Key Events:
27 minutes: South Africa launches an attack down the left, resulting in a corner after an impressive display by Kgatlana.
Nick Terry wonders if women cover more ground in a game compared to men. Although unlikely, there are websites that provide such statistics.
24 minutes: The fans present may not be numerous, but they are certainly making their presence known with their loud and enthusiastic singing. Unfortunately, we have lost contact with the commentators, JP Dellacamera and Aly Wagner from Fox.
Nomvula Kgoale replaces Jane for South Africa, which is a significant blow for the team considering their strong start in the game.
22 minutes: The international broadcast feed has been inconsistent in showing replays. One particular incident left players from both sides injured, with South African captain Refiloe Jane suffering a gruesome-looking twist to her foot. South Africa is currently playing with ten players on the field.
20 minutes: Two players are down after a tangled collision, potentially leading to a substitution for South Africa. Not an ideal situation this early in the game.
MT Bran from Jacksonville, FL, asks if tonight’s teams will surpass the 58,791 passes completed by the Dutch in the previous game. After giving it some thought, it seems highly unlikely in this possession-light match.
18 minutes: A drop ball in the South African area highlights the peculiar sight of the referee wearing a goalkeeping jersey while the keeper wears the outfield jersey. More importantly, South Africa swiftly moves the ball forward to Magaia on the left, who has been exceptionally tricky and dangerous so far.
16 minutes: Argentina earns a corner, but the goalkeeper, Swart, makes a mess of it and ends up in front of her defenders while the Argentine attackers vie for possession. Though they eventually clear the ball, Gramaglia spoils a promising spell for Argentina by misplacing a cross.
14 minutes: Despite South Africa supposedly playing with only one forward, Kgatlana displays an impressive presence on the field, covering a lot of ground.
Argentina gains possession on the left, where Banini, a potential threat, may have the opportunity to showcase her skills.
12 minutes: A turnover in midfield leads to a quick forward pass to Kgatlana, but Mayorga manages to outpace her and halt the South African attack.
12 minutes: Sophia Braun, hailing from Oregon and having played for Gonzaga and Liga MX side Leon, takes a throw-in near the corner flag.
10 minutes: Now it’s Argentina’s turn to attack, but let’s not forget that teams are not required to take turns like in American football. A poorly executed cross finds two Argentine players in close proximity, highlighting a spacing issue.
9 minutes: Kgatlana draws a foul in midfield, followed by a lovely through ball. However, Argentine goalkeeper Correa, with her experience, is alert and evades any danger.
7 minutes: Cesane displays impressive dribbling skills that leave a couple of Argentine defenders in knots on the right flank. Nothing concrete to report yet, but this match seems poised to be an exciting one. Both teams desperately need a win to have a realistic chance at advancing to the next round.
5 minutes: The stadium in Dunedin boasts the title of being the world’s first permanently-roofed stadium with natural turf, according to a trade publication.
Both teams are showcasing attacking intent in the early stages of the game.
2 minutes: South Africa earns a corner kick.
The stadium, dubbed the Greenhouse, is brightly lit, but the crowd is not at full capacity. New Zealand fans have not filled the seats, which is understandable considering the country’s population.
Peter Oh notices that the nickname for an Argentine player is “El Motorcito” instead of “La Motorcita” and expresses surprise. Additionally, he mentions the shared legendary name between Stabile and the leading scorer of the 1930 men’s World Cup.
Interestingly, I recently discovered that Casey Phair, the young player on South Korea’s team, is the niece of a friend who lives nearby. It is quite fascinating how small the world can be at times.
Our referee for the game, Anna-Marie Keighley, is a local from New Zealand. This marks her third World Cup. Assistant referee Sarah Jones also hails from New Zealand, while Maria Salamasina from Samoa serves as the other assistant referee.
Although it is not my usual practice to discuss other games while commentating on one, since the game has yet to kick off, I’ll briefly mention that Vlatko Andonovski made a wise decision by not bringing in a substitute late in the US women’s draw with the Netherlands. The team was dominating play, and no signs of fatigue were evident. Disrupting the flow could have been counterproductive.
South Africa Lineup:
Goalkeeper: Kaylin Smart (JVW)
Defense: Bambanani Mbane (Mamelodi Sundowns) and Bongeka Gamede (University of the Western Cape) are positioned in the center. On the left, Karabo Dhlamini (Mamelodi Sundowns) replaces the absent player who did not play against Sweden. Lebogang Ramalepe holds the right-back position.
Midfield: The two midfielders listed as “2” in a 4-2-3-1 formation are Refiloe Jane (Sassuolo) and Linda Motlhalo (Glasgow City), who both play outside South Africa. The wingers, Jermaine Seoposenwe (FC Juarez) and Noxolo Cesane (Tigres), are based in Mexico. Hildah Magaia (Sejong Sportstoto) shines as the attacking midfielder, having scored a crucial goal against Sweden.
Forward: Thembi Kgatlana (Racing Louisville) not only represents her current club but also brings experience from playing with Atletico Madrid, boasting 22 goals for her country.
Argentina Lineup:
Goalkeeper: Vanina Correa (Rosario Central), a remarkable player who took a six-year hiatus from the sport after giving birth, yet returned for her third World Cup in 2019. Despite turning 40 next month, she continues to pose a challenge for any team she faces.
Defense: Aldana Cometti (Madrid CFF) impressed in the previous game against Italy. Another center back, Miriam Mayorga (Boca Juniors), brings her expertise as a doctor. Eliana Stabile (Santos) stands out as a strong set-piece taker at left back, while Sophia Braun (Club Leon) holds the right-back position.
Midfield: Lorena Benitez (Palmeiras) serves as the defensive anchor. On the right, 20-year-old Paulina Gramaglia (Red Bull Bragantino), currently on loan to Brazil from the Chicago Red Stars, gets an opportunity to shine. Florencia Bonsegundo (Madrid CFF) and Daiana Falfan (Deportivo UAI Urquiza) occupy the central midfield positions. Estefania Banini (Atletico Madrid), a skillful dribbler, operates on the left side.
Forward: Mariana Larroquette (Orlando Pride) starts as the forward.
Substitutes: Romina Núñez (Deportivo UAI Urquiza), affectionately known as “El Motorcito” (the little engine), features on the bench, having received a rating of 7 against Italy according to The Guardian’s analysis. Youngster Dalila Ippolito (Parma) also awaits her chance to contribute.
Preamble:
Will we witness the first victorious team of the World Cup?
Yes, unless the match ends in a draw. Neither of these teams has secured a victory yet. Additionally, both teams conceded late goals in their opening matches, emphasizing the importance of a win to have any hope of advancing.
Even for avid followers of the global game, the names in these lineups may be unfamiliar. However, the opening games of this World Cup have demonstrated that underestimating teams based on paper evaluations is unwise.
Beau will be joining us shortly. In the meantime, check out Anita Asante’s take on the unexpected surprises of this World Cup.
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