Argentina's women's football team has booked its ticket to next year's World Cup in France, after securing a 1-1 draw with Panama in the second leg of a play-off clash on Tuesday, sealing a win on aggregate.
Panama took the lead through Natalia Mills in the 37th minute at the Rommel Fernández stadium in the Panamanian capital on Tuesday night, before Florencia Bonsegundo brought the Albiceleste level on the night in the 64th. Not even the sending off of Yamila Rodríguez, in the 82nd minute, would prevent qualification.
In truth, a trip to Paris never really looked to be in doubt, given that Argentina's had secured a 4-0 win over their Central American rivals in the first leg of the tie last week in Buenos Aires.
However, qualification is a real achievement for the women's team, which will now head to France for their third World Cup, after a 12-year absence from the tournament. The Albiceleste previously qualified for editions in the United States (2003) and China (2007), where they finished third.
"It is a proud and a fulfilled dream," said Argentina defender Aldana Cometi, after the match. "We are very happy, it is something that we have been looking for since the Copa América started. We lacked a little bit [in that tournament], so we proposed that dream of fulfilling it here in this play-off."
Argentina qualified for the play-off after finishing third at the Copa América, behind Brazil and Chile, who have already classified for the tournament in France.
- TIMES/AFP
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