist scored the game's lone goal in the 64th minute. Sweden has now advanced beyond the Group Stage in 5 of 6 World Cups, failing to advance only in 2007 when the U.S. and the North Koreans finished ahead of them.

USA 3 COLOMBIA 0

Heather O'Reilly, Megan Rapinoe and Carli Lloyd all scored for the United States as they advanced to the quarterfinals for the 6th straight World Cup. The U.S., who is 26-3-2 all time in World Cup play, has yet to concede a goal in the 2011 Cup as Hope Solo has logged shutouts in each of the opening matches. The Colombians are playing in their first Women's World Cup and are still in search of their first goal in the competition. O'Reilly's goal was the 30th of her international career, Rapinoe's was her 11th and Lloyd's was her 28th. Lloyd leads all U.S. players with 6 goals in 2011.


Group D

NORWAY 1 EQUATORIAL GUINEA 0

Equatorial Guinea turned in a solid showing in their World Cup debut staying even with former champion Norway until the game's final minutes when 19 year old Emilie Haavi finally broke the tie. Haavi, the 2nd youngest player on Norway's roster scored for the 5th time in her young career as Norway, who'd hit the post three times in the match, earned the hard fought victory.

BRAZIL 1 AUSTRALIA 0

The 2007 runner-ups were given an early challenge from the Aussies, but got a second half goal from Rosana to start their 2011 campaign with a victory. The 28 year old defender beat Melissa Barbieri for the game's lone goal in the 54th minute. It was a tough loss for the Australians as their defense neutralized five-time FIFA player of the year Marta, but still came up on the losing end.

AUSTRALIA 3 EQUATORIAL GUINEA 2

Equatorial Guinea got their first two World cup goals, but they still fell short against Australia. Team Captain Genoveva Añonma who plays professionally in Germany scored both goals, but it wasn't enough. Leena Khamis, 17 year old Emily van Egmond and Lisa De Vanna all scored goals for the Australians. Van Egmond's goal was her first for the Senior National Team.

BRAZIL 3 NORWAY 0

Marta scored a pair of goals and Rosana scored for the second straight match as the Brazilians bounced back from their subpar opener to throttle the Norwegians 3-0. The 25 year old Marta has scored 78 goals in just 71 matches for the Brazilians, including 7 at the 2007 World Cup earning her the Golden Boot. With the win Brazil clinches a spot in the Round of 8 while Norway faces a pivotal showdown with Norway in the final game of the group stage to see who else will advance from Group D.