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
|
Bracket
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.
| Maucha | 0–0 (a.e.t.) | Gapolania |
|---|---|---|
| Penalties | ||
 Nadia  Mondise Dalila Hawa |
3-1 | Giorgiù Marotta Lucià di Zeta |
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Player of the Match:
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Quarter-finals
Caldia vs Lavana
The teams had met in 8 previous matches including in the Coupe du Monde, a Round of 16 game in 2013 where Lavana lost 3-5 to the eventual champions, in 2005 a group match saw Caldia win 2-1 in their second group game, they would win that Coupe du Monde as well. In a 2001 friendly Caldia defeated Lavana 12-3, their biggest defeat. Lavana had never defeated Caldia only drawing 3 friendlies in 2004, 2009, and 2018.
Caldia dominated the start of the game with strong attacks led by Mia Baldacci, and Saorla Talmhach which resulted in two goal post shots. In minute 31 Rut Dunaid was unable to finish a shot inside the square, leading to a Baizhan Vidimhe save. At minute 39 a corner by Layla Zibiangego found itself into the feet of Debeniuno Ablaivo who pushed it into the net catching Caitlín Ní Ríain off balance. At minute 43, a free kick was awarded to Rós Anderrsen following a yellow card to Aolani Yeldosoa, the free kick was palmed away by Vidimhe. At minute 51 Ziujebano Siharath found space in a crowded area and drilling in a left-footed strike forced Ní Ríain to palm the ball away, the ball was struck wide by Halia Keobuntala. A minute 73 attack saw Sìneag Sùdrach unable to finish a Maleia Nic Cionnaith pass, two minutes later Baldacci struck a shot over the crossbar from the penalty shot following a deflection off Mhuoganga Thammasith. At the 82nd minute Shara Soulignavong and Siharath connected for a shot to the left of Ní Ríain which just missed wide. At minute 87 Talmhach struck a left-footed shot at Vidimhe, which forced her to make a diving stop to her right.
Lavana's victory represented the first time Lavana defeated Caldia in a match, and was the 2nd time Lavana entered into the top 4, finishing 4th in 2009. The defeat ended the 4 straight Coupe du Monde streak where Caldia finished in the top 4 spots of the tournament. It also represented the first game Caldia had finished scoreless since September 14th 2020, in a Caldia-Rizealand friendly that finished 0-0.
| Caldia | 0-1 | Lavana |
|---|---|---|
|
39|
Player of the Match:
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