Women’s World Cup Rundown: Groups A, B, C, D

The US Women’s National Team celebrate a goal in their opening game of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. (AP Photo)

The 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup started with an opening game between Canada and China on Saturday, June 6, at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Canada. The game finished with a 1-0 result in favor of Canada after they were awarded a penalty kick in the winding minutes of the game. Christine Sinclair buried the penalty kick in the ninety-second minute to give Canada the first win of the World Cup.

Later on in the day, New Zealand faced the Netherlands, in which the Dutch walked away with a 1-0 win with a goal from Lieke Martens in the thirty-third minute.

On Sunday, the World Cup continued with games played by the Group B teams. Thailand suffered a 4-0 loss to Norway, with goals from Trine Rønning, Isabell Herlovsen (2), and Ada Hegerberg. Germany sent an apparent message that they arrived to Canada with the intention to win after they beat the Ivory Coast 10-0 in Group B’s second game of the day. Goals were scored by Célia Sasic (3), Anja Mittag(3), Simone Laudehr, Sara Däbritz, Melanie Behringer, and Alexandra Popp.

Monday was not only full of games from both Group C and D teams, but also with many goals. There were a total of 17 goals scored between four games. Sweden and Nigeria played to a surprisingly 3-3 draw for the first game between Group D teams. Goals for Sweden came from Desire Oparanozie, Nilla Fischer, and Linda Sembrant. Nigeria’s goal scorers consisted of Ngozi Okobi, Asisat Oshoala, and an eighty-seventh minute game tying goal from Francisca Ordega. Ecuador endured a 6-0 loss at the hands of Cameroon and defending World Cup champions Japan won their first game with a 1-0 win over Switzerland to wrap up the Group C games.

The spotlight on Monday was on the United States Women’s National team as they took on the Australia Matildas in Group D’s second game of the day. The United States is coming into this World Cup with a score to settle after suffering a loss four years ago against Japan in penalty kicks in the 2011 World Cup Final in Frankfurt, Germany. Being placed in what people call “the group of death”, the United States had to hit the ground running with their first game Monday night, and that is exactly what they did in the 3-1 win against Australia. Big saves by Hope Solo and big goals by the midfielders were the difference maker in the game.

Goals for the U.S. were scored by Megan Rapinoe (2), the FIFA player of the game, and Christen Press, her first in a World Cup. That game was the first 2-goal game for a United States Women’s National Team player in a Women’s World Cup since 2007. The United States leads Group D with three points.

The stars and stripes take on Sweden and their previous head coach, Pia Sundhage, on Friday, June 12 at 8:00 PM ET.