Roundup of the opening round of group stage fixtures across Groups A-H at 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Co-hosts, New Zealand and Australia looked to began their home tournament on a high whilst reigning champions, USA entered this tournament seeking to avoid an early upset, as they seek to defend their crown against the likes of Brazil, England, Germany and Spain who will be expected to challenge for the title.
Now, here is a roundup of all the opening matches in the Group Stage of 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Group A
Ramona Bachmann’s penalty and Seraina Piubel’s close-range strike saw Switzerland defeat Philippines 2-0 in Dunedin to top Group A.
Hannah Wilkinson’s 48th minute strike saw New Zealand scrape past Norway in the tournament’s opening match to sit second in the group.
Group B
Steph Catley fired Australia to the summit of Group B through a 52nd minute penalty in a 1-0 win over Republic of Ireland, after Marissa Sheva shoved Hayley Raso to ground inside the box.
Ten-women Nigeria held Canada to a gutsy goalless draw in Melbourne despite Deborah Abiodun being red carded in injury-time for a high-footed tackle on Ashley Lawrence.
Group C
Hinata Miyazawa scored twice as Japan hammered Zambia 5-0 in Hamilton with Mina Tanaka and Jun Endo also finding the net before Riko Ueki dispatched an injury-time penalty to complete the win, after she had been fouled by Zambia’s Catherine Musonda who received a red card.
Three quick-fire goals in a six minute spell during the first half saw Spain hammer Costa Rica 3-0 to go second, as Valeria Del Campo scored an own-goal before Aitana Bonmati and Esther Gonzalez completed the victory.
Group D
Georgia Stanway’s retaken penalty kick in the 29th minute proved enough for European champions, England to start the season on a high, as Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses edged their way past a gutsy Haiti who were making their debut at the World Cup.
Amalie Vangsgaard’s 90th minute header saw Denmark snatch a dramatic win over China to top the group on fair play points, having picked up just one yellow card compared to England’s two bookings.
Group E
Sophia Smith scored twice in the first half then turned assistant as Lindsey Horan swept in a 77th minute goal from Smith’s pass to seal a dominant Group E topping 3-0 win over Vietnam.
Stefanie van der Gragt’s 13th minute header saw 2019 runners-up, Netherlands scrape past Portugal in a clinical performance, which put the Dutch second in their group ahead of their rematch against USA in the second round of Group E fixtures.
Group F
Ary Borges’ hat-trick and assist for Bia Zaneratto’s 48th minute goal saw Brazil cruise past Panama to top Group F with a 4-0 win in Adelaide.
France meanwhile were held to a surprise goalless draw against Jamaica despite the Reggae Girls’ Khadija Shaw being shown a red card in injury time, after she clumsily fouled Wendie Renard in injury time following an earlier booking for a tackle on Sakina Karchaoui.
Group G
Amanda Ilestedt’s 90th minute headed winner proved enough for Sweden to complete a comeback 2-1 win over South Africa to top Group G, after Frida Rolfo had cancelled out Hildah Magaia’s early second-half opening goal.
Cristiana Girelli’s 87th minute header proved enough for Italy to sit second in the group after snatching a 1-0 win over Argentina, with the South American team sat rock-bottom by virtue of failing to score unlike third-placed South Africa.
Group H
A first-half brace from Alexandra Popp fired Germany to the top of Group H with a 6-0 mauling of Morocco, during which Klara Buhl and Lea Schuller also found the net for the Germans whilst Morocco’s Hanane Ait el Haj and Yasmin Mrabet both netted own-goals.
Catalina Usme’s 30th minute penalty and Linda Caicedo’s strike nine minutes later proved enough for Colombia to snatch a clinical win over South Korea, which put the South American team second in the group.
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