Day Four Recap: WWC groups taking shape, Ireland get huge win

Alastair Poehlman recaps Day Two at the IFCPF World Cup in Fayetteville, GA.

Australia 8-0 Colombia

Despite a slower start, Australia made it two wins from two, defeating Colombia on Saturday morning.

After defeating Ireland 19-0, it was a slower start for the reigning World Cup champions, but Trinity McPhie’s accurate strike arrowed into the bottom corner and broke the deadlock just before the midway point of the first half.

Colombia thought they had a leveller when Camila Florez saw her free kick cannon off the underside of the crossbar and out, before McPhie doubled her tally with an almost identical goal to the first in the shadows of the interval.

Georgia Beikoff scored seconds after being brought off the bench to make it 3-0, before Leah Spaine stole the limelight.

Her first of four second-half goals was brilliantly taken, lifting the ball over Colombian goalkeeper Danna Gonzalez into the top corner, sparking wonderful celebrations.

Beikoff's second was smartly taken, tucking the ball home on the turn to get Australia its fifth, before Spaine added a second to make it six in the 48th minute.

In the final minute of the 50, Spaine completed a memorable hat-trick on her World Cup debut, before adding a fourth with Australia’s final attack to round out the scoring.

It means Australia qualify top of Group B.

The Netherlands 2-3 Ireland

Ireland has flipped the script on its Women’s World Cup campaign, responding to its heavy defeat to Australia by defeating the Netherlands 3-2 a day later.

Eva Walsh had a great scoring opportunity when the Netherlands’ goalkeeper Nikki Gramberg came out of the box, leaving the goal open. However, the Netherlands' #5, Sharon de Haan, defended well to get the ball out of play.

The Netherlands' #11, Lyan Kas, scored from the right corner to open the scoring.

Ireland's #5, Eva Walsh, took a free kick, giving her team a great chance to score, but the shot

hit  the post.

Eva Walsh was dominant for Ireland, taking shots that came close to scoring.

The Netherlands' ball handling was great, allowing the team to transition effectively from offense

to defense and vice versa.

Ireland's Eva Walsh scored off a breakaway from the middle, putting the ball just out of reach of the Dutch goalkeeper to level the game.

Ireland's Eva Walsh scored direct from a corner kick to take the lead, scoring her and Ireland’s second.

Down by one goal, the Netherlands looked to equalise as they became more aggressive at the

start of the second half.

The Netherlands' #10, Kim Thoonsen, scored to respond to Ireland and got the Dutch level Ireland's Eva Walsh had a close scoring opportunity on an empty goal, but her shot hit the crossbar.

Ireland's #5, Eva Walsh, scored on a breakaway to complete her hat-trick as Ireland found a deserved lead.

The Netherlands' #11, Lyan Kas, took a shot toward the left corner, missing the tying goal by just inches.

After losing 19-0 a day earlier against Australia, Ireland’s galvanising win puts them best placed to qualify second out of Group B.

United States 2-0 Japan

The United States of America has confirmed its place at the top of Group A, surviving a scare to beat Japan 2-0,

The tournament hosts started shakily, and presented Japan plenty of chances. Mirai Toyoda was in on goal twice in quick succession, but could not convert either.

Isabella Stankunas relieved the pressure with a searing drive into the bottom corner, but Japan demonstrated some good spells of possession toward the end of the half as it looked to pry The Stars and Stripes open.

The USA's #7, Catarina Guimaraes, showed great ball passing, transitions, and handling as the goalkeeper.

The USA's #6, Janie Richardson, had great transitions, allowing the team to create scoring opportunities.

Guimaraes made a nice catch off a hard, deep shot by Japan as the USA kept the door shut.

Japan's attack became much more prominent midway through the second half, with Mayuko Kaiga coming close to a leveller.

The result was sealed when Jesslyn Kuhnel, not long off the bench, scored late in the second half to make it 2-0.