A goalpost in the second minute of stoppage time and a lack of composure on the part of the rivals were the main reasons why the USA women’s team avoided a 0-0 defeat by Portugal and survived the group stage of the ninth Women’s World Cup. The Netherlands dismantled Vietnam 7-0 and will face Italy.The four-time world champions knew from the very beginning of the match against a solid European debutant that a minimal triumph would certainly not be enough for them to win first place in Group E and avoid powerful Sweden at the start of the knockout stage. This reason is based on the assumption that the Netherlands will fill the net of a weak Vietnam to the top and thus achieve an excellent goal difference, a crucial parameter at the World Cup in a situation where the teams are tied on points. Unfavorable news for the USA arrived very quickly from New Zealand’s Dunedin, where in the 23rd minute the Dutch women shook the net of the selection from Southeast Asia for the fourth time and thus practically gave the American women an impossible task in the fight for first place.The European champions from 2017 were playing against an immature opponent and it was enough for the first star of the team Paris Saint-Germain player Lieke Martens to crack the armour of the rival in the eighth minute and the cannonade of goals could begin. Katja Snoeijs, Esmee Brugts (scored two), Jill Roord (also a double scorer) and Daniel Van De Donk finished the half for an easy 5-0 after the first part of the game.Due to such a high score in the match between the Netherlands and Vietnam, the match between the USA and Portugal took on a completely new and unexpected dimension, as it turned into a real match between each other to advance to the round of 16. This is evidenced by the fact that the American women did not impress with anything in particular and overpowered their rival from the Iberian Peninsula in the first 45 minutes. One missed big chance on both sides, slightly more possession of the ball by Portugal and only two more shots by the USA for complete equality on the field.The Macedonian expert Vlatko Andonovski’s team started the second half much faster, and this resulted in two great opportunities until the 60th minute through Alex Morgan and Rose Lavelle, when the Portuguese were forced to kick the ball off the goal line. When they managed to keep the net untouched for ten minutes before the end, the underdog was trying to make a last attack, and the Portuguese managed to create confusion in the back line of the USA, and not only that… In the second minute of stoppage time, Ana Capeta ran on the counter, came face to face with Alyssa Neher but only hit the post.##NAJAVA_MECA_7403436##The American women barely survived the game and will play against Sweden in the round of 16, a team that in the previous two rounds left by far the best impression at the championship.The Netherlands scored two more goals in the second half against Vietnam for the final 7-0. First place in the group means that Andries Jonker’s players will certainly face Italy in the Round of 16, unless the outcome of Group G is a sensational surprise.Despite elimination in the group stage, the Portuguese women made a very good overall impression at the championship, the rapid progress of the Navigators is visible to the naked eye compared to the dry years marked by unsuccessful qualification cycles for major competitions and it seems that the women’s team of this country is slowly following in the footsteps of their male colleagues from the turn of the century, which gradually became an increasingly important factor in the world framework after previously not very rich history.Nigeria hold Ireland to become first African side into Round of 16WOMEN’S WORLD CUP – 3RD ROUNDGROUP BVietnam – Netherlands 0-7 (0-5)/Martens 8, Snoeijs 11, Brugts 18, 57, Roord 23, 83, Van De Donk 45/Portugal – USA 0-0
