Eugénie Le Sommer scored a brace to propel France to a 4-0 win over World Cup debutants Morocco in the final first round match of the 2023 Women's World Cup, advancing to the quarterfinals for a third consecutive time.
Kadidiatou Diani scored her fourth goal of the tournament, which came on a header in the 15th minute off a cross from Sakina Karchaoui, placing herself a few years in front of the net to score an easy goal that sparked a three-goal run in the span of eight minutes.
Morocco became the lowest-ranked team to play in the round of 16, having ranked 72nd entering the World Cup, bouncing back from a 6-0 rout by Germany to defeat South Korea and Colombia in consecutive 1-0 clean sheets.
But they were no match for France, who went unbeaten in the group stage, where they capped the three-game round robin off with a 6-3 win over Panamá.
Diani, who had a hat trick against Panamá, sparked the three-goal run, which had Morocco goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi smacking her fists on the pitch in frustration.
That frustration amplified when Diani set up Kenza Dali at the top center of the box. With Diani getting the attention, she finds the open midfielder who one-timed the shot off the left post and in the net to go up 2-0 five minutes after the first goal.
To cap off the run, Diani got right in the face of Moroccan defender Nesryne El Chad at the back line to force a turnover right onto the foot of Le Sommer, who scored her first goal on a boot to bottom left corner.
The 34-year-old Lyon forward extended her own country record for most goals all-time on the international stage at the 70th minute, as a keep in by France on an attempted clear by Morocco led to Vicki Bècho setting up Le Sommer, who raced to near left post, to send a header for her second goal.
It was a mismatch of epic proportions, and they wanted to add to their lead as early as the 41st minute, but after a Selma Bacha cross was cleared away by Nouhaila Benzina, the first player to wear a hijab in the Women's World Cup, Sandie Toletti's long distance shot sailed just to the left of the post.
Diani was close to scoring France's second brace and her fifth goal in the last two games when the ball went her direction on a cross, but her shot was too high.
French goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin was not tested a lot, as Morocco only got one shot, and it was the first shot of the second half just a few seconds into play, which sailed to the right of the goal.
Three minutes later, Ibtissam Jraïdi nearly had an opportunity for Morocco to score, but was not able to control the ball when getting around Peyraud-Magnin, who dove to the left to knock the ball away from her.
This was the first Women's World Cup to feature three African nations making it to the round of 16, those being Morocco, South Africa, and Nigeria.
"I'm not disappointed because we got to the round of 16 and this is our first World Cup, so we knew the further we got the harder it would be," said Morocco head coach Reynald Pedros. "What is important is that we got to the round of 16 and that it is exceptional for us. It was unthinkable to say that Morocco would get to the round of 16 and I sincerely think that reaching the stage, for the first time, is like the men's team getting to the semifinal.
"We were just putting together a women's team three years ago in Morocco, but we are going home with our heads held high because we got to the round of 16. I am going to congratulate the players and thank them for what they have given us."
As the Cinderella story strikes midnight, Morocco is looking to build off their first ever knockout stage appearance in their Women's World Cup debut to be a team that can perennially compete in the knockout stage.
France, on the other hand, heads to Lang Park in Brisbane to take on the World Cup co-hosts, Australia, on August 12th at 3:00 AM EDT. FOX will televise all remaining games of the Women's World Cup in the United States, TSN in Canada, and Televisa in México.
Scoring
France, 15': Kadidiatou Diani [4], header from very close range to center of the goal, assisted by Sakina Karchaoui [1]. 1-0 France
France, 20': Kenza Dali [1], right foot shot from center of the box to bottom left corner off left post, assisted by Kadidiatou Diani [2]. 2-0 France
France, 23': Eugénie Le Sommer [2], right foot shot from right side of the box to center of the goal, assisted by Kadidiatou Diani [3]. 3-0 France
France, 70': Eugénie Le Sommer [3], header from left side of the six-yard box to bottom left corner, assisted by Vicki Bècho [1] with a cross. 4-0 France
Substitutions
Morocco, 64': Sofia Bouftini replaces Fatima Tangaout.
Morocco, 64': Rosella Ayane replaces Anissa Lahmari.
Morocco, 64': Sarah Kassi replaces Élodie Nakkach.
France, 64': Vicki Bècho replaces Sandie Toletti.
France, 81': Naomie Feller replaces Eugénie Le Sommer.
France, 81': Estelle Cascarino replaces Ève Périsset.
France, 90'+1': Aïssatou Tounkara replaces Sakina Karchaoui.
France, 90'+1': Viviane Asseyi replaces Kadidiatou Diani.
Disciplinary
Morocco, 57': Hanane Aït El Haj is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Team Stats
Possession: France 75% advantage
Shots: France 15, Morocco 1
On Target: France 5, Morocco 0
Fouls: France 9, Morocco 12
Yellow Cards: France 0, Morocco 1
Red Cards: France 0, Morocco 0
Offsides: France 3, Morocco 2
Corner Kicks: France 0, Morocco 2
Saves: France 0, Morocco 1
Miscellaneous
Venue: Hindmarsh Stadium (Coopers Stadium)
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Attendance: 13,557 (Capacity: 16,500)
Referee: Tori Penso (United States)
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