Day: June 17, 2019

Women’s World Cupdate: Business as Usual

Welcome to your daily 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup update, or Women’s World Cupdate, where we recap the past day’s proceedings from France while previewing what is still to come. These features will run every morning throughout the duration of the tournament and feature highlights, major news, and much more from France.

Here’s What Happened: Sunday, June 16th

Two Group F matches took place on Sunday on the final day of Matchday 2 of the group stage at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Favorites Sweden and the United States coasted to easy victories over Thailand and Chile respectively to secure their spots in the Round of 16 and set up and winner take all match for the top spot in Group F on Thursday.

Sweden 5-1 Thailand

Sweden knew any hope of them winning Group F relied on them taking care of business against Thailand in the second group match and they did just that with a dominating 5-1 victory on Sunday in France.

From the start, Sweden was clearly the better side and the 3-0 scoreline at halftime was evidence of that. Linda Sembrant, Kosovare Asllani, and Fridolina Rolfo all scored in the opening half to have the game all but wrapped up in the first 45 minutes.

Sweden continued their strong play going forward out of the break but the finishing they had in the first half was not as consistent in the second half. Lina Hurtig finally found a breakthrough off a header in the 81st minute but the game was long over by that point.

Perhaps the biggest story coming out of the game was Thailand striking late to score its first goal of the tournament. Captain Kanjana Sung-Ngoen completed a great run with a hammering shot to break its goal drought. A late penalty reestablished Sweden’s four goal lead and sealed the final at 5-1, guaranteeing Sweden a spot in the knockout rounds.

Goals

  • Linda Sembrant | SWE (6′)
  • Kosovare Asllani | SWE (19′)
  • Fridolina Rolfo | SWE (42′)
  • Lina Hurtig | SWE (81′)
  • Kanjana Sung-Ngoen | THA (90’+1′)
  • Elin Rubensson | SWE (90’+5′ PEN)

Highlights

United States 3-0 Chile

It wasn’t as clinical as you may hoped, but the United States did what they had to do against Chile on Sunday to come away with a victory and jump back atop the Group F standings heading into their decisive third group match against Sweden.

Seven changes to the United States lineup from Tuesday’s match was the big story before the teams took the field in Paris, but once the game was underway, it didn’t matter who was on the field for the United States. They were clearly a class above a Chile side who will now need a victory against Thailand for any hope of moving on as the third place team in the group.

Carli Lloyd started things for the United States with a first half brace that made her the first player in history to score in six straight Women’s World Cup matches. She nearly registered a hat trick in the second half but missed wide left on a penalty attempt following a long VAR review. Sandwiched between Lloyd’s goals was a goal from midfielder Julie Ertz who headed home a corner in the 26th minute to double the United States early lead.

It looked like the game was on pace to be a repeat of the first match against Thailand, but the United States could not finish in the second half and were held off the scoresheet. Chile goalkeeper Christiane Endler was a major reason for this, making numerous saves off prime scoring opportunities.

Goals

  • Carli Lloyd | USA (11′, 35′)
  • Julie Ertz | USA (26′)

Highlights

Plays of the Day

Another day with too many standout plays to only narrow it down to three. Here’s the very best from the final day of Matchday 2 of group stage play.

Fridolina Rolfo (Sweden)

Sweden held up its end of the bargain on Sunday with a decisive 5-1 victory over Thailand. By this point the game was probably decided, but this thunderbolt from Fridolina Rolfo was simply icing on the cake.

Kanjana Sung-Ngoen (Thailand)

It’s been a tough go of it for Thailand so far in France, but at the very least they will take with them this beauty of a goal from team captain Kanjana Sung-Ngoen in injury time against Sweden.

Carli Lloyd (United States)

Carli Lloyd wasted little time on Sunday putting the United States in front over Chile and making history in the process. While falling away from the ball, Lloyd connected on this beauty to open the scoring and become the first player in history to score in six straight Women’s World Cup matches.

Christiane Endler (Chile)

If not for Endler, that 3-0 scoreline looks much, much worse for Chile on Sunday. There was nothing she could do on the three goals that got by her, but she kept the game respectable with some stellar saves in the second half.

Group Update

That’s a wrap on Matchday 2 for the group stage at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Group F was in the spotlight with a pair of matches and they went just about as expected with Sweden and the United States taking three point apiece.

Screen Shot 2019-06-16 at 2.08.37 PM.png

As everyone expected when the groups were drawn, the United States and Sweden sit 1-2 in Group F through two matches, with the United States ahead based on their superior goal differential. The two sides will meet on Thursday to decide who comes out on top and who has to settle for second. A win or draw will be good enough for the United States to prevail.

Advancing to knockout rounds: France (A), Germany (B), Italy (C), England (D), Japan (D), Netherlands (E), Canada (E), Sweden (F), United States (F)

Here’s What’s Next: Monday, June 17th

Monday will mark the busiest day of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup to this point with four matches taking place across Group A and Group B. This will mark the beginning of Matchday 3, the final matchday of group stage play. Group matches are played concurrently to avoid

China v. Spain (Group B)

With both sides sitting on three points apiece, this match will determine who gets the second place spot in Group B and the automatic spot in the Round of 16. A win by either side will push them into second place, but a draw will give Spain the spot based on goal differential. Should things really go haywire and Germany lose in its match, there is a chance a winner here could win the group but that scenario is unlikely.

  • Time: 12:00 PM
  • Location: Stade Océane (Le Havre)
  • How to Watch: FS1

South Africa v. Germany (Group B)

Germany already booked its spot in the knockout rounds with two wins in its first two matches, but there is still work to be done against South Africa. A win or draw will send Germany through as group winners and they will be hoping for a good showing after looking less than convincing through two games.

  • Time: 12:00 PM
  • Location: Stade de la Mosson (Montpellier)
  • How to Watch: FOX

Nigeria v. France (Group A)

There is a lot to play for in this match for both teams and a draw might suffice for all involved. France will easily cruise through as group winner regardless of result, but even just a single point should be enough to send Nigeria into the knockouts as a third place finisher or possibly even as second place finisher depending on the other match.

  • Time: 3:00 PM
  • Location: Roazhon Park (Rennes)
  • How to Watch: FOX

South Korea v. Norway (Group A)

Norway currently sit in that all important second spot in Group A and they looked more than capable against France in the second group match even though they lost to the hosts. An outright win is the only result that guarantees Norway a spot in the Round of 16 so expect them to come out guns blazing against South Korea.

  • Time: 3:00 PM
  • Location: Stade Auguste-Delaune (Reims)
  • How to Watch: FS1

You can watch all these games live on the channels listed or streaming online at FoxSports.com with a cable sign in.

If highlights are more your style, check out @FOXSoccer on Twitter where goals and game recaps are posted throughout the day.

All game times are listed in Eastern Standard Time.

Advancement Scenarios

Here are all the advancement scenarios for teams in Group A and Group B playing Monday.

Group A

France: Already qualified for Round of 16. Can win Group A with win or draw against Nigeria.

Norway: Can advance with win against South Korea. Would likely advance with draw.

Nigeria: Can advance with win against France. Would likely advance with draw.

South Korea: Must defeat Norway and erase goal inferior goal differential for a chance to advance as third place.

Group B

Germany: Already qualified for Round of 16. Can win Group B with win or draw against South Africa.

Spain: Can advance with win or draw against China. Can win Group B with win and help from South Africa.

China: Can advance with win over Spain. Would likely advance as third place with draw.

South Africa: Must defeat Germany and erase inferior goal differential for a chance to advance as third place.

Golden Boot Standings

The Golden Boot Award goes to the top goal scorer at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Screen Shot 2019-06-16 at 2.20.48 PM.png
via FIFA.com

Carli Lloyd jumps all the way up to No. 3 with her two goal performance against Chile on Sunday. Kosovare Asllani of Sweden breaks into the top-10 with her goal against Thailand.

Keep up to date on everything Women’s World Cup right here on “The Bat Flip” where we will be posting our daily Women’s World Cupdate to recap what went on and preview what’s still to come in France.