In the year they made their debut on the World Cup stage, Morocco qualified for the last 16 stage, Anissa Lahmari the goal scorer and hero, Germany only taking a point to send them through as runners up.

A massive shock, the minnows, who have won twice in their maiden campaign, shocked the world, from Casablanca, Fez, Marrakesh and the capital Rabat, they will be celebrating a historic moment for Women’s football in their nation.

Defending for their lives, they held on in the second half to a ruthless Colombian attack, they savoured a huge moment, tears flowing, incredible scenes as they waited to hear of the result elsewhere. France awaits.

It was a bright start to the game from Morocco aiming to ask questions of the Colombia defence from the off, Ibtissam Jraïdi was sent through down the left before her shot towards the near post was pushed out for a corner by Catalina Pérez.

Despite being the minnows in comparison to their group leader opponents, Morocco were not taking a cautious approach and played with confidence and on the front foot in the opening minutes.

Colombia did have plenty of the ball, almost a chance occurring as Mayra Ramírez timed her run well into the box, to get on the end of a terrific pass but the angle was tight and her shot rippled into the side netting.

Almost another big chance followed for Morocco down at the other end, Jraïdi was proving a real test to the Colombia defence, she flicked a really good header from a Fatima Tagnaout cross that Pérez had to be quick to gather.

Colombia struggled in attack, a half chance came when Leicy Santos played the ball out wide and then made a run to the middle of the box for the return pass but the Moroccan defence was stout and proving hard to beat.

With Morocco trying to clear the danger, appeals for a penalty came from Colombian players and supporters, Anissa Lahmari tried to clear a high ball into the box and the ball ran down her body, shouts of handball not given following a VAR review.

Just before the half hour mark a nice move down the left almost saw Fatima Tagnaout breaking clear of the Colomba defence, Carolina Arias applying the tackle to clear the danger, pressure remained however as Lahmari striked from the edge of the area with plenty space to chance her luck, but it was fired over.

Morocco goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi was rarely called into action but reacted well to an awkward deflected ball from the right, which might have caused an issue but the keeper was well able to gather and start a counter offensive.

Inside the final ten minutes it was the African side who would appeal for a penalty, one of their players lying stricken in the area after a corner was floated in, some players signalled for a VAR check but referee Maria Sole Ferrieri Caputi wasn't interested.

Germany were behind early and that was enough to see Morocco through, an equaliser however needed Morocco to find the net, they almost trailed following a fine move by Colombia. Linda Caicedo sent away down the right channel, putting a brilliant ball into the box for Leicy Santos, but she headed over the bar.

As we ticked into the second minute of first half stoppage time, Ibtissam Jraïdi was bundled over inside the box and Morocco had a penalty, a push in the back by Daniela Arias, giving Morocco the chance to lead.

Up-stepped captain Ghizlane Chebbak, the leader, the veteran, a player who’s nation believes in to deliver, she struck for the right hand bottom corner, saved by Pérez, Lahmari however was there to fire in the loose ball. What a moment.

A VAR check for possible encroachment inside the area as the penalty was taken followed, the goal however stood, Morocco with a massive moment in their history and in this year’s World Cup, 45 minutes between them and knockout football, as we headed for the break.

Alarm bells rang for Morocco however early on in the second half, Er-Rmichi was swarmed by her team-mates as the Morocco goalkeeper denied Daniela Montoya from close range with her outstretched right leg. Following the clearance, Lorena Bedoya fired a loose ball on the edge of the area into the side netting.

The Morocco goal was put under a bit of pressure, nerves settled by Er-Rmichi proving hard to beat, getting down at her near post, she pushed behind Mayra Ramírez's low strike out for a corner, not taking risks.

Dangerous times for Morocco, they were doing enough, but Er-Rmichi was in sparkling form, producing a stunning block from point-blank range to deny Linda Caicedo. The flag was up however, that didn't matter to the Moroccan keeper.

Pressure was not lifting up from the Colombian side, inside the final quarter, Nouhaila Benzina slipped inside the box and Mayra Ramírez was in on goal but she cannoned a strike off the post.

Ramírez then went down inside the area, appeals for a penalty turned down as the referee told her to get up, that again another moment where Morocco were living on the absolute edge of conceding.

A rare moment in the second half, minutes to go and Morocco raced out of their own half Fatima Tagnaout charged forward, support on her right not used as she decided to go for goal herself from a tricky angle but Pérez held comfortably.

The final act of normal time almost saw Morocco seal the deal, Rosella Ayane had the chance to wrap it up for Morocco but her shot was too close to Catalina Pérez. Nine minutes and a stalemate elsewhere, standing in the way of Morocco making the knockout stages.

After 12 minutes, they had their moment, jubilant scenes and celebrations, this is why we love the World Cup stage.

Sanne Troelsgaard Nielsen goal ten minutes into second half stoppage time, put the cherry on top of Denmark’s Group Stage run as they progressed to the last 16 with a 2-0 win.

Pernille Harder had given them the lead from the spot 22 minutes into the first half, their third game in a row giving away a penalty, Haiti caused threat but VAR saved them twice from going 2-0 down, a third occasion saw Harder miles offside.

A strong showing from the Danes however, they meet Australia next, while Haiti who had a slim chance of making it through head home, they never made it easy for Denmark, but just lacked a killer spark in front of goal.

Denmark started brighter in the opening minutes, Pernille Harder raced down the left wing but despite the build up, the ball was gathered by Kerly Theus in the Haiti goal, the Danes kept pressure on as Amalie Vangsgaard almost turned in a cross from the right channel, a corner kept the pressure on.

From the resulting corner, Haiti failed to clear, Theus was forced to make a save, on the rebound Simone Boye finished well to the back of the net from close range, a VAR check followed however, Boye deemed offside in the build up, goal disallowed and Denmark with England leading were through.

But all that came inside three minutes, still a long way to go and Haiti started to settle following that decision, Nerilia Mondesir breaking down the right wing but her cross was easily cleared as Melchie Dumornay was the intended target.

Haiti almost went behind but were playing the better, Mondesir again looking lively down the right wing, attempting to pick out a careful cut-back towards the penalty spot but the Danish defence was able to intercept.

Some desperate defending from Chelsea Surpris prevented Denmark leading after 13 minutes, Janni Thomsen with a terrific cross on the right Vangsgaard was trying to get on the end of it but Surpris managed to keep the Danes at bay.

Chances came and went for Denmark, but as Dayana Pierre-Louis was penalised for handball in the 21st minute, they had the chance to lead, Harder stepped up and waited for Theus to move, striking low and hard to the bottom left hand corner past the stranded net minder. Haiti conceding a penalty in each of their group stage ties.

Now behind, we saw the same resilience from Haiti as we seen when they almost went behind earlier in the half, Dumorany racing down the left, spotting Mondesir with a terrific pass to set her through, the effort easy for Lene Christensen in the Danish goal, lacking power to force her to panic.

Roseline Eloissaint was the next Haitian player to cause issues, this time the right wing serving as the point of attack, her cross almost served as a shot and flew out for a goal kick. Tempo with Haiti as since that goal, Denmark were looking second best.

Harder acting as the catalyst almost made it two, getting her team back on the front foot, she was bearing down on goal, hitting a right footed strike from 20 yards, the slightest deflection seeing Theus down to save comfortably.

The pace started to drop as we neared the break, as Denmark remained fully in possession, knocking it around well, Katrine Veje and Kathrine Moller Kuhl combined well in the middle, Thomsen cutting in on the right looked for an opening, Haiti defended smartly to clear.

On the brink of half time, Harder made it 2-0 with a sweetly taken strike 12 yards out from the Haiti goal as she connected with a looping cross, the flag up however, deemed offside in the build up, we did not need VAR to determine that one.

Into the five minutes of stoppage time, Denmark pressed for a second, Haiti however had other ideas, Dumornay swivelled well to create a chance in the Danish area, but it was blocked down, then Haiti countered after Kuhl made end roads in their half, Mondesir again the threat, her cross aimed for Dumornay who was lurking was deflected for a corner.

Denmark defended well and Harder’s perfectly taken penalty was all that separated them after a near 50 minute half full of drama in Perth, England ahead by three however, was enough to see Denmark through at the break.

Both had chances in the early minutes of the second half, Veje raced down the right wing to find a cross into the area, Harder made the run, Rikke Madsen was the player to get the effort off but Theus saved.

Haiti kept pressing for an equaliser, Mondesir had a corner that Denmark cleared, Dumornay produced a fine bit of skill to cut in from the right wing, before having a powerful shot blocked down by a Danish shirt.

Boye who had a goal ruled out earlier, had to show her defensive shift by getting a foot in to prevent Dumornay getting a chance, contesting a cross some solid defensive work kept Haiti quiet.

A high cross into the box from Veje almost caught Theus off guard, jumping high she managed to gather the cross underneath the crossbar of her goal, at the other end Roselord Borgella made a terrific run before a powerful shot from the edge of the box, was dealt with for a corner by the Danes.

Pressure remained on Denmark, Louis climbed highest to almost head home a free kick, that chance would have made it an interesting final quarter, the goal bound header gathered well by Christensen.

Denmark made it 2-0 once again after 83 minutes, Harder again to apply the finish, finding Signe Bruun one on one with Theus who raced out of her box, they collide, the keeper stays down, a cross to the back post finds Harder to nod into an empty net, a var check followed, the decision was a foul on Theus, looked more of a horror decision from the Haiti keeper.

Despite ticking into the 90 minute mark, we had 11 more to decide the tie, Mille Gejl Jensen almost put the game to rest but forced Theus into a fine one on one save, Haiti however kept fighting for something, but right at the death of stoppage time Denmark finally grabbed a second.

Troelsgaard was released down the right by Gel Jensnj, time and space to pick her spot as Haiti failed to deal with her, a lovely strike to the left hand bottom corner, sealing the deal, a date with the Matildas now to follow.

Jamaica have taken a huge step towards the knockout stage of the Women’s World Cup as they overcome the challenge of Panama with a 1-0 victory at the Perth Rectangular Stadium.

A second-half header from the captain on the day, Allyson Swaby, means that Jamaica only need a draw in their final group game to qualify for the knockout stage for the first time.

The opening ten minutes exhibited how Jamaica and Panama were not used to having long spells of possession, with Jamaica especially sloppy early on.

This sloppiness was quickly corrected as Jamaica went on to dominate the first half without really testing Yenith Bailey in the Panama goal.

Among these efforts was a chance for Jamaica when full-back Tiffany Cameron got into the box and used her quick feet to create some space before curling an effort wide of the Panama goal for the game's first attack of substance.

Later in the half, Bailey was called into action when Vyan Sampson curled a long-range shot toward the top corner and would have opened the scoring if not for Bailey’s dramatic save.

Marta Cox had a chance to score against the run of play when Deineisha Blackwood’s throw-in wrong-footed Chantelle Swaby allowing Cox to latch onto the ball before firing a tame effort at Rebecca Spencer.

Drew Spence dominated the game and the Spurs midfielder was the standout player in the opening forty-five minutes.

And it would be Spence that would come closest to scoring for Jamaica with a free-kick that dipped towards goal. Bailey again pulled out a brilliant save tipping the effort onto the bar just before half-time.

Panama started off the second half much brighter with early chances from corner kicks but were unable to force a save out of Spencer.

Ten minutes into the second half, Jamaica took the lead thanks to the captain for today in place of Bunny Shaw, Allyson Swaby.

Trudi Carter delivered a ball in from a corner on the left into a crowd of players, but as the ball sailed over the head of the two Jamaican players ahead of her, Allyson Swaby kept her focus to divert her deft header into the bottom corner past the helpless Panamanian keeper.

Jamaica were holding on at the end of the game and corners from Cox caused carnage in the Jamaican box. Cox had the chance for a ridiculous World Cup moment when she attempted an outrageous overhead kick from the edge of the box but Spence saved her shot comfortably.

Panama pressed after the goal and gave a good account of themselves but just lacked quality in the final stages to secure a historic point for their country.

Panama exit the competition at the group stages, while Jamaica can dare to dream of making the knockout stage.

Despite a dream start for Ireland with Katie McCabe’s early goal, hopes of progression from Group B in the Women’s World Cup ended in a 2-1 defeat to Canada in torrential rain at Perth Rectangular Stadium this evening.

The result means Ireland will not continue in the competition past their clash with Nigeria next Monday afternoon while Canada have given their hopes of progression a massive boost ahead of their tie with group leaders Australia.

It was a dream start for the Irish as great work from Lucy Quinn and Kyra Carusa forced a corner off the first attack. Katie McCabe whipped in a zinger of a dead ball which evaded the Canadian defenders and keeper to settle in the net coming off the inside of the far post.

Ireland built on their early goal as McCabe once again burst into the box, brushing off the defenders but not able to direct her effort on target. As she was upended in the box, the referee just brushed away her claims.

Sinead Farrelly was next to trouble Sheridan in goal for the Canucks as her forward pass rebounded off Carusa back to the Gotham FC striker and she’ll be disappointed with the connection. It still had Sheridan scrambling to push it around the post for another Irish corner.

Aine O’Gorman, a late replacement for Heather Payne who picked up a recurrence of her injury in the warm up, almost got caught out when she lost her footing and Huitema hit an effort from distance which didn’t bother Courtney Brosnan.

Foreshadowing what was to come for the Canadians a half cleared corner was returned to the box and Gilles’ touch saw the ball fire over the crossbar to the relief of the entire Irish defence.

Canada would find the leveller deep into added time in the first half. Grosso centres and the outstretched foot of Connolly deflected the ball into the Irish net off the post to rip up Pauw’s team talk plans.

The second strike would follow early in the second half. Canada rang the changes at half time with the experience of Christine Sinclair and Sophie Schmidt called from the bench.

It was Leon who would find the lead goal, a cross into the box evaded the Irish defenders and the Portland Thorns forward simply guided the ball to the back of the net to break Irish hearts.

Ireland made their own changes around the hour mark introducing Marisa Sheva, Izzy Atkinson, Lily Agg and Amber Barrett to lift the energy.

With a dozen minutes on the clock when McCabe would lift the crowd to their feet. A mazy run down the right wing would see the captain beat most of the Canadian players before her eventual shot was deflected wide for a corner which Ireland couldn’t take advantage of.

Lily Agg would have the last chance to draw Ireland level with a long range effort as the game ticked over the 90 minutes. Canada managed to run down the clock and hold on to record their first win in the competition.

Super sub Amalie Vansgaard scored a 89th minute winner as Denmark beat China 1-0 in their first round Group D encounter.

Denmark, who were playing in their first World Cup since 2007, were frustrated by a resilient China defence until Vansgaard’s goal from a corner.

No.13 in the world China had the first opportunity of the match as Chen Qiaozhu’s shot from 20 yards out was comfortably saved by Lene Christensen.

Denmark are one place below China in the Fifa world rankings and their first opportunity fell to Kathrine Moller Kuhl off a rebound from a corner but the midfielders effort sailed well wide of the goal.

A rather uneventful first half ensued with the contest feeling the effects of a nervy opening group game. 

China were on top, looking more energised and dominating territory but with just one shot on target to show for their efforts, both sides knew going into the dressing rooms that they had to improve in the final third. 

A subdued first half was illustrated by each side’s goals expected rate, China - 0.32, Denmark 0.4. 

China broke forward at the start of the second half as substitute Wang Shuang made an instant impact by intercepting the Danish defence and her shot from outside the box was well saved by Christensen.

Moments later, Denmark squandered a golden opportunity as Nicoline Sorensen broke down the left and her cross was poorly headed away by the China defence leaving Josefine Hasbo with an open goal.

However, the midfielder’s effort was poor and her header flew over the crossbar.

Sorensen continued to look dangerous for Denmark and her delivery in search for striker Janni Thomsen was only cut out by a vital intervention by Qiaozhu. 

Denmark piled on the pressure in the final 15 minutes as a free kick into the box was almost turned in by China striker Shuang into her own net.

Substitute Vansgaard struck late on as she scored tapped home from close range and despite a VAR review for a possible offside the goal was given and Denmark take the three points to go level with England. 

There was still time for a final scare as an excellent ball into the box by Yang Lina forced a clearance off the line. 

Nevertheless, Denmark held on and will take on England Friday morning, before China are in action against Haiti. 

Full time in Perth and it’s Denmark one China nil.