February 22 – Two of the three outstanding qualification slots for the Women’s World Cup 2023 have been filled with Haiti beating Chile 2-1 to make history and qualify for their first women’s World Cup and Portugal also set to make their WWC debut after beating Cameroon 2-1.
The final berth for Australia/New Zealand will be filled by the winners of Paraguay vs Panama.
Haiti may be in turmoil at home – both politically and within the leadership of its football federation – but their 2-1 win over Chile in Auckland makes them the fifth Concacaf team and the second team to qualify for a Women’s World Cup from the Caribbean.
In their opening game of the qualifiers Haiti breezed past Senegal 4-0.
Their play-off final was tougher but two goals from the mercurial Melchie Dumornay (pictured), one of the rising stars of the women’s game, was the difference in securing qualification.
Dumornay scored her first in first half added time combining with Roselord Borgella before beating a Chile defender to the ball and striking home. Her second came in added time at the end of the game with a shot across goal finding the net. Maria Rojas pulled one back for Chile three minutes later but it was too little too late.
Haiti will be int Group D for the finals this summer with England, Denmark and China.
Portugal through
Portugal overcame Cameroon 2-1 to secure their summer spot and first appearance at the Women’s World Cup finals. But it took until stoppage time for them to earn their place in what was a frantic finish to the match.
Portugal began well at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton and were 1-0 ahead in the 22nd minute after Diana Gomes slotted in a rebound from a free kick.
With time running out, Cameroon’s Michaela Abam had a goal ruled out for offside in the 84th minute but Ajara Nchout equalised in the 89th minute when she received the ball from Monique Ngock and unleashed a left-footed shot on the turn.
With extra time looking inevitable, Portugal were handed a penalty in stoppage time for a handball by Estelle Johnson. Carole Costa made no mistake from the spot to put the Portuguese through.
Portugal will be in Group E with defending champions United States, Vietnam and the Netherlands.
Paraguay and Panama meet on Thursday to decide the final qualifying team.
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