40,499 fans at Allianz Stadium witnessed an incredible upset in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Finals on 30 July as Germany, who last lost a group stage fixture at the Finals in 1995, were stunned 2-1 by Colombia, who scored a dramatic stoppage time winner after the Germans had mounted a tremendous fightback to draw level in the dying minutes. The result leaves the two-time world champions in danger of missing out on the knockout stages for the first time in their storied history - indeed, Germany have never failed to reach the quarter-finals in the eight previous FIFA Women's World Cup Finals tournaments. "Las Cafeteras" weren't shy in putting themselves about a bit early doors, and a fair few German players will have the bruises to prove it in the coming week. 'Twas the South Americans who offered the first threat on goal in this match, the dynamic Mayra Ramirez - what a leader of the forward line she is - heading narrowly past the post from Catalina Usme's eighth minute corner. Ten minutes later, the same pair combined, but this time Sara Doorsoun stepped in to avert the danger as the European team found making any headway against their opponents to be more than a little challenging. It took a bit of magic from midfield monster Lena Oberdorf to drag "Die Nationalelf" back into the match. The 21-year-old is widely regarded as one of the most complete midfielders in the game, and underlined why in the 22nd minute with a moment of individual brilliance to recover possession, beat three players then present the ball on a plate for Klara Buehl. She slipped it inside for Lina Magull, who got it all wrong - an air-shot in the penalty area. Colombia cleared their lines, but only as far as Oberdorf, whose shot was deflected to safety by at least one Colombian defender - they were throwing themselves at the ball in their desperation to keep a clean sheet. It took a further twenty minutes before the Germans mustered their next effort on goal, an Alexandra Popp volley over the bar from six yards after Oberdorf and Jule Brand had opened up Colombia's rearguard. Popp went closer still three minutes later, Catalina Perez grabbing her fifteen yard header after Chantal Hagel's cross had picked out her captain. This chance came between two for the Colombians, with Lorena Bedoya Durango landing a thirty-yarder on the roof of Merle Frohms' net, while the 'keeper punched an Usme corner out from beneath her crossbar in the shadows of the half-time whistle. The torrid nature of this battle royal continued unperturbed in the second spell, with Brand and Popp combining on the right in the 51st minute, only for the Colombian rearguard to repel their best efforts and spark a counter-attack from which "Las Cafeteras" opened the scoring. What sparked the opportunity was a terrific run by Ramirez to earn a corner. Usme's delivery was cleared, but Linda Caicedo pounced on the loose ball and weaved between two defenders in the penalty area before picking out the top far corner of

the net with a stupendous strike! It's a safe bet that this young lady is guaranteed to be among the contenders for Young Player of the Finals. Caicedo is known as "The Colombian Neymar", which, personally, this writer considers a tad insulting, given the Brazilian's reputation for … shall we say struggling to stay on his feet when challenged! This lass is quality, and doesn't need a nickname of that nature weighing her down. Having conceded a goal, there was an increasing sense of urgency about Germany's play. Popp lashed a snapshot over the bar after Buehl and Hagel had combined on the hour, then flicked on a Hagel free-kick in the 63rd minute, the ball flying narrowly over the head of Brand. Oberdorf unleashed a thumping volley inches past the far post a minute later, before Popp spurned a glorious chance to level the scores nineteen minutes from time, her free-kick from just outside the penalty area sailing well over the top. Germany's efforts continued to meet with stubborn resistance from the Colombian defence, who had the relentless Ramirez to call upon as an outlet to help relieve pressure. That escape valve was utilised in the 86th minute, the striker rampaging down the right before fizzing in a low cross which deflected off the retreating figure of Sjoeke Nuesken and ricocheted across goal, just too far in front of Caicedo, who was racing in on the far post to tuck the ball home. The Germans were in trouble, but a brilliant unchecked run through the middle by Oberdorf got them out of trouble. Sara Daebritz slipped the ball into her team-mate's stride, and into the penalty area Oberdorf strode, only for Perez to hurtle off her line and fell the midfielder. Referee Melissa Borjas had no hesitation - penalty, and up stepped Popp to level the scores from twelve yards, a goal the Germans thoroughly deserved. But having restored parity, they failed to kick on, instead opting to hold what they had - the price for doing so was heavy indeed! Colombia were in the ascendancy in stoppage time, Ramirez being denied by Frohms at the second attempt before the covering figure of Nuesken averted the danger after Leicy Santos had sent Colombia's powerful number nine away down the right. With time all but up on the clock, the Colombians earned a corner on the right. Santos delivered quality, and Manuela Vanegas delivered more of it in spades - a thumping unchallenged ten yard header which flew beyond Frohms' despairing dive to win the match in dramatic fashion for Colombia, who look odds-on to upset the apple cart and finish top of the group after this stunning 2-1 triumph. Germany:     Frohms; Huth, Hendrich, Doorsoun (Nuesken, 46), Hagel; Daebritz, Magull (Schueller, 67), Oberdorf (booked, 56); Brand, Popp, Buehl (Anyomi, 76) Colombia:     Perez (booked, 88); C. Arias, Carabali (Ramos, 90), D. Arias, Vanegas; Andrade (Santos, 54), Bedoya Durango (booked, 62), Montoya (Ospina Garcia, 67 (booked, 79)), Caicedo (Restrepo, 90); Usme, Ramirez Referee:     Melissa Borjas (Honduras)