Tournament debutants, Morocco, have defeated Colombia 1-0 and advanced to the knockout phase in a Group H fixtures that saw pre-tournament favourites, Germany, knocked out.
The Atlas Lionesses began the brighter of the two sides, enjoying more possession and looking the side more likely to score.
However, clear-cut chances were few and far between in the first half that was until Ibtissam Jraidi was bundled over in the penalty area moments before the break.
Ghizlane Chebbak saw the subsequent penalty saved, but Anissa Lahmari was in the right place to poke home, the rebound to give her nation a priceless lead and leapfrog Germany into second.
Colombia had several fantastic opportunities to equalise in the second half.
But Morocco goalkeeper, Khadija Er-Rmichi, was equal to everything thrown at her as the game ticked past the 100-minute mark.
The South Americans couldn’t find a leveller, meaning that Morocco thanks in hand to Germany’s 1-1 draw with Korea Republic advanced in second place behind Las Cafeteras.
Morocco became the first Arab team to win a match in the tournament’s history, following their win against Korea Republic.
They have now become the first to make it past the group stage.
Morocco are the first African team to win two successive FIFA Women’s World Cup matches and the first to keep successive clean sheets.
Reynald Pedros, Morocco coach, expressed joy after the match and dedicated the team’s victory to the Moroccan fans.
“They (Moroccan fans) are going to support us one more time.
“We love them, we cherish them, and we feel they’re behind us.
“It gives us strength. Well done to all the girls and we’re continuing on our merry way,” he said.
Meanwhile, Germany were sent crashing out of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup following a frustrating 1-1 draw with Korea Republic in Brisbane on Thursday.
The Taeguk Ladies took the lead after just six minutes through Sohyun Cho, only for Alex Popp to level late in the first half.
Very shortly after, though, Morocco took the lead in their game against Colombia.
This meant Germany needed to find a goal which never came – therefore condemning the Europeans to a first-ever group-stage exit.
Korea Republic came flying out of the traps and almost took the lead in the opening minutes.
This was when Casey Phair was sent through, but she saw her effort turned on to the post by Merle Frohms.
Die Nationalelf didn’t heed that warning, though, and just minutes later, Cho was put clear via a defence-splitting pass from Youngju Lee and made no mistake in finding the bottom-left corner.
Germany, knowing they were heading home as it stood, were dragged level late in the first half by inspirational captain Popp.
This was after she rose highest from a deep Svenja Huth centre to nod a textbook header beyond Jungmi Kim.
While that goal temporarily had Germany going through, an even later first-half strike for Morocco against Colombia sent them back down into third and needing another goal to advance.
Popp thought she had found it just after the break but saw her brave header ruled out for offside, before she sent another one crashing off the bar moments later.
Martina Voss-Tecklenburg’s side continued to press, but neither they nor Colombia could find the net, as group-stage elimination was confirmed for the two-time world champions.
