Le Sommer's Brace Propels France to Dominant Last-16 Win

 Le Sommer's Brace Propels France to Dominant Last-16 Win

Le Sommer's Brace Propels France(Image-Getty)

Eugenie Le Sommer exhibited her prowess by scoring twice, propelling France to a commanding 4-0 triumph over the debutant Moroccan team in their exhilarating last-16 clash at the Women's World Cup. This victory ensured France's advancement to the quarter-finals for the remarkable third consecutive time.

The contest ignited with Kadidiatou Diani netting her fourth goal of the tournament, a masterful header in the 15th minute. This skillful maneuver set in motion a whirlwind sequence of three goals within just eight minutes for Les Bleues. Kenza Dali and Le Sommer further bolstered the scoreline at the Hindmarsh Stadium, effectively curtailing Morocco's fairy-tale journey in the competition.

In the subsequent stage of the competition, France is scheduled to face the host nation, Australia, in the quarter-finals, with the highly anticipated match slated for Saturday in Brisbane.

Morocco's journey to the last 16 was a remarkable feat, as they emerged as the lowest-ranked team (ranked 72) in this stage of the tournament. Their trajectory involved a resilient recovery from a 6-0 defeat against Germany, subsequently defeating South Korea and Colombia. However, their valiant efforts were outmatched by the formidable prowess of France, ranked fifth globally, who maintained an undefeated streak in the group stage, culminating in a dramatic 6-3 triumph over Panama.

Le Sommer's exceptional skills extended her record as France's all-time leading goal scorer, amassing a remarkable total of 92 goals. This match marked a significant milestone for Les Bleues, as they achieved a historic feat by notching four goals in a Women's World Cup knockout fixture.

Diani, renowned for her hat-trick performance against Panama, capitalized on an unguarded position within the penalty area to execute a simple header from Sakina Karchaoui's well-placed cross. This goal inaugurated the scoring, leaving Moroccan goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi visibly frustrated, as she pounded her fists against the turf.

The frustrations continued to mount for Morocco, as Dali capitalized on Diani's cross just five minutes later. Dali's powerful strike ricocheted off the inner side of the far post, ultimately finding the back of the net.

Le Sommer showcased her striking prowess once more, capitalizing on Diani's pressure against a Moroccan defender to find the back of the net with a well-placed shot in the 23rd minute. Despite a relatively subdued second half for France, Le Sommer managed to secure her second goal of the match, deftly heading in a long cross from Vicki Becho in the 70th minute.

Notably, this Women's World Cup edition witnessed an unprecedented occurrence as three African nations, namely Morocco, South Africa, and Nigeria, successfully advanced to the last 16 stage. Morocco harbored aspirations of becoming the first African nation to secure victory in a knockout match, with the ultimate goal of making history.

It's also worth mentioning that Nouhaila Benzina etched her name in history by becoming the first player to don a hijab in the Women's World Cup, adding a layer of diversity and inclusivity to the tournament.