…Victory over Columbia In Group B.
…USA Slams South Korea to Set Up Possible Quarterfinal against Nigeria.
Spain survived a huge scare from rivals Columbia coming from the rear to win 2-1 at Santo Domingo on Tuesday night in a group B encounter.
Columbia fell by a lone goal to Spain at the last world cup precisely on 30th October 2022; was beaten by Spain also by a lone goal on 12th October 2022 but they both played 1-1 draw on 17th November 2018.
Rugged Isabella Diaz Rodriguez had surprised Spain with the opening goal in the Dominican Republic in the 5th minute but got a straight red from Ref Carly Shawn Maclaren of Canada in the 63rd minute.
Although Columbia was denied a penalty award in the 11th minute by VAR, Spain got her equalizer via penalty taken by Amaya Garcia Gomez in the 58th minute only for Iris Garrido to get a loose ball in the 6 yard box to riffle home in the 90th minute for a huge “THANK GOD” from Spain who parked the bus in the additional 9 minutes fro the Ref despite the 4th Ref notice of 5 minutes additional time.
It was a narrow escape as USA was pumping in goals in the other group match. Spain had 27-6 shots at goal; 9-2 on target; stringed 534-155 passes in their 9-3corner kicks advantage, The Columbians were simply resilient on a bad day.
USA was pumping goals with a scare the team might over turn Spain on the group’s table beating South Korea 5-0 at Cibao under Ref Aljandra Quisbert of Bolivia.
Melanie Barcenas got a brace in the 1st minute and 47th minute and gave the assist to Kennedy Fuller to score the 2nd goal in the 10th minute . Mary Long got to score the 4th goal after an assist from Kimi Ascenio who worked out the 3rd goal. The 5th goalwas from Maddie Padelski in the 86th minute.
Thus Spain expectedly tops Group B with 9 points scoring 10 goals and conceding 2; USA is second with 6 points scoring 8 goals and conceding 3; Columbia has a point scoring two goals and conceding 5 goals while South Korea has one pint scored one goal and conceded 11 goals.
USA will likely meet Nigeria in the quarterfinals if she beats Dominic Republic later tonight.
Every search shows USA and South Korea hardly met but for a world cup record of 12th November 2023 that USA won 3-1.
The USA has never won the title in her five times of appearances but was Runners-up in 2008. South Korea made seven appearances but never had a podium finish except getting to the quarterfinals three times in 1987, 2008 and 2019.
Spain has the best team result winning the title twice in 2018 and 2022; was runners-up in 2014; won Bronze twice in 2010 and 2016.
In the group B games, Columbia first bowed to USA 0-2 and Spain spanked USA 3-1 and Columbia drew 1-1 with South Korea after South Korea was whipped by Spain 5-0.
At midnight tonight Group A matches will be concluded when Nigeria will try to maintain her 4 goals per match against hosts Dominic Republic and Ecuador will seek to consolidate her qualifier for Knockout stages against New Zealand.
On Wednesday at 2100 hours in group D, Japan will meet Brazil while North Korea will face Kenya. At midnight of Wednesday, all the group C
matches will end with Zambia trying to regain freedom from Poland and England proving superiority over Mexico.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
#DominicanRepublic2024 #FIFA
#CAF #AFC # BritishFA #NFFm
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