Hosts: Australia and New Zealand Dates: 20 July-20 August |
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Colombia got their 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup off to the perfect start with victory over South Korea in Sydney.
Catalina Usme put the South Americans ahead from the penalty spot, before teenager Linda Caicedo doubled the lead thanks to an error from Korean keeper Yoon Young-geul.
That was enough to give Colombia their second ever win at the tournament.
For South Korea, history was made as Casey Phair became the youngest player ever at a Women’s World Cup.
The forward, aged just 16 years and 26 days, was introduced as a 77th-minute substitute.
The Asian nation, who have now lost all four of their Women’s World Cup opening matches, next face Morocco on 30 July in a must-win Group H match, before Colombia play Germany.
Colourful Colombia make their mark
This could have been Colombia’s World Cup – they bid to host the 2023 tournament and were only narrowly beaten by Australia and New Zealand.
While they might not be at home, a very loud army of fans roared them on at Sydney Football Stadium – and were rewarded.
South Korea did their best to make the Colombians feel comfortable, handing them a two-goal first half lead through a duo of defensive errors.
On 28 minutes, a frantic passage of play with several deflections and mis-hit shots ended when Shim Seo-yeon blocked a goalbound effort with her arm.
Usme calmly rolled home the result spot-kick, sparking wild celebrations among the yellow-shirted fans.
The worst was yet to come for South Korea, as Caicedo doubled the Colombian lead in a horrible moment for keeper Yoon.
Real Madrid winger Caicedo was allowed too much time and space to run at the defence down the left, she cut inside and her tame curled effort should have been saved but Yoon mis-timed her jump and the ball slipped through her gloves and into the net.
Yet Caicedo’s drive, skill and foresight demonstrated why, at only 18, she is one of the most hotly-tipped young stars of the tournament.
Colombia came closer to extending their lead after half time when Mayra Ramirez headed just wide.
The victory boosts their chances of qualifying from Group H, leaving them level on points with favourites Germany.
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Colombia
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Squad number1Player namePérez
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Squad number17Player nameArias
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Squad number19Player nameCarabalí
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Squad number3Player nameÁrias
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Squad number2Player nameVanegas
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Squad number5Player nameBedoya
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Squad number6Player nameMontoya
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Squad number18Player nameCaicedo
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Squad number10Player nameSantos
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Squad number9Player nameRamírez
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Squad number11Player nameUsme
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Squad number4Player nameOspina
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Squad number8Player nameRestrepo
South Korea
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Squad number1Player nameYoon Young-Geul
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Squad number2Player nameChoo Hyo-Joo
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Squad number20Player nameKim Hye-Ri
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Squad number6Player nameLim Seon-Joo
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Squad number4Player nameShim Seo-Yeon
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Squad number16Player nameJang Sel-Gi
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Squad number9Player nameLee Geum-Min
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Squad number10Player nameJi So-Yun
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Squad number8Player nameCho So-Hyun
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Squad number7Player nameSon Hwa-Yeon
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Squad number11Player nameChoe Yu-Ri
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Squad number12Player nameMoon Mi-Ra
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Squad number13Player namePark Eun-Sun
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Squad number19Player namePhair
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Squad number23Player nameKang Chae-Rim
Line-ups
Colombia
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Pérez
- 17AriasBooked at 45mins
- 19Carabalí
- 3Árias
- 2VanegasBooked at 10mins
- 5Bedoya
- 6MontoyaSubstituted forOspinaat 87′minutes
- 18Caicedo
- 10SantosSubstituted forRestrepoat 76′minutes
- 9Ramírez
- 11Usme
Substitutes
- 4Ospina
- 7Reyes
- 8Restrepo
- 12Sepúlveda
- 13Giraldo
- 14Barón
- 15Guzmán
- 16Andrade
- 20Ramos
- 21Chacón
- 22Caracas
- 23Bahr
South Korea
Formation 5-3-2
- 1Yoon
- 2ChooSubstituted forMoonat 88′minutes
- 20Kim
- 6LimBooked at 45mins
- 4ShimBooked at 29mins
- 16Jang
- 9Lee
- 10Ji
- 8ChoSubstituted forParkat 68′minutes
- 7SonSubstituted forKangat 68′minutes
- 11ChoeSubstituted forPhairat 78′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Hong
- 5Kim
- 12Moon
- 13Park
- 14Jeon
- 15Chun
- 17Lee
- 18Kim
- 19Phair
- 21Ryu
- 22Bae
- 23Kang
Live Text
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Match ends, Colombia 2, Korea Republic 0.
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Second Half ends, Colombia 2, Korea Republic 0.
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Attempt saved. Mayra Ramírez (Colombia) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Delay in match because of an injury Carolina Arias (Colombia).
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Attempt missed. Catalina Usme (Colombia) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.
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Substitution, Korea Republic. Moon Mi-Ra replaces Choo Hyo-Joo.
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Delay over. They are ready to continue.
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Substitution, Colombia. Diana Ospina replaces Daniela Montoya because of an injury.
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Delay in match because of an injury Daniela Montoya (Colombia).
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Foul by Marcela Restrepo (Colombia).
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Choo Hyo-Joo (Korea Republic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Jorelyn Carabalí (Colombia) header from the left side of the six yard box misses to the left. Assisted by Catalina Usme with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, Colombia. Conceded by Kim Hye-Ri.
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Attempt blocked. Linda Caicedo (Colombia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Mayra Ramírez.
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Attempt missed. Manuela Vanegas (Colombia) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Catalina Usme with a cross.
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Corner, Colombia. Conceded by Lim Seon-Joo.
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Substitution, Korea Republic. Casey Phair replaces Choe Yu-Ri.
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Substitution, Colombia. Marcela Restrepo replaces Leicy Santos.
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Offside, Colombia. Jorelyn Carabalí tries a through ball, but Carolina Arias is caught offside.