User:BobOrson/Sandbox2

The knockout stage of the 2021 IFF Coupe du monde was the second and final stage of the competition, following the group stage. It began on 21 November with the round of 16 and ended on XX October with the final match, held at the XXXX Stadium in XXXX. The top two teams from each group (16 in total) advanced to the knockout stage to compete in a single-elimination style tournament. A third place play-off was also played between the two losing teams of the semi-finals.

All times listed are local time.

Format

In the knockout stage, if a match was level at the end of 90 minutes of normal playing time, extra time was played (two periods of 15 minutes each), where each team was allowed to make a fourth substitution. If still tied after extra time, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out to determine the winners.

Qualified teams

The top two placed teams from each of the eight groups qualified for the knockout stage.

Group	Winners	Runners-up
A	Maucha	Satavia
B	Paretia	Amathia
C	Caldia	Soravia
D	Lavana	Scovern
E	Champania	Hennehouwe
F	Kesselbourg	Ajahadya
G	Shangea	Aucuria
H	Nuvania	Gapolania

Round of 16

Maucha vs Gapolania

This was the first time both teams had met.

The game was tougher than both sides expected. Throughout the whole 90 minutes, and over time, no one managed to break through and put their team ahead. Maucha and Gapolania exchanged sparks, as the game was a constant back and forth between attack and defense. The goalkeepers are the highlight, as both Thumeka Dana and Lidia Nermali guarded their nets with their lives. The offense of both teams was on point as well; while Marotta and Giorgiù were a headache to the Mauchan defense, Hawa was also unbalancing things on the Mauchan left flank. Every mistake was punished by the opposition arming attacking plays that would often end with an attempt. However, the goals were stubborn and the game went to a penalties shootout. Gapolania kicked the first penalty with Giorgiù, but it was denied by Dana, while Maucha's first penalty was converted by Nadia. Gapolania made up for the missed goal in the second penalty with Marotta, while Mondise missed for Maucha. Gapolania followed for their third kick with Lucià, but the post was there to save Maucha, who scored their second penalty with Dalila. The fourth Gapolanian kick by di Zeta was, again, saved by Dana, which put her opponents in a tough spot: if Maucha scores, its over. As Hawa walked towards the penalty mark, both teams waited nervously. Finally, Hawa kicked the ball and, though Nermali touched it with the tips of her fingers, it was not enough to keep Maucha from advancing onto the quarter-finals of the Women World Cup for the first time in their history.

21 November 2021 (2021-11-21)

12:00

Maucha	0–0 (a.e.t.)	Gapolania
Penalties
Nadia Mondise Dalila Hawa	3-1	Giorgiù Marotta Lucià di Zeta

Referee: Amanda Hammarström

Player of the Match: Thumeka Dana (Maucha)