Catch up with everything that happened on Day Nine right here:
Sweden vs Italy
Sweden took on Italy in Wellington looking to retain control of Group G after the European nation's comeback victory against South Africa in its first fixture of this tournament. Sweden was also looking to keep a 100 per cent record in the tournament and follow up its 1-0 victory against Argentina with another three points.
It was always going to be difficult for the Italians against a Sweden side that is ranked third in the world, and that is exactly how it played out as an emphatic Sweden put five goals past Italy to now be odds on to finish top of the group.
After dominating the ball early in the first half, the Italians always looked troubled by the Swedes at set pieces. It took almost the entirety of the first half, but once Sweden started scoring, the side was hard to stop. Centre-back Amanda Ilestedt started the procession in the 39th minute from a corner, before superstar Fridolina Rolfo made it 2-0, tapping in at the back post, also from a corner. Stina Blacksteinus made it three from open play right before halftime.
The second half brought more of the same with Amanda Ilestedt getting her second - again from a corner - to make it 4-0. Ilestedt now is the competition's joint-leading top goalscorer. Sweden's fifth and final goal came from a counterattack after an Italian corner with Rebecka Blomqvist making no mistake deep into injury time in the second half.
The comprehensive victory secured Sweden's place in the Round of 16 ahead of its third group stage match against Argentina in Hamilton. Italy, despite this shellacking, still has a chance to qualify for the knockout phase when the side travel to Wellington to take on South Africa.
France vs Brazil
France locked horns with Brazil in Brisbane in front of 49,378 fans at Suncorp Stadium - the second-biggest crowd at this year's FIFA Women’s World Cup. And the legions of fans were treated to arguably the highest quality football seen at the tournament as yet.
France bossed the possession in the early stages. The team got a deserved first goal through Eugénie Le Sommer, who made no mistake heading past the Brazillian goalkeeper for her 90th international goal for Les Bleues. The rest of the first half was edge-of-your-seat stuff, with France just edging things and taking a deserved 1-0 lead into the half-time break.
You can never count any Brazilian side out in a game of football and it took them less than ten minutes to restore parity when Debinha made no mistake when presented with a golden chance to score after Kerolin’s strike ricocheted off of a French defender.
The game went up another level, with the two world-class sides searching for a winner. The moment of truth came in the 82nd minute when a looping corner arrived at the back post and veteran centre-back Wendie Renard made no mistake heading across Brazil's goalkeeper Letícia to give France the lead and ultimately the victory.
The legendary Marta made a cameo at the death as Brazil searched for a goal, but it wasn’t to be as France gaffer Herve Renard became the first manager in history to win a fixture at both the Men’s and Women’s World Cup.
France take on Panama in Sydney next Wednesday where a draw will be enough to confirm their place in the Round of 16. Brazil head to Melbourne for a much trickier assignment against Jamaica, where a loss will see the unthinkable scenario of Brazil heading home before the knockout rounds begin.
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Panama vs Jamaica
Panama and Jamaica faced each other in the late kick-off on Saturday night at Perth Rectangular Stadium in front of a raucous crowd. Both sides were looking for their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup victory.
Jamaica dominated the first half with chance after chance. In a familiar theme of this tournament, the superior side was unable to take advantage of their litany of opportunities to score. Panama was restricted to counter attacks and they were few and far between for the side. An incredible save from Panama's goalkeeper from a Drew Spence free kick in first-half injury time meant the teams went into the break with the score at nil-all.
The supreme Reggae Girlz got the goal their play deserved in the 56th minute when Allyson Swaby thumped a header home from a corner. Panama tried to push for an equaliser, but in truth, it was Jamaica who looked the more likely to score again, as the Carribean nation went on to secure their first-ever World Cup victory.
The result put an end to Panama’s World Cup hopes. For Jamaica, it has put Lorne Donaldson's side right in the race for a spot in the knockout phase, with a draw against Brazil in Melbourne on Wednesday enough to book an unlikely place in the Round of 16.
Also don't forget to listen to the Australian World Cup Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. New episode out now!