Germany stunned as stoppage time goal seals upset
A feverish atmosphere met the players of Colombia and Germany as they stepped out on a warm winter’s night in Sydney with both teams looking to take a giant stride towards the FIFA Women’s World Cup round of 16.
Young Colombian starlet Linda Caicedo recovered from her scary training session collapse to line up in a front three alongside all-time leading Colombian goal-scorer Catalina Usme and Mayra Ramirez.
Alexandra Popp again led the line for the Germans with 21-year-old midfield maestro Lena Oberdorf starting once again, as they looked to build on their dominant 6-0 thrashing of Morocco in their opening game.
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The opening exchanges matched the electric atmosphere within the stadium with Colombia looking to harass and press Germany as they looked to unsettle the runners up from last year’s European Championships. Colombia’s early intensity was nearly rewarded as Ramirez nodded a header inches wide after latching onto a corner in the eighth minute.
Germany’s first opportunity presented itself in the 21st minute as first Lina Migull swung wildly at a bouncing ball in the box before Oberdorf saw her follow-up shot deflected wide. The quality in the German midfield began to tell as the half wore on with Colombia dropping deeper as they looked to contain the ball movement and dynamic combination of German youngsters Oberdorf, Klara Buehl and Jule Brand.
For all of Germany’s first-half possession they struggled to break down a Colombian defence which was superbly marshalled by centre backs Jorelyn Carabali and Daniela Arias. German captain and main goal scoring threat Popp struggled to impose herself on the game as she was physically matched by the Colombian defence.
Germany’s best chance of the half did, though, fall to their usually reliable captain Popp who blazed a volley wide after a fortuitous deflection inside the box in the 41st minute. Colombia’s own bright young star and goal threat Caicedo also struggled to impose herself on a first half where German right back Svenja Huth matched her stride for stride in a contest where both sides were not willing to give an inch.
Heading into the second half the question remained would Colombia be able to keep up the same intensity that they showcased in the first half with Germany making one slight alteration to start the half as Sjoeke Nuesken came on to replace Sara Doorsoun in defence.
Germany began the half as they finished as they looked to dictate and control the tempo with Buehl seeing her 48th minute strike blocked wide by a desperate Colombian defence. It was going to take something special to break the game open, step up Caicedo who in the 52nd minute latched onto a failed clearance by the German defence and cut in on her right foot before rocketing a shot past the hapless German keeper Merie Frohms who could only watch the ball sail into the top comer of her net as Colombia took a 1-0 lead.
The Colombian supporters erupted as Germany found themselves behind in the group stage of a World Cup for the first time since 2003. Germany needed a response as first Popp blazed her shot over in the 60th minute before Oberdorf saw her half volley drift wide after a scramble in the box following a German corner a few minutes later.
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Chances continued to drop to Popp and Germany as they looked to pull level, with Popp blazing a 71st minute free kick high and wide after a foul on the edge of the Colombian box. Ramirez’s non-stop work rate up front for Colombia kept the German defence honest as Germany pressed for an equaliser against a Colombian team being urged on by a ferocious and passionate supporter base.
Popp and Germany, though, would not be denied as Oberdorf was brought down in the box by Colombian goalkeeper Catalina Perez in the 89th minute. Popp stepped up and calmly converted the spot-kick down the middle of the goal to draw Germany level.
It seemed like both teams would settle for a point. That was until deep into stoppage time Manuela Vanegas rose unmarked to head home a powerful header from a corner to claim a famous victory for Colombia and propel them to the top of Group H.
Colombia midfielder Diana Garcia Ospina believed the result highlighted the closing of the gap in international women’s football.
“The world is catching up and the games are a lot more even,” said Ospina.
Colombia will now need just a draw from their final group game against Morocco to finish top while Germany will be looking to put the disappointment of the result behind them as they turn their focus to South Korea.
German midfielder Oberdorf reiterated the belief they could bounce back from the loss and still be a force in the tournament.
“We are a team that has stuck together for a long time and we have been through so many times like the Euros last year when we lost against Slovenia and everyone said we suck and we made the final of the Euros, so we don’t hesitate now we calm down and focus on the next game,” said Oberdorf.
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