(# = World Ranking)
Group A:
#31 Argentina 3–0 #107 Dominican Republic
Dalila Ippolito connected on a long ball through the middle, to nutmeg Paloma Peña. Dos Santos and Larroquette played a one-two over the Dominican Republic defense and a last ditch save by Peña was not enough to stop it going in for the second goal. The game was sealed by a scorcher from Maricel Pereyra in second half stoppage time.
#2 USA 0–2 #35 Mexico
Amongst a mixed crowd in southern California, Mexico pressed the USA back and Lizbeth Ovalle pressed Becky Sauerbrunn into giving up possession at the top of the box, before back pedaling to chip Alyssa Naeher, who had run out to narrow the angle. Karla Nieto also hammered a shot against the crossbar in first half stoppage time.
The press continued in the second half and the match was sealed in second half stoppage time when Karen Luna fired a deep diagonal to Mayra Pelayo on the left wing, who drove in and fired a screamer past Alyssa Naeher.
Group B:
#23 Colombia 2–0 #103 Puerto Rico
Catalina Usme broke the deadlock for Colombia after a cross by Manuela Vanegas from the left was cushioned to her by Manuela Pavi. Puerto Rico saw a free kick tipped onto the underside of the crossbar by Colombia’s goalkeeper, Natalia Giraldo. Colombia killed off the game through the magic feet of Linda Caicedo, driving in from the left wing before smashing the ball into the roof of the net. Puerto Rico in the end looked tired and lacking in ideas.
#11 Brasil 5–0 #55 Panama
Geyse opened the scoring, settling a bouncing ball down off her chest and volleying it home after only four minutes. Bia Zaneratto whipped a ball into the six yard box and Bia Menezes finished it off after ten minutes. When Rafaelle made it three with a header from a corner in the 23rd minute, a rout looked on, but that was the end of the scoring in the first half.
Brasil scored a couple more times in the second half, poachers goals from Debinha and Geyse on rebounds.
Group C:
#10 Canada 3–0 #43 Costa Rica
Canada with three set piece goals, Jessie Fleming flips a short pass into the box, with Jordyn Huitema stooping to head home. Adriana Leon drifted a corner in from the left, Shelina Zadorsky heads home from the six-yard box. Zadorsky completed the scoring with a header at the back post.
#50 Paraguay 3–2 #104 El Salvador
A soft penalty call for handball after a lengthy VAR review broke the deadlock for Paraguay. Jessica Martinez made no mistake from the spot. El Salvador pressed higher, but were unable to score before half-time.
The equalizer came in the 67th minute, Brenda Ceren chipped a ball into the area and Daysy Bareiro pulled down Gomez. Samantha Fisher scored, off her own rebound after the penalty kick was saved.
In the 82nd minute, Danielle Fuentes turned her defender and slammed home to make it 2–1 to El Salvador. Three minutes later, El Salvador’s Idalia Serrano comes out and trips up Rebeca Fernández for a second Paraguayan PK. Martinez notched her second goal into the side netting for a 2–2 tie. Martinez secured her hat trick in the first minute of six minutes stoppage time, flicking home at the far post from a Lice Chamorro cross.
Coming Up: Quarter-Finals
The eight qualifiers from the group stages are seeded based on their respective records in group play, not their position in those groups.
Costa Rica only made the Quarterfinals out of a drawing of lots, having tied Puerto Rico on record, points, goals against and yellow cards.
- Canada v 8. Costa Rica
Hard to wager against the Canucks here, as the defending Olympic champions have the leading goal scorer and a clean sheet streak going on. Costa Rica just got beaten by Canada in the last group stage game, so a rematch will be intriguing.
2. Brasil v 7. Argentina
Which Brasil will show up? The nation who scored once each in their first two games, or the team that samba’d its way to a 5–0 victory in the last match. Argentina were a mixed bag, splitting their three group stage matches evenly, but they will have their captain Miriam Mayorga back from suspension. And hell, Brasil v Argentina is always fun.
3. Mexico v 6. Paraguay
Mexico are arguably the resurgent story of the tournament and leapt all the way up the seedings with their victory against the US. Resurgent? Well, their opponents just rallied in stoppage time.
4. USA v 5. Colombia
For a USA side in transition, there are many organizational questions but with the right selection, this team could be both hard to break down and hard to stop. Colombia have built slowly but have a threatening front line in Usme, Pavi and Caicedo.
