FIFA World Cup: U.S. faces Colombia to open knockout round
Upstart Colombia will be the next opponent for the U.S. national team at the Women’s World Cup.
The second-ranked U.S. women, who have two World Cup titles, finished atop Group D with a 1-0 victory over Nigeria on Monday night.
Colombia, ranked No. 28 in the world, was the third-place finisher in Group F behind France and England. But Las Cafeteras already pulled off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets with a 2-0 group-stage victory over No. 3 France.
In its group finale on Wednesday, Colombia fell 2-1 to England in Montreal. Sixteen teams in the expanded field of 24 advanced to the knockout round.
Colombia will face the United States on Monday night at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta.
“They got a tremendous result against France,” coach Jill Ellis told reporters on Wednesday night in Edmonton. “But at this point, and the players know this, you’ve got to respect what they can do – because they’re going to bring it as much as we are.”
Las Cafeteras will be without goalkeeper Sandra Sepulveda because of a pair of yellow cards. Sepulveda was key to the team’s victory over France with six saves.
• England 2, Colombia 1: Karen Carney and Fara Williams scored first-half goals, and England beat Colombia at Montreal on Wednesday to reach the knockout stage. The Lionesses finished second to France in Group F on goal difference and will play Norway on Monday in the round of 16.
• France 5, Mexico 0: Marie Delie scored off a header 34 seconds in, the second-fastest goal in the history of the Women’s World Cup, and France routed Mexico at Ottawa, Ontario, to win Group F. France scored three times in the first 13 minutes. The only Women’s World Cup goal faster than Delie’s following the opening kickoff was by Sweden’s Lena Videkull against Japan in 1991.
• Brazil 1, Costa Rica 0: Raquel Fernandes scored in the 83rd minute and Brazil eliminated Costa Rica with a win in Moncton, New Brunswick. The Costa Ricans needed a result against Brazil, who had already clinched the top spot in Group E after a pair of wins. But Fernandes beat Dinnia Diaz and Los Ticos were denied a spot in the round of 16.
• South Korea 2, Spain 1: Soo-yun Kim scored the winner in the 78th minute to cap South Korea’s comeback over Spain at Ottawa, Ontario, to reach the knockout stage of the Women’s World Cup. A free kick from Spain’s Sonia Bermudez in stoppage time hit the crossbar and went over, ending the game and Spain’s first World Cup appearance.