Many 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup nations have continued preparations with matches over the last couple of days and their were centuries of different kinds for two players.
Alex Morgan netted her 100th goal for the USA in a match that saw Australia hit back through Lisa de Vanna and Caitlin Ford to lead 2-1 before going down 5-3 in Commerce City. Tobin Heath, Magan Rapinoe and Mallory Pugh all scored, before Sam Kerr got the Matildas third and Rapinoe notched her second in add time.
Canada edged England 1-0 after Nichelle Prince’s 80th-minute volley was turned onto the crossbar and Christine Sinclair was on hand to tuck away the rebound. Ellen White threatened a late leveller when put through by Beth Mead but was unable to get a shot away having been held back.
Scotland – playing in Spain – took the lead against Chile with Erin Cuthbert’s 19th-minute effort from a Kirsty Smith cross. But the visitors responded early in the second period through a Karen Araya penalty, after Lee Alexander brought down Daniela Zamora.
France scored early through Valerie Gauvin in Auxerre and although Rikako Kobayashi levelled for Japan, Eugenie le Sommer and Kadidiatou Diani were later on target for Les Bleues.
Marta put Brazil ahead in Spain but Alexia Putellas and Virginia Torrecilla turned the game round in a six-minute second-half spell.
Netherlands hosted Mexico in front of a big crowd in Arnhem and won 2-0 with first-half goals from Vivianne Miedema and Lieke Martens.
👏👏 #NEDMEX #OnzeJacht pic.twitter.com/kh2zbnNX2A
— OranjeLeeuwinnen (@oranjevrouwen) April 5, 2019
Norway got the only goal in Marbella in the 9th minute, Amalie Eikeland netting past New Zealand.
Four Nations Tournament hosts China came from a goal down to defeat Russia 4-1 in the semi-finals. Nadezhda Smirnova’s opener was cancelled out by Li Ying, In a twelve-minute second half spell, Wang Shanshan bagged a brace and Wang Shuang scored in-between.
Cameroon edged Croatia 2-1 in the other tie, Henriette Akaba striking the winner 6 minutes from time.
Poland and Italy drew 1-1, with Ewe Pajor’s goal on 25 minutes followed quickly by one from Valentina Cernoia.
Die Schweiz ist nach knapp 20 Minuten nahe am ersten Tor! Ramona Bachmann wirbelt in ihrem 100. Länderspiel die finnische Defensive gehörig durcheinander und sorgt für viel Gefahr! Weiter so! #HoppSchwiiz #SUIFIN 0:0* pic.twitter.com/xGrT8rBbLm
— nationalteams_SFVASF (@SFV_ASF) April 5, 2019
Although neither Switzerland or Finland will be at the finals this summer, Ramona Bachmann did make her 100th appearance for the Swiss in a 0-0 draw with the Finns. Goalkeeper Gaëlle Thalmann saved a Linda Sällström penalty to deny Finland victory.
