Women’s Soccer, July 2022: A Series
This is the eleventh post in a series devoted to the 117 games of international women’s football played in July 2022, covering the 3^rd and 4^th rounds of the Copa América Femenina group stage. If you’d like to start from the beginning (or to pick and choose your competitions), you can do so from my opening post. Next up is the final round of the Euros group stage.

Copa América Femenina – Group Stage, Rounds 3-4 (14^th-18^th)

The third round of group play in the Copa América Femenina kicked off with Group A playing the seventh and ninth games on Thursday the 14^th, the one day featuring all five competitions in action. Having shipped 9 goals in their opening two games, Bolivia looked to be in for another long evening when Paraguay’s Ramona Martínez scored off a counter at 10’, set up by Fabiola Sandoval.

In truth, it could easily have been such a night, but Paraguay’s wastefulness and a solid performance from Bolivian keeper Alba Salazar kept the game at one goal well into the second half. Bolivia even had a few chances, as Marilin Rojas hit the crossbar late in the first half, and was taken out by keeper Alicia Bobadilla early in the second on a 50-50 that would have seen her in on an empty net. At 71’, however, Martínez broke in down the right and fed Rebeca Fernández for a tap-in to secure a 2-0 win.

In the later game, Ecuador battled hard against Chile, and were rightly outraged when an obstruction foul was called with Nayely Bolaños through on goal. Though coming against the run of play, it was a huge opportunity denied the underdogs. When Chile scored off a corner kick near the end of the half, the goal was deserved, but not their lead.

The second half was a tight affair, and substitutions made the difference. Following an excellent one-on-one save by Christiane Endler on Bolaños at 70’, Chile manager José Letelier brought on Yenny Acuña as part of a double substitution, and at 76’ she poked home a cross to double the lead. In response, Emily Lima made a double change, and almost immediately substitute Marthina Aguirre pulled one back. The game ended 2-1.

Chile had much less problem with Bolivia in the fourth round, the seventh of eight games on Sunday the 17^th. Within the opening 17’, they were three up, with Francisca Lara scoring the first and assisting the third. She would head in a fourth for Chile shortly before halftime. Two second half subs combined at 76’ to add the final goal in a 5-0 win.

With Paraguay sitting out this round, Ecuador faced hosts Colombia in the eighth game of the day. Ecuador gave the hosts a run for their money in the first half, responding almost immediately to Mayra Ramírez’s 30’ goal with a one of their own, Nicole Charcopa played into the box and scoring with the second bite of the apple.

Right before the end of the half, Daniela Montoya playing a long pass up the middle to the top of the box, where first Liana Salazar and then Ramírez flicked it on to feed Linda Caicedo in on goal for Colombia’s second. Though 2-1 would prove the final score, most of the chances in the second half were created by Colombia. With three straight wins, Colombia were through, while winless Bolivia were eliminated.

On Friday the 15^th, Group B kicked off the third round with Argentina thoroughly dominating Uruguay. Though they did not open the scoring until late in the first half, Yamila Rodríguez scored a hat trick in the first half of the second to put the result out of doubt—and to match Brazil’s Adriana in the race for the Golden Boot. Argentina added a fifth late in stoppage time to cap off a second dominant victory.

In the second game of the day, Venezuela controlled possession against Peru, but didn’t score until a poor back pass put Deyna Castellanos through for an opener late in the first half. Peru nearly equalized at 51’, when Ariana Muñoz hit a strike from 32 yards out that was centimeters from being the goal of the tournament. The shot hit the inside of the post and bounced across the goal line, but not in. Venezuela scored a second at 64’ and looked the more threatening side for the remainder of the game.

That left both Venezuela and Brazil undefeated at the top of the group going into their fourth round tie on Monday the 18^th, the fifth game in the second of two consecutive 8-game days. Brazil opened the scoring midway through the first half and added a second shortly after the restart. A pair of Debinha goals either side of the hour mark, the second including a nutmegged defender, sealed a 4-0 win that put Brazil into the semifinals. Debinha’s brace drew her level with Adriana and Rodríguez on four goals, having scored in all three of Brazil’s matches.

The seventh of eight games that night, between Peru and Uruguay, was already a dead rubber, with both teams winless and unable to reach even the fifth place game. The game remained scoreless through a first half in which Peru had chances, but Uruguay unleashed six goals in the second half, with both Esperanza Pizarro and Pamela González scoring a brace (González also assisting on the second of Pizarro’s goals). It was a strong if meaningless finish for Uruguay, who would sit out the final round of the group stage.

Next up: Women’s Euros – Group Stage, Final Round