LAHORE MIRROR (ALJAZEERA) –Morocco have beaten Colombia 1-0 to advance to the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup in their first appearance at the tournament. Atlas Lionesses on Thursday took the lead with Anissa Lahmari in the dying stages of the first half and kept it till the end of the thrilling match played in Perth, Australia.
In the other group match, two-time former champions Germany drew 1-1 with South Korea and were eliminated.
Morocco and Colombia each finished on six points in Group H, while Germany finished with four points and South Korea with one. Colombia topped the group, bettering runners-up Morocco on goal difference.
A performance to be proud of. 🇰🇷@TheKFA | #FIFAWWC
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 3, 2023
The two teams generated chances in the first half, but it was only in stoppage time when Colombia’s Daniela Arias clumsily fouled forward Ibtissam Jraidi in the penalty area that Morocco had a genuine scoring opportunity.
Colombia dominated play in search of an equaliser after the break, with Daniela Montoya and Lorena Bedoya Durango getting shots away in the 59th minute.
Morocco goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi found herself in the thick of it again in the 72nd minute when she tipped teenage striker Linda Caicedo’s shot over the bar.
A frenzied finish saw end-to-end action, but the Arab nation held on to continue their fairytale start to their first World Cup campaign.
Morocco, who were thumped 6-0 by Germany in their opener before beating South Korea 1-0, move on to meet France in Adelaide and Colombia play Jamaica in Melbourne on Tuesday.
