Day 9 of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup opened with Argentina facing off against South Africa and was followed by England taking on Denmark and China going up against Haiti.
Couldn’t watch and need to know what the big story is? This is what happened on the ninth day of the World Cup.
Your bite-sized recap of Day 9 of the 2023 Women’s World Cup
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South Africa 2, Argentina 2
The Big Story: Argentina struggled with the speed of the South Africa counterattack and went down but was able to be more clinical in their finishing and tie up the game with two late goals.
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Subscribers of The Equalizer can now save 50% on their subscription to our partner publication, The IX. This newsletter has experts covering the latest news in women’s soccer, tennis, basketball, golf, hockey, and gymnastics. Each sport has its own day which means you’ll receive The IX in your inbox six days a week.
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The Big Moment: Argentina tied the game in the 79th minute with this Romina Núñez header. This keeps alive Argentina’s possibility to advance out of the group stage.
Romina Núñez finds the equalizer for Argentina 
pic.twitter.com/7V6DCuDK7V
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 28, 2023
pic.twitter.com/7V6DCuDK7V— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 28, 2023
What it means: Argentina held the majority of the possession in the first half, but was unable to convert that possession into dangerous chances. Although there were some good crosses put in, they ended the half with only five shots, one post hit, and no shots on goal. In first half stoppage time Argentine defender Miriam Mayorga received a yellow for taking down Thembi Kgatlana, her second of the tournament, so she will miss the next match for Argentina.
For South Africa, the first half had some positives, with their goal, and how dangerous their forwards were on the counter attack. On the negative side, midfielder Refiloe Jane went off on a stretcher midway through the half, and Kholosa Biyana was awarded a yellow card for the second game in a row, meaning that she too will miss Banyana Banyana’s third group stage match.
The start of the second half had more of the same, Argentina struggled to get the ball on frame while holding possession. South Africa took advantage of Argentinian mistakes and was hard to defend on their fast-break counters. Thembi Kgatlana made it 2-0 when she scored in the 66th minute off a sloppy Argentina turnover in their own defensive third.
Thembi Kgatlana doubles South Africa's lead 
@RacingLouFC | @NWSL pic.twitter.com/6DABNR1zeo
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 28, 2023
@RacingLouFC | @NWSL pic.twitter.com/6DABNR1zeo— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 28, 2023
In the 72nd minute, Argentina was able to finally score, and then minutes later found the equalizer. The key for Argentina finding momentum in the second half really came down to the energy that the substitutes brought into the match. Considering both squads lost their opening World Cup match, the tie here means that it will be incredibly hard for either of them to get out of the group stage. But depending on the outcome of the other matches in Group G it is not impossible.
-Taylor Vincent
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