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Colombia defeated Germany 2-1 at the Women's World Cup on Sunday thanks to a goal from Manuela Vanegas in the seventh minute of extra time. The defender charged in to close a nail-biting match and put her nation in position to advance to the knockout round. After 18-year-old Linda Caicedo had produced an incredible opening goal for Colombia, Alexandra Popp appeared to have earned two-time champion Germany a 1-1 draw with her 89th-minute penalty. However, Vanegas added a late twist to the raucous jubilation of Colombia supporters, who filled the Sydney Football Stadium audience.
When Colombian goalkeeper Catalina Perez received a penalty kick for tripping up Lena Oberdorf in the penalty area, the Germans believed they had earned a point. Popp, who scored twice in her nation's 6-0 thrashing of Morocco in the tournament opener, sent a shot straight down the center to tie the score.
The crowd, who enthusiastically supported Colombia throughout and roared following Caicedo's goal in the 52nd, was upset by that. After experiencing a health scare earlier in the week, the Real Madrid starlet scored her second tournament goal in a flash of brilliance.
It was all the more remarkable given that she had collapsed on the ground clutching her chest during training the previous week. On Tuesday, Caicedo scored a long-range goal in a 2-0 victory over South Korea. However, whereas Yoon Young-geul's mistake led to that goal, this time it was all about individual brilliance.
After receiving the ball from a corner, she maneuvered into space by confusing two German defenders with a quick step before slamming a shot into the top corner. As the fans went berserk, Caicedo and her teammates ran toward the corner to get closer to them.
Germany has always made it out of the World Cup group stage. Although it still has a chance to win its final Group H game against South Korea, it is likely to finish in second place. When Popp committed a foul by failing to hit the target with a close-range volley just before halftime, the runners-up from last year's Euros should have taken the lead.
An earlier opportunity for Lina Magull to test Perez from close range was lost due to a miskick.
