Australia Two own goals from Morocco helped Germany win 6-0 this afternoon, to surpass Japan in the biggest winning margin since the start of the 2023 Women's World Cup.
* Goals: Popp 11' 39, Buehl 46', Ait El Haj own goal 54', Zineb Redouani own goal 79', Lea Schuller 90'
Alexandra Popp (No. 11) celebrates a goal in Germany's 6-0 win over Morocco in Group H of the 2023 Women's World Cup. Photo: Reuters
Previously, the biggest win of the tournament belonged to Japan's 5-0 win over Zambia on July 22 in Group C. Morocco is one of eight teams participating in the Women's World Cup for the first time, while Germany has not been absent since the first year of organization in 1991.
Germany had a poor run of results in their pre-tournament friendlies, beating Vietnam 2-1 and losing 2-4 to Zambia. But the Europeans have traditionally made a good start to the Women's World Cup, with seven wins and one draw in the last eight editions. They have also won all five of their matches, scoring 22 goals and keeping a clean sheet against African opposition.
That history repeated itself at Melbourne Stadium this afternoon, Hanoi time, when Germany quickly got into the rhythm, played coherently and needed only 11 minutes to open the score. From a cross from the right wing, goalkeeper Khadija Er-rmichi came out of position to allow Alexandra Popp to head into an empty net. In the 39th minute, Popp doubled the gap with a header from a left corner kick. The 32-year-old German striker is the third player to score a brace at the 2023 World Cup, after his American colleagues Sophia Smith and Japan's Hinata Miyazawa.
The Moroccan players had technique and speed, but showed clear inexperience in defense in their first appearance at the highest level of women's football in the world . As the second half began, the African representative's net shook for the third time. Taking advantage of the chaos after the corner kick, Klara Buehl volleyed into the penalty area to score.
Germany then added two more goals thanks to own goals from Ait El Haj and Zineb Redouani for Morocco. In the 90th minute, substitute Lea Schueller sealed the score at 6-0 for the European representatives with a close-range tap-in into an empty net.
The first win puts Germany at the top of Group H with three points. The remaining match in the first round is between Colombia and South Korea tomorrow, July 25.
Starting lineup:
Germany: Merle Frohms, Kathrin Hendrich, Svenja Huth, Felicitas Rauch, Sara Doorsoun, Sara Daebritz, Melanie Leupolz, Klara Buehl, Lina Magull, Jule Brand, Alexandra Popp
Morocco: Khadija Er-rmichi, Zineb Redouani, Hanane Ait El Haj, Yasmin Mrabet, Sarah Kassi, Elodie Nakkach, Fatima Tagnaout, Sakina Ouzraoui, Ghizlane Chabbak, Anissa Lahmari, Rosella Ayane.
Hieu Luong
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