AUSTRALIA – The Panamanian Women’s National Team played their last match in Group F at their first FIFA Women’s World Cup on Wednesday evening at the Sydney Football Stadium in Sydney, Australia, seeing a 6-3 defeat against France.

With this result, Las Canaleras finished in fourth place at Australia/New Zealand 2023, ending their first participation on the biggest stage.

However, Panama made history in their group stage finale, scoring their first ever Women’s World Cup goal before going on to score another two.

The historic first goal came from none other than Captain Marta Cox, who scored a banger in the 2’ from a free kick. The ball found the top left corner of net from 40 yards out, being one of the most impressive goals of the tournament.

France evened things up 1-1 in the 21’ courtesy of DF Maelle Lakrar’s header when she took advantage of a pass from FW Kadidiatou Diani.

The Europeans took the lead 2-1 in the 28’ when Diani beat Panama GK Yenith Bailey with a second effort. Diani scored again in the 37’ thanks to a penalty kick that came after a foul from DF Yomira Pinzon in the area, finishing into the bottom left corner.

The fourth goal for Les Bleues arrived in the 45+5’ when MF Lea Le Garrec took a cross and flicked a header past Bailey. France then made it 5-1 on another penalty kick in the 52’, when DF Wendy Natis committed a handball in the área and Diani scored again from the spot.

Panama answered and was awarded a penalty of their own in the 64’ after a foul on FW Riley Tanner in the France area. The author of the second goal in Panama history at the Women’s World Cup was Pinzon, who calmly converted.

Las Canaleras found their third goal through Inter-Confederation Playoff hero FW Lineth Cedeno, who put the ball in the back of the net in the 87’ after a great collective play, making their last match a historical one for Panama.

The sixth and final goal from France came in the 90+10' from Vicki Becho, who controlled a cross from Eve Perisset and scored, cementing the win for France.