Here’s how the quarter-finals shaped up following some wickedly dramatic moments in the final round. The most dramatic was the China vs Nigeria match. China needed to win vs Nigeria and Nigeria just needed a draw to go through to the quarter-finals. It looked like China had the win until the 90+5′ minute when Nigeria bagged the tying goal.
If that last minute devastation wasn’t cruel enough for China, the officials dropped the cruelest of cherries on top by ruling it an own goal. ‘Ugh’ is the reaction you are looking for right now.
Group C had its own drama, as expected. Spain only needed a draw vs the USA to retain top spot in the group. The USA needed a win and nothing less to progress. It looked like Spain might cruise through, leading by two goals at half-time. Then the USA roared back with two late goals to tie the game with six minutes to go but could not get the winner.
And of course, the sky is falling when the US lose –
The US have some exciting young players like Savannah DeMelo (4 goals); would it have hurt to focus on their successes rather than ‘pile on’ their loss? Guess not when you have an axe to grind elsewhere.
Right, because quantity trumps quality no matter the context or circumstance.🙄🙄🙄
For Haiti, they lost all of their games but scored three goals. Their achievements are monumental not just for Haiti but for CONCACAF as well. Now that CONCACAF has a Head of Women’s Football in Karina LeBlanc, smaller countries like Haiti are going to start getting more attention and funding and this can only be viewed as a great thing.
On the statistics front, a total of 78 goals were scored in the group stage (wth an average of 26 per round). Three players scored four goals each and ten players have scored three each. Six players have scored a hat trick and four of these hat tricks came against a single team (Paraguay – ouch).
In terms of discipline, there have been zero red cards and 53 yellow cards. All teams have received yellow cards, with Nigeria and England the leaders with six each.
Group A: Netherlands (0) vs France (4)
Attendance: 2,262
Location: Stade Marville, Saint-Malo
Spot the orange 😬
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Hat trick complete
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Cleat test
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POTM: Amelia Delabre FRA
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Group A: Ghana (1) vs New Zealand (0)
Attendance: 1,056
Location: Stade Guy Piriou, Concarneau
But where are the drums!?
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Whoosh
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Come back!
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POTM: Grace Asantewaa GHA
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Group B: Brazil (1) vs North Korea (2)
Attendance: 1,056
Location: Stade Guy Piriou, Concarneau
Reigning champions
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Was not a yellow card?
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Down low
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POTM: Kim Kyong Wong DPR
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Group B: England (6) vs Mexico (1)
Attendance: 1,362
Location: Stade Marville, Saint-Malo
Crusades 2018
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Comedy act
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The dash
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POTM: Lauren Hemp ENG
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Group C: Spain (2) vs USA (2)
Attendance: 1,681
Location: Stade du Clos Gastel, Dinan-Léhon
Nice looking crowd
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Not to be
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Wait!
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POTM: Aitana Bonmati SPN
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Group C: Japan (6) vs Paraguay (0)
Attendance: 1,525
Location: Stade de la Rabine, Vannes
On the way to a hat trick
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Toe point
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6 vs 1
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POTM: Saori Takarada JPN
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Group D: Germany (3) vs Haiti (2)
Attendance: 2,752
Location: Stade de la Rabine, Vannes
Mutual admiration society
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What six inches looks like
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It’s not polite to point
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POTM: Nerilla Mondesir HAI
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Group D: China (1) vs Nigeria (1)
Attendance: 1,534
Location: Stade du Clos Gastel, Dinan-Léhon
Scrappy
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Last minute jubilation
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Last minute devastation
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POTM: Linyang Zhang CHN
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– hopechaser
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