…Highest goals scored so far at the mundial.
The Atlas Lionesses of Morocco crumbled like a pack of cards in the highest goal line so far at the 2023 Women’s World Cup to the German Machine by a scandalous six goals to nothing in a Group H match at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on Monday morning Nigerian time.
Unfortunately the co travelling team of Morocco to have conceded such high goal is Zambia that slumped heavily 0-5 to the Asian Tigress, Japan on Saturday in a group C game.
Coming from a footballing family of Andreas and Iris Popp as parents and sibling Dennis, Wolfburg Attacker, Alexandria spoilt the morning of the game for Morocco with a brace (two goals in a match) scored one after the other before a crowd of 27,256 fans. She became the Player of the Match.
She capitalized on a mistake of the Moroccan defence and the pass from Hendrich to slot home the curtain raiser in the 11th minute. Alexito shortened for Alexandria got a good one from an in swinger of a corner kick by Buhi to score the second goal in the 39th minute.
Only a word can describe the Moroccan outing, SLOPPY as a sloppy defence work came as an advantage for Buhi to score the 3rd goal in the 46th minute.
Two own goals followed each other to increase the tally for Germany when operating under pressure, Hananne Ait El Haj pushed the ball into her own net in the 54th minute. Suddenly, Radouanni had a faulty clearance of her lines that hit her team mate, Yasmin Mrabet’s head into the net for goal number 5 in the 79th minute.
Spectators had been leaving the stands when in a goal mouth melee, Moroccan Goalkeeper, Er Rmichi parried the ball into the legs of Lea Schuller who toed it into an empty net for an embarrassing goal number 6.
Morocco is a debutante team. Both Morocco and Germany are meeting for the first time.
Morocco is the first woman Arab team to play at the Women’s World Cup. Benzina would have been the first player to wear hijab at a senior women’s tournament as seen in the match against Germany. She was kept on the bench through out the game. The hijab was authorized by FIFA in 2014.
The last five matches each of both teams before the tournament are interesting. USA defeated Germany 2-1 on 13th November 2022; played goalless with Switzerland on 21st February 2023; defeated Netherlands by a lone goal on 7th April 2023; lost again to Brazil on 11th April 2023 and her last match against Zambia was shocking losing 2-3 to Zambia.
Morocco on 6th April 2023 lost 0-2 to Czech; lost to the Romans 0-1 on 11th April 2023; played goalless with Italy on 1st July 2023 came again to play Switzerland in a goalless match on 3rd July 2023 and in their last match lost to Jamaica 0-1 on 16th July 2023.
Still expected today at noon (1200 hours) the Samba Babes of Brazil will show case Tikitaka football against Panama at Hindmarsh Stadium, Australia in a group F match. Italy earlier beat Argentina 1-0.
Tomorrow 25th July Columbia will play South Korea in the other first round match of Group H at the Sydney Football Stadium with Ref Rebecca Welch of England in charge. Morocco will try to redeem their image against South Korea on 30th July in the second round match at Hindmarsh Stadium Adelaide while Germany will same day meet Columbia at Sydney Football Stadium. The last group matches will be between South Korea and Germany at Lang Park, Brisbane on 3rd August with a simultaneous one seeing Morocco and Columbia at Perth Rectangular Stadium.
Tomorrow Tuesday, Group A matches will be back on the field but before the matches, Columbia will lock horns against South Korea in an outstanding Group H encounter at 0300 hours Nigerian time at the Allianz Stadium, Moore Park Australia.
At 0630 hours, Co-hosts New Zealand will be on parade against Philippines at the Wellington Regional Stadium while the other Group A second round match between Switzerland and Norway is scheduled for the FMG Stadium, Waikato at 0900 hours.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
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