Morocco stuns South Korea 1-0 to claim first ever Women’s World Cup victory in 2023
Debutantes Morocco claimed its first-ever victory at the Women’s World Cup with a 1-0 win over South Korea in its second Group H encounter on Sunday, all but confirming the Asian side’s exit.
Morocco is 55 rungs below South Korea in the women’s rankings, but the African side made an early breakthrough with their first-ever World Cup goal in the sixth minute from striker Ibtissam Jraidi.
Park Eun-sun nearly levelled with a diving header of her own at the other end but the forward saw her effort go agonisingly wide of the post, much to the relief of Khadija Er-Rmichi in Morocco’s goal.
The 33-year-old Er-Rmichi saw Germany find the net six times in its group opener, but she was hardly tested by the South Koreans, who failed to have a shot on target and struggled to make inroads into the final third as the Moroccan defence stood firm.
Morocco defender Nouhaila Benzina, who became the first player to wear a headscarf at the Women’s World Cup, made crucial interventions, while she almost scored from a set-piece when she volleyed a snapshot over the bar.
She even took one for the team when she deliberately clipped Ji So-yun, who was racing through on goal on a counterattack with support, accepting a yellow card without protest.
But South Korea could not capitalise from the free kick, which hit the wall as coach Collin Bell stood on the touchline shaking his head in frustration.
South Korea’s Casey Phair nearly equalised late in the game, but the 16-year-old, who became the youngest player to take the field in Women’s World Cup history in their opener, fired wide to leave them bottom of the group.
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