Tag Archives: Women’s World Cup

Lizbeth Ovalle Scores Two Goals to Help Propel Mexico to CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup Semifinals

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Lizbeth Ovalle’s golden hour continues…

The 24-year-old Mexican footballer, who plays as a midfielder for Tigres UANL and the Mexico women’s national team, scored two goals as Mexico advanced to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup with a 3-2 victory over Paraguay on Sunday.

Lizbeth Ovalle Karen Luna also scored and Esthefanny Barreras saved a penalty for Mexico, which followed up its landmark victory over the U.S. on Monday by outlasting Paraguay in a thrilling second half featuring four goals and many more chances for both teams. 

Mexico will face Brazil in the semifinals in San Diego on Wednesday.

Mexico conceded its first two goals of the Gold Cup, but still hung on with the backing of an unsurprisingly supportive crowd of 13,229 at BMO Stadium in the U.S. city that’s considered the second home of Mexico’s national teams.

Ovalle extended her star-making performance in this tournament by scoring in each half, giving her five goals in Gold Cup play. The Tigres forward also scored the first goal in the first half of Mexico’s 2-0 stunner over the U.S. with a floating shot over the defense.

Camila Barbosa and Rebeca Fernández scored in the second half for Paraguay, which lost to Mexico for the third time in the nations’ four meetings.

Mexico reached the Gold Cup quarterfinals with three clean sheets in group play, capped by that victory over the powerhouse Americans — just its second win ever over the U.S. and first since 2013.

Although Mexico didn’t qualify for last year’s Women’s World Cup, it still hasn’t lost an international match since an exhibition defeat in September 2022.

Mexico dominated play early and took the lead in the 31st minute when a centering pass from California-born-and-raised forward Scarlett Camberos bounced through Paraguay’s defense to Ovalle, who hit the far bottom corner of the net.

Mexico scored again in the 49th minute when Ovalle’s corner was deflected to the top of the penalty area to the 26-year-old Luna, who hammered it home for the second goal of her first international tournament with Mexico.

Paraguay forward Jessica Martínez got a penalty shot in the 51st minute after she was taken down in the box, but Barreras made a diving arm stop and smothered the follow-up, prompting the Los Angeles crowd to chant her name.

Paraguay kept up its attack, but Mexico defender Rebeca Bernal blocked one shot with her body and headed another off the goal line in a lengthy scramble moments later.

Barbosa finally got Paraguay on the board in the 64th minute, converting Dulce Quintana‘s corner for the first goal allowed by Mexico in the tournament.

Mexico regained a two-goal lead when Stephany Mayor forced a turnover and broke in all alone on goalkeeper Alicia Bobadilla, who stopped Mayor’s shot but couldn’t get in front of Ovalle’s rebound score.

Fernandez got behind Mexico’s back line moments later and made it 3-2. But Paraguay couldn’t find an equalizer.

Catalina Usme Scores to Help Lead Colombia into First-Ever Women’s World Cup Quarterfinals

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Catalina Usme has helped her country make soccer history…

Colombia clinched a matchup with England in the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup on Saturday, thanks to a second-half goal by the 33-year-old Colombian footballer.

Catalina UsmeUsme, Colombia’s team captain scored in the 51st minute to give her side a 1-0 win over an underdog Jamaica team that had been one of the best stories of the tournament.

It’s Colombia’s first time advancing to the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals. In addition, Colombia is the first South American country to reach the last eight since Brazil in 2011.

Jamaica pushed forward for the final 40 minutes after Usme’s goal but wasn’t able to find an equalizer. The Jamaicans’ best chance came just a few minutes after Usme scored when Jody Brown hit the post with a header off a corner kick.

Drew Spence also came close in the final 10 minutes.

Colombia’s matchup with England will be one of the more fascinating quarterfinal games. The English women are the World Cup favorites and will not have Lauren James after her red card against Nigeria.

Colombia has won three of its four games at the World Cup and has been one of the best defensive teams at the tournament. The Colombians have allowed just one goal over their four games.

Jamaica’s tournament is over after they scored just one goal over four games but advanced to the knockout rounds on the heels of a stingy defense. A 1-0 win and two 0-0 ties in the group stage were good enough to get the Jamaicans into the Round of 16 before allowing their first goal of the tournament to Usme.

The Colombia women’s national football team has represented Colombia at the FIFA Women’s World Cup at three stagings of the tournament, in 2011, 2015 and 2023.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Appear on HBO’s New Talk Show Special “Seeing America with Megan Rapinoe”

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is joining the conversation…

The 30-year-old Puerto Rican politician, who serves as the U.S. Representative for New York’s 14th congressional district, will appear on Seeing America with Megan Rapinoe, the Team USA soccer star’s new talk show special for HBO.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

On the special, Rapinoe will engage with guests like Ocasio-Cortez in today’s cultural conversations. 

The goal is to help shape the ongoing cultural conversation that’s been taking place during this significant time in our country’s history.

“It is an honor to host a show with a critical conversation between some of America’s most innovative thought leaders,” Rapinoe said. “I am so thankful to HBO for providing such a powerful platform for this important dialogue.”

In addition to AOC, the special will include appearances by comedian and Netflix’s Patriot Act host Hasan Minhaj, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones.

Seeing America with Megan Rapinoewill premiere at 10:00 pm ET/7:00 PT on Saturday, August 1.

Rapinoe, a two-time Women’s World Cup winner with Team USA, has made international headlines for years through a combination of her talent on the field and her dedication to activism. From kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 in support of Colin Kaepernick to her success and unyielding outspokenness throughout the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France, where she was named the tournament’s most outstanding performer, Rapinoe’s ability to galvanize worldwide attention on social, economic and political issues has transformed her into one of the country’s most recognizable and admired advocates for change.

“We are grateful Megan Rapinoe would choose HBO as home for this conversation and look forward to more opportunities with her to continue this dialogue,” said Peter Nelson, EVP of HBO Sports. “Megan is fearless in speaking out on issues.”