WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2023
Real Madrid’s Linda Caicedo scores as Colombia win Women’s World Cup opener
Caicedo, 18, played a starring role as Colombia began their 2023 Women’s World Cup campaign with a 2-0 Group H victory over South Korea.
Real Madrid’s Linda Caicedo starred on her Women’s World Cup debut on Monday, scoring Colombia’s second goal as Las Cafeteras secured a 2-0 win over South Korea in their Group H opener in Australia. Caicedo’s performance at Sydney Football Stadium underlined once again that the 18-year-old is one of the brightest prospects in the global game.
The forward grew in confidence as the match progressed. After Catalina Usme had earned Colombia the lead with a 30th-minute penalty - a goal that gave both Caicedo and the rest of her team-mates a visible lift - the teenager began to showcase her creative abilities on the left wing.
Caicedo aided by goalkeeping gaffe
Eight minutes on from Usme’s spot-kick, Caicedo opened her World Cup account. After winning back possession in the midfield, she carried the ball forward down the left, before cutting inside and shooting from the edge of the area. Although her clipped effort didn’t carry a huge amount of power, Korean goalkeeper Yoon Young-Geul allowed the ball to slip through her fingers and into the net.
While Colombia’s attacking threat waned in the second half, Caicedo continued to produce a tireless, tenacious display. She could be seen helping out in defence when the South Americans needed it, and carried on using her explosive pace to run at South Korea’s backline.
A World Cup-tastic year for Caicedo
In the space of less than a year, Caicedo has appeared at the Under-17, Under-20 and senior Women’s World Cups. This was her 11th appearance across the three tournaments, and her seventh goal.
In August 2022, Caicedo scored twice for Colombia as they reached the quarter-finals of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup. Two months later, she was on target four times for a Colombian side that finished as runners-up at the under-17 tournament. She was awarded the Silver Ball as the event’s second-best player.
Who do Colombia play next at WWC 2023?
Colombia and Caicedo’s second game in Australia and New Zealand sees them take on Germany on Sunday 30 July. The Group H matchday-two clash is scheduled to kick off at 5:30am ET at Sydney Football Stadium.