Women's World Cup Groups 2015: Updated Standings and Tables After Friday Matches
The United States headlined Friday's slate of action in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup as they took on their former coach, Pia Sundhage, and Sweden. The U.S. had plenty of bulletin-board material as their former coach had words for some of her former players when speaking to the media.
The defending champions, Japan, were also in action against a Cameroon side fresh off a 6-0 victory over Ecuador. Ecuador did not fare any better on Friday in their second match as they were on the wrong side of the fastest hat-trick in Women's World Cup history.
Scroll below for the updated group table and a summary of Friday's play.
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2015 Women's World Cup Group Table
| GROUP A | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
| Canada | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| Netherlands | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| China | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| New Zealand | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1 | 1 |
| GROUP B | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
| Germany | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 |
| Norway | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| Thailand | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -3 | 3 |
| Cote D'Ivoire | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -11 | 0 |
| GROUP C | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
| Japan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Cameroon | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Switzerland | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 3 |
| Ecuador | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -15 | 0 |
| GROUP D | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
| United States | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Australia | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Sweden | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Nigeria | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -2 | 1 |
| GROUP E | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
| Brazil | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Costa Rica | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Spain | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| South Korea | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -2 | 0 |
| Group F | P | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
| France | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Colombia | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mexico | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| England | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
Australia vs. Nigeria 2-0
Australia moved to second in Group D with a convincing 2-0 victory over Nigeria, thanks to a double from Kyah Simon.
Though Australia was not dominating possession, when they had the ball, they were moving it well. Simon's sublime chip gave Australia the lead in the 29th minute. Their fluency when passing is a testament to their midfield, according to NBC Sports' Jeff Kassouf.
Nigeria continued the trend of not scoring in the first half. They haven't recorded a tally in the first 45 minutes of a World Cup match since 1999.
Asisat Oshoala had the first chance of the second half, when she skewed a volley well wide after a cross sailed over two defenders.
A free-kick was curled nicely into Sam Kerr's path in the 68th minute, who was all alone by the far post. But rather than head it, she tried a leaping kick on the volley and deflected the ball wide.
Seconds later, Simon got her second after the Nigerian defense was caught out when a ball in from Kerr sent in the scorer and Tameka Butt. On the half-volley, Simon beat Nigerian keeper Precious Dede.
Australian captain Lisa De Vanna got on the end of a long ball and was in on Dede, but an early strike was parried away by the Nigerian keeper. Seconds later in the 82nd minute, a free-kick from Elise Kellond-Knight was sent towards goal by Laura Alleway, but it rang off the crossbar.
Switzerland vs. Ecuador 10-1
Switzerland exploded for eight goals in the second half as the highest-scoring game in this year's Women's World Cup put Ecuador on the wrong side of an embarrassing scoreline.
The 11 goals also set a new World Cup record for most scored in a game, and you can view all of them here.
The field was fully tilted in Ecuador's half for the entirety of this match. Switzerland had three golden opportunities that included a miss, an open net, a shot off the post and a mishit in the game's first 20 minutes.
Switzerland's first goal, their first ever in the World Cup, was not scored by a Swiss player. Ecuadorian defender Angie Ponce got a piece of a low cross sent into her box and watched in horror as it rolled in the back of the net.
The Swiss seized momentum at the stroke of halftime when Eseosa Aigbogun finally converted on her chance. She had missed two others earlier in the first.
It was the Fabienne Humm show to start the second half as the midfielder recorded a hat-trick within six minutes. It is the fastest hat-trick in Women's World Cup history and broke the record set by Celia Sasic of Germany in their 10-0 rout of the Ivory Coast. Sasic's took 30 minutes.
Ramona Bachmann proceeded to score two goals in a minute, spanning from the 60th to 61st. Ponce was able to pull one back from the penalty spot for Ecuador, but it didn't provide much consolation. Ponce recorded another own goal in the 71st. Martina Moser added a ninth as Ecuador embarrassment continued.
Bachmann grabbed her hat-trick in the 81st as Switzerland became the second team of the tournament along with Germany to score 10 goals.
USA vs. Sweden 0-0
The United States came into their tilt vs. Sweden without starting Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan. Sitting on the bench, they watched as their offense struggled to click.
An uneventful first half was credited to wonderful defensive organization from both sides. Sweden was stymieing the United States in the midfield, limiting their ability to facilitate.
The Swedes had a shout for a penalty when a shot struck off the arm of Sydney Leroux, who had her arms up, but the official made no call.
The U.S. began to break down Sweden in the 34th minute through the play of Christen Press finding Alex Krieger, but her shot was timid and of no threat.
Sjoran had Sweden's first real chance of the second half, launching a shot from 30 yards out that sailed just high over Hope Solo's net. Sweden's best spell of the game came in a 10-minute span from the 50th to 60th minute.
The U.S. had a penalty shout of their own in the 60th minute, when a bouncing ball looked to have been batted down by Nilla Fischer, but replays show it was closer to her chest, and the officials made the correct call.
Megan Rapinoe's ball in the 64th minute was set to find captain Carli Lloyd on the far post for an easy header, but a last-ditch header from Jessica Samuelsson saved the day for Sweden.
Wambach entered the game in the 67th minute and almost put the U.S. ahead in the 72nd, firing a header that was saved over the bar by Hedvig Lindahl. On the ensuing corner, Lloyd had a free header, but she sent it over the net.
Meghan Klingenberg played the hero in the 77th minute, when she headed a shot from Caroline Seger off the line, onto the crossbar and out of trouble in what should have been Sweden's breakthrough.
Sports Illustrated got a great look at the goal-saving header.
"An INCREDIBLE goal line stop for Klingenberg saves the USA. 79', still 0-0 http://t.co/UdybeaYIEC
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 13, 2015"
Morgan entered the game in the 79th as a last-ditch attempt for the U.S. to break the deadlock and a late U.S. corner in the second minute of stoppage time almost did the trick, but there were no goals to be scored in Winnipeg as the United States stay atop Group D with four points.
Japan vs. Cameroon 2-1
The reigning World Cup champions are the first to punch their ticket to the knockout stage in a 2-1 victory over Cameroon.
Japan had the lead within six minutes through Aya Sameshima, as she converted a cross into a wide-open goal.
The Japanese lead was two as a ball in from Aya Miyama found the head of Yuika Sugasawa at the far post for another easy goal. Cameroon keeper Annette Ngo Ndom decided not to come out and challenge Sugasawa to help create the easy chance.
Cameroon almost pulled one back in the 22nd, when Gaelle Enganamouit was in on the right side of Japan's goal. Her near-post effort was saved well by Ayumi Kaihori. Japan scored their two goals on just three shots in the first half.
And Cameroon did just that, throwing caution to the wind at times and bringing numbers forward to try and level the playing field.
A mad scramble in front of the Japanese goal in the 71st minute saw four attempted shots, with three getting blocked and the last just going wide.
Enganamouit had a chance to head in a bouncing ball in the box in the 89th minute, but was only able to graze the ball with her head, not generating the power to put it in goal.
Ajar Enchout finally provided the breakthrough in the 90th minute for Cameroon after a ball down the center of the pitch sent her in alone. She managed to finish near post.
Enganamouit had another crack at a header two minutes into stoppage time. She managed to generate wonderful power as her attempt went inches wide.
