France has ascended to the Quarter-finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia, where they would be facing co-host, Australia for a chance in the semi-finals.
They were to face Morocco on Tuesday, 8th of August, 2023, who got their first entry into the round of 16 after Germany crashed out in the group stage.
Goals from Kadidiatou Diani, Kenza Dali, and Eugenie Le Sommer put the French three up inside 23 minutes as the North Africans struggled with the pace of the French giants.
Morocco started well, but France made it look easy when Kadidiatou Diani put them ahead after just 15 minutes of play. Full-back Sakina Karchaoui navigated her way towards the touchline before delivering a cross into the six-yard box for Diani, who was completely unmarked to nod home from close range.
In the next eight minutes of play, Le Sommer and Aston Villa’s Dali put
Harve Ranard’s girls 80% through to the next stage. The second goal came when Dali played a quick one-two ball with Diani into the box and guided the ball into the bottom corner for the finisher.
For the third goal, Diani who has been all over Morocco since the beginning of the match stole the ball from Nesryne El Chad in the box and passed to Le Sommer who sent it home with no fuss.
Le Sommer got her second of the game and France’s fourth of the night after heading home substitute Vicki Becho’s perfect cross.
MATCH RATINGS
FRANCE: Peyraud-Magnin 8, Perisset 7, De Almeida 7, Renard 7, Karchaoui 8, Dali 8, Geyoro 7, Toletti 7, Bacha 7, Diani 9, Le Sommer 9
Subs: Tounkara N/A, Cascarino N/A, Asseyi N/A, Feller N/A, Becho 7
MOROCCO: Er-Rmichi 4, Ait El Haj 5, El Chad 4, Benzina 6, Redouani 5, Ouzraoui 6, Nakkach 7, Chebbak 7, Tagnaout 6, Lahmari 6, Jraidi 5
Subs: Kassi 6, Bouftini 6, Ayane 6
