Women’s Soccer, July 2022: A Series
This is the fifth post in a series devoted to the 117 games of international women’s football played in July 2022, covering the opening of the Copa América Femenina. If you’d like to start from the beginning (or to pick and choose your competitions), you can do so from my opening post. This evening, I’ll turn to the final round of group stage play in CONCACAF’s W Championship.

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Copa América Femenina – Group Stage, Rounds 1-2 (8^th-12^th)

Midway through the WAfCoN’s final Group A games on Friday the 8^th, South America’s Copa América Femenina kicked off the final major tournament of the month. As is usually the case in CONMEBOL competitions, all ten member nations were included, divided into two groups of five drawn from five seeded pots (hosts Colombia, who joined top-seeded Brazil in Pot 1, conveniently would have been the 2^nd-place seed by FIFA ranking). That meant that one team per group would sit out each of the five group stage matchdays.

The winners and runners-up would advance to a semifinals, with both finalists and the winner of the 3^rd-place match securing qualification for the World Cup (the finalists also qualified for the 2024 Olympics). The 4^th-place team entered the 10-team Inter-Confederation Playoffs in February, along with the winner of a 5^th-place game between the two 3^rd-place finishers from the group stage. 

As the only legitimately world-class team on the continent, Brazil were overwhelming favorites, having won all but one of the eight previous iterations of the tournament. Host nation Colombia were the favorites to challenge Brazil, having made the finals in two of the past three tournaments. Having said that, both Argentina (champions in 2006) and Chile (finalists in 2018) were close behind them. In truth, with the exception of front-runners Brazil and minnows Bolivia, there was significant parity amongst the competing sides.

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Group A opened with the fifth of eight games on Friday the 8^th, a 6-1 routing of Bolivia by Ecuador. Nayely Bolaños had two goals, an assist, a key pass, and a critical dummy to play a role in all but one of her team’s goals; and also drew a red card tackle from Bolivian keeper Kimberly López at the start of the second half. Bolivia fared little better against Colombia, the sixth game of the second 8-game day of the month, Monday the 11^th, losing 3-0 in a match that was never in doubt.

Colombia’s opener against Paraguay, the seventh game on Friday the 8^th, was a more exciting affair. Though the host nation had the better of a lively, two-way opening 20’, their first goal by Daniela Montoya, finishing off an attack from Leicy Santos and Linda Caicedo blocked off the line, deflected in off Santos’s arm and would have been disallowed were VAR in use at the tournament.

The lead lasted only 5’, Jessica Martínez responding with a truly stunning free kick from 36 yards out to equalize. But 5’ later, Colombia were back on top from a Catalina Usme cross headed in by Mayra Ramírez. Montoya would add a second scrappy goal just before the hour mark, and matching goals for either side in the final 10’ would complete an exciting 4-2 opener for the host nation.

With Ecuador sitting out the second matchday, Paraguay faced another stern test from Chile in that nation’s opening game of the tournament, the third of the eight games on the 11^th. Positive COVID tests, however, ruled two starters and a third substitute out of Chile’s line-up. Paraguay dominated the opening period, with both Rebeca Fernández and Jessica Martínez scoring before the quarter hour mark.

Chile pulled one back off a headed goal from a Francisca “Pancha” Lara free kick at 34’, and finished the first half strongly. But Fabiola Sandoval added a third for Paraguay early in the second, and from there keeper Alicia Bobadilla kept Chile at bay until an injury-time consolation goal. The 3-2 win left Paraguay 2^nd in the group having already faced both favorites.

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On Saturday the 9^th, Group B kicked off with Venezuela dominating Uruguay despite only scoring a late Deyna Castellanos free kick for a 1-0 win. Later that evening, Brazil faced off against Argentina in the premier match of the opening round. Brazil ran away with the game, Bia Zaneratto with a key pass, a penalty (earned and taken), and an assist for the opening three goals. Substitutes Duda Sampaio and Debinha combined for a late fourth goal, a long pass on a breakaway playing Debinha in to slip past the keeper and cap off a 4-0 opener.

Brazil’s second game, against Uruguay on Tuesday the 12^th, followed much the same script. Uruguay wasn’t helped by two first half injuries, both resulting from Brazilian tackles. Brazil scored just after the half hour mark, and then on either side of halftime, with Adriana twice finishing at the far post. Her second brace in two games put her in front for the Golden Boot. Uruguay’s best chance came when Carolina Birizamberri hit the post from 9 yards out at 71’, but a late 2^nd yellow from Ximena Velazco meant she would miss Uruguay’s next game against Argentina.

With Venezuela sitting out the second matchday, Argentina faced Peru to finish off the round. Smarting from their embarrassing loss to Brazil, Argentina dominated from the start, and it was difficult to believe that Peru conceded only one goal in the first half. Two goals in the opening 20’ of the second, both off crosses in from Yamila Rodríguez, sealed the victory, and late substitutes added a 4^th to finish out the game.

Next up: W Championship – Group Stage, Final Round | Skip to: Copa América Femenina – Group Stage, Rounds 3-4