Catalina Usme and Linda Caicedo scored to give Colombia a 2-0 victory over South Korea in their opening game of the Women’s World Cup on Tuesday, denying the Koreans what would have been only their second win in four appearances at the tournament.
Usme scored on a penalty kick in the 30th minute after a South Korean handball, sending keeper Yoon Younggeul the wrong way before slotting the ball into the far corner.
Caicedo, an 18-year-old forward for Real Madrid, doubled Colombia’s lead nine minutes later, launching a high shot that Yoon got her hands on, but without the power to send it over the bar. The ball squirted into the net, to the delight of the yellow-clad Colombian fans at Sydney Football Stadium.
“Well, I am extremely happy, but this has to do with the collective work of everyone,” Caicedo said on her first World Cup goal.
“The feeling the group had going onto the pitch we were a bit anxious, we wanted the World Cup to start, and we wanted to start off on the right foot, this was something crucial.
“Very happy for the goal and the victory.”
Korea’s American-born teenager Casey Phair became the youngest player to take the field in Women’s World Cup history, subbing on in the 78th minute, just 26 days after her 16th birthday.
Colombia was without their head coach Nelson Abadia, who was suspended by FIFA through his team’s first two games, reportedly for an infraction at the 2015 World Cup, Colombia’s last appearance.
It was the final game of the opening round of group matches and the 300th match in Women’s World Cup history.
Korea nearly pulled one back just before halftime when Lee Guimmen’s close-range header off a terrific cross from Choe Yuri forced keeper Catalina Perez to make a diving save.
But Colombia, who reached the round of 16 at the 2015 World Cup, dominated possession, slicing through South Korea’s defence with ease. They threatened to pad their lead with several in the dying minutes when Mayra Ramirez sent a great cross to a wide open Caicedo, who hesitated too long.
Tuesday’s attendance was 24,323 with fans banging drums and tooting horns all game long.
“It’s a magnificent stadium, that atmosphere it’s close, it’s tight to the pitch, it’s what every player wants, what every fan wants, and so many people came and watched us today,” said Korea’s British coach Colin Bell. “When you lose it’s not so nice but I’ll treasure this moment for the rest of my life, my first World Cup match.
“You’re up, you’re down, you’re up, you’re down, that’s football. We love it.”
Colombia face two-time champions Germany on Sunday. The Germans opened their campaign with a 6-0 rout of debutantes Morocco on Monday. South Korea take on Morocco on Sunday.
