Top 5 Goals: Women’s World Cup Group Stage Week 2

The World Cup has been incredible, with late-game drama, shocking upsets, of course, incredible goals, and everything else in between. History is being made left and right with the expansion of the field, and it’s special to see different nations claim a piece of World Cup history. This week’s goals from the World Cup were top-notch, highlighting how the best of the best are here to stake their claim on the world’s biggest stage. Let’s recap the five best Women’s World Cup goals from the Group Stage week two. 

5. Linda Caicedo – Colombia

Colombia's Linda Caicedo is always bringing the HEAT! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/TZfssld3Gn

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 30, 2023

Linda Caicedo is getting her chance to shine and is doing it in a big way at the World Cup, as we mentioned prior to the World Cup. Scoring this goal against Germany in a game, they were expected to lose only elevates her profile as a star to another level. There is no angle to work with initially, but Caicedo creates it with her skill. Two defenders are on her and cutting off the chance for Caicedo to curl it. The teenager splits the double team with some quick feet, and then the angle to bend it to the top corner shows itself. The execution is World Class, it’s easy to see why Real Madrid went and snapped her up at 16. She’s going to be a superstar one day. 

4. Sophia Braun – Argentina

EMPHATIC FINISH!

Argentina's Sophia Braun delivers from distance to record the Goal of the Day 🇦🇷 pic.twitter.com/NWyrxozsNS

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 28, 2023

Argentina was in trouble, down 2-0 with around 15 minutes to go, but Sophia Braun turned the game around with this incredible strike. The ball sat up for her nicely, allowing her to read the bounce of the ball and get the lift needed on the volley to clear the keeper. The South African keeper tried to get all the way across, but there was no chance. Sophia Braun’s strike was too clean, with the right amount of pace and accuracy as it dipped under the bar and into the net. 

3. Lauren James – England

PANDEMONIUM ✨

England's Lauren James hit this absolute stunner to secure all three points for the Lionesses 🦁 pic.twitter.com/AgkZz8h61c

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 28, 2023

Many thought this would be a breakout competition for Lauren James, and the goal she scored against Denmark was sublime. James is someone who cannot be left alone even for a second because of her quickness and footwork. Denmark does not do a good job of closing her down to stop the shot, and she makes them pay for it. James only needed three quick touches to get around the defender in front of her and score. It all happened in the blink of an eye and would be the game’s only goal. 

2. Caroline Graham Hansen – Norway

If you give Caroline Graham Hansen space, she will make you pay! 👏 pic.twitter.com/v3ge2tJQ2o

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 30, 2023

Caroline Graham Hansen is one of the best players at the World Cup, and she showed exactly why with this goal. The Philippines simply had no answer for Norway’s attack, and giving someone like Graham Hansen this much time to operate only made matters worse. The confidence and ability to strike the ball from that far out and only take two touches with one of them as her back was facing the goal is unreal. Most players would take at least another one to two touches before shooting, but that’s how good Graham Hansen is. Her awareness to know where she is on the pitch, along with her technique and skill, is special. She made this look far easier than it was. 

1. Sophie Roman Haug – Norway

This was an absolute beauty by Norway's Sophie Román Haug 🎯🎯 pic.twitter.com/N757vvPYHz

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) July 30, 2023

With Ada Hegerberg out due to injury, someone else had to step up for Norway. Enter Sophie Roman Haug who netted a hat-trick and finds herself in the thick of the Golden Boot race. Her first goal is the best of the three because this isn’t the classic shot-or-cross debate. There isn’t a single teammate of hers in the area, making this a shot. Haug hit it, running toward the end line without it hitting the ground and somehow clearing the keeper’s head. 99 times out of 100, the striker misses this ball, and it goes out for a goal kick, Haug turned it into a goal with a perfect touch from an impossible angle. Goals don’t get much better than this. 

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