It’s adios for Spain and Costa Rica while Brazil and South Korea are through.
I was rooting for Costa Rica; that shouldn’t surprise anyone who’s read my other updates. They’re a fun team to watch, and I always love an underdog with some fight. For most of the match it looked like they might eek out their third draw; keeper Dinnia Diaz came up huge for her team on several occasions. But the Brazilian team has talent, depth, and patience. They didn’t get rattled by the scoreline, and kept creating chances. At last, an 83rd minute goal from Raquel gave them the win.
Still, Las Ticas can be very proud of their World Cup debut. Expect to see them again in four years, and expect to see more and more young girls following in their footsteps now that they’ve blazed the trail.
Match Highlights
Group E’s other debutants, Spain, ended up on the wrong side of a 2-1 scoreline after a fierce second-half rally by South Korea.
The ladies of La Roja started the match in dominant form. In the 29th minute, Veronica Boquete got on the end of a spectacular pull-back pass from Marta Corredera, scoring her first World Cup goal and giving her team the lead they would carry into halftime.
South Korea’s equalizer came via Cho Sohyun in the 53rd minute. She was set up by the team’s star player- and player of the match- Ji Soyun (whose nickname is Ji Messi, which saddens me a bit). Their teammate, Kim Sooyun, made it two just over twenty minutes later.
Spain didn’t go down without a fight, but- heartbreakingly for them- Sonia Bermudez’ last-minute free kick rattled off the crossbar, and South Korea hung on to the win. Coach Yoon Dukyeo, called it “a stepping stone for Korean women’s football.”
Spain didn’t go down without a fight, but- heartbreakingly for them- Sonia Bermudez’ last-minute free kick rattled off the crossbar, and South Korea hung on to the win. Coach Yoon Dukyeo, called it “a stepping stone for Korean women’s football.”
Match highlights
In Round of 16 action, South Korea will face France and Brazil will face Australia.
– Katie Ann
Of Headbands and Heartbreak... 
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