MoroccoVideo
Details
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 July 2023 | 9:30 am | Women's World Cup | 2022/23 |
Match Report
The DFB Frauen opened their Group H campaign with a statement victory over Morocco in Melbourne. The side ranked 2nd in the world set the tempo right from the off and captain Alexandra Popp opened her tally after just 11 minutes. Popp doubled her side's lead before the break with a second header before a blitzing start to the second half had the Germans four to the good before the hour mark. The fourth and fifth came in the form of own goals for the Moroccans who really struggled to deal with the set pieces today. Schuller wrapped it up with a goal from the bench on the 90th minute. Germany now will be confident of going on to qualify and secure top spot but tough challenges with Colombia and South Korea remain. Morocco showed moments of quality in this game but need to step up in the next two should they want to reach the knockouts. The opening phases of the game were dominated by Germany, who were already shaking off the tournament nerves with some fancy footwork and free flowing play pulling the Moroccans side to side. It was just after the ten minute mark when the Group H favourites took the lead. Full-back Katherin Hendrich picked up the ball Morthe right flank and with her right foot played a peach of a ball that keeper Er-Rmichi couldn’t get to, with the leading scorer in the current German side Alexandra Popp rising to head into the gaping net, giving her team a deserved lead early on. From there, Germany used their experience and quality to slow the game down and hold onto their advantage, limiting the Moroccan attempts to potshots from distance that were of no trouble to Frohms in net. Just after the half hour mark Germany thought they had doubled their lead, Leupolz slid Dabritz in behind and her sublime dinked finish might have earned style points but the assistant rightly flagged for offside. It wasn’t long after that the 2022 European Championship Runners Up did net their second. Klara Buhl’s inswinging corner found Popp who did extremely well to beat her marker and get down to head the ball into the side netting for her second of the game leaving Germany with a nice cushion going in at the break. Morocco knew they needed a huge second half to get something out of this game, and it got off to the worst possible start as Germany scored their third within seconds of the restart. Klara Buhl who provided the second goal played a cross in that was met by Magull at the back post who deflected the ball onto the post, and amongst the scramble at the back the ball was returned to Buhl who curled into the net to put this game out of reach. The North African side thought they had a lifeline when Lahmari scored but for the second time in this game we saw a goal chalked off for a correct offside decision. German pressure did not let up as they, or well rather Morocco, made it 4-0 after 55 minutes. A real display of when it’s not your day, it really is not your day as a cross gets deflected by a Moroccan head onto Hanane Ait El Haj who was unlucky to see the ball bounce into her own net. With the result well and truly wrapped it allowed Germany to make some changes, but despite a triple sub with 25 mins to play, their tempo didn’t drop and Dabrtiz came within inches of making it five. Her header from another corner struck the far post to her despair. The German deliveries though, continuing to prove a nightmare for Morocco to defend. Moroccan misery was compounded with ten minutes to go as another corner provided the German fifth. Moroccan keeper Er-Rmichi’s attempt to punch clear seemed to whack her own defender in the head and bounce back towards goal where the defender on the line could not keep it out. Captain Popp was withdrawn to rapturous applause by the crowd in Melbourne with a couple of minutes still to play as Germany now look towards Colombia on Sunday. Lea Schuller made it six for Germany right on the 90th minute mark. A strong save from the Morocco goalkeeper could only be parried as far as substitute Schuller who made no mistake capping off a fantastic opener for Die Frauen. The clean sheet today also marks their fifth world cup group stage game without conceding, which dates back to the 2015 tournament.Popp Stars As Germany Secure Opening Group Win
Timeline
| 11. Alexandra Popp | 11' | |
| 11. Alexandra Popp | 39' | |
| 19. Klara Buhl | 46' | |
| 17. Hanane Ait El Haj | 55' | |
| Melanie Leupolz Lea Schuller | 65' | |
| Klara Buhl Lena Lattwein | 65' | |
| Lina Magull Nicole Anyomi | 65' | |
| 67' | Anissa Lahmari Salma Amani | |
| 19. Nicole Anyomi | 75' | |
| 21. Yasmin Mrabet | 82' | |
| 82' | Yasmin Mrabet Nesryne El Chad | |
| 82' | Élodie Nakkach Najat Badri | |
| Alexandra Popp Laura Freigang | 83' | |
| Felicitas Rauch Chantal Hagel | 89' | |
| 7. Lea Schuller | 90' | |
| 90+5' | Sakina Ouzraoui Diki Ibtissam Jraidi | |
| 90+5' | Rosella Ayane Sofia Bouftini |
Ground
| Melbourne Rectangular Stadium |
|---|
| AAMI Park, Olympic Boulevard, Melbourne, City of Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia |
Samuel Mansfield
26-year-old TV, Radio, and New Media graduate from MTU Kerry based in the Kingdom with a passion for a variety of sports.
Dabritz comes within inches of making it five as her header his the post.
Germany running the changes now with a triple sub, Schuller, Lattwein and Anyomi all on the pitch.
When it's your day it's your day. Germany go four to the good off a double Moroccan deflection which ends up in the back of their own net.
Morocco have the ball in the net but it is ruled out for offside. Lahmari just straying past the line.
Buhl smashes the woodwork herself this time! Similar to the goal, a curling right footed effort that whacked the upright this time. Was ruled offside but would've been a very tight VAR decision.
BUHL MAKES IT THREE! Klara Buhl makes it three almost instantly after the break! Her cross originally put onto the post by Magull but the ball fell back to Buhl who curled home off her right.
Half time and the Germans are in control. Huge task for Morocco to get anything from here.
Three minutes added at the end of the half.
POPP DOUBLES DOWN! A header she may not have known too much about finds the left corner of the net after a German corner.
Dabritz dinks the keeper and thinks she has made it two to the good but the flag is rightly up to rule it out.
Lots of fouls in the past few minutes as the game loses all flow. German fans won't mind though as they are in control.
Rauch came onto a deflection at the edge of the box which she chested and volleyed which was fortunately blocked from a Moroccan perspective but wow it would've been a balon d'or contender.
Chebbak with the first shot for Morocco, a powerful effort from 35 yards that would've taken a miracle to find the back of the net.
As expected, the Germans take the lead and begin to slow the game down, Morocco need to get the ball and work it a little to gain some momentum.
GOAL DEUTSCHLAND, Hendrich with a great cross from the right met by none other than Alexandra Popp who heads into a gaping net to give Germany the lead.
Really open feel to this one so far. Would expect the early intensity to die down but 90 mins of this action would be a real treat.
Huth showing some incredible footwork to get passer her marker early on which brings the first gasp from the Melbourne crowd.
Buhl with the first attempt at goal with a free from about 24 yards flashing wide of the Moroccan goal.
Kick-off in Melbourne!
Good morning and welcome to our coverage of the opening game in Group H. Germany, who many tip to go all the way open their campaign against Morocco in Melbourne.