August 1 – USA and Spain continued their unbeaten runs in the final round of group games as the Women’s Olympic finals drop four teams as they head into to the quarter finals.
The losers from the group rounds were African and Oceanic nations, none of whom qualified for the next stage.
African nations had a particularly hard time in the groups as both Zambia and Nigeria failed to pick up a single point. Also sent home without a point were 2023 World Cup co-hosts New Zealand and Australia. Australia failed to make the best of the third placed qualifiers with a -3 goal difference sealing their exit, and that of their coach.
Going into the quarter final stage of the competition via the ‘best third place’ route are Group A’s Colombia and Group C’s Brazil, who will join group leader USA, Spain and France, alongside second-place finishers Canada, Germany and Japan, in the Quarters on Saturday.
Wednesday’s action saw USA complete a tense 2-1 victory over Australia and will nowmeet Japan on August 3. Besides their opening day loss to Spain, Japan have impressed with consecutive victories over Brazil and Nigeria, and enter the next round in good form.
Elsewhere in Group B, Germany recovered from their nasty 4-1 defeat to the Americans earlier in the week with a 4-1 victory of their own against Zambia.
Group A’s Canada, also unbeaten in the group stage, secured a spot in the Quarter Finals despite a suffering a six-point deduction over their drone spying scandal. The side’s slender 1-0 victory over Colombia saw them leapfrog the South Americans into second place in the group. They will meet the Germans next.
A red card issued to Brazil icon Marta at the half-way mark derailed her side’s chances versus Spain, who utilised their numerical advantage to see out a 2-0 win with Alexia Putellas featuring on the scoresheet yet again. As it played out, both teams secured quarter final places.
Marie-Antoinette Katoto stole the show in France’s Group A closer versus New Zealand, tallying two decisive goals that place her at the top of the golden boot race with five goals in three games.
The PSG forward has established herself as the player to watch as the tournament unfurls. She will have the opportunity to extend her lead versus Brazil on Saturday as the two teams meet in the Quarter finals.
Meanwhile, Wednesday’s results mean that Spain will meet Colombia in the knockouts this weekend.
Quarter final ties to be played on August 3:
- USA vs Japan, 15:00, Parc des Princes
- Spain vs Colombia, 17:00, Lyon Stadium
- Canada vs Germany, 19:00, Marseille Stadium
- France vs Brazil, 21:00, Stade La Beaujoire, Nantes
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1731645987labto1731645987ofdlr1731645987owedi1731645987sni@g1731645987niwe.1731645987yrrah1731645987