In a bittersweet inaugural appearance at the Women’s World Cup, Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses faced a crushing disappointment, falling to a formidable 6-0 defeat against the seasoned champions, Germany.
The two-time winners left no room for doubt about their dominance, with skipper Alexandra Popp leading the charge by scoring a brace.
Germany wasted no time asserting their authority, as Popp headed home an early goal just 11 minutes into the match from a perfectly placed cross by Kathrin Hendrich.
Before half-time, Popp struck again, this time glancing in a corner from Klara Buhl, showcasing her prowess in the air.
After the break, Buhl turned from an assist provider to a scorer, capitalizing on a rebound from her own dangerous cross, adding to Morocco’s woes.
To make matters worse, two unfortunate own goals compounded the Atlas Lionesses’ misery, leaving them with a mountain to climb in Group H.
Germany’s quest for another World Cup triumph began with an emphatic statement, underlining their intentions in the competition.
Their resounding victory over African opposition yet again, following their triumphs against South Africa and Nigeria in France 2019, serves notice of their formidable presence on the global stage.
Morocco’s road to progress now faces a challenging test, as they seek to recover from this sobering introduction to the world’s biggest football stage.
