1991 FIFA Women's World Cup

International football competition From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

1991 FIFA Women's World Cup

The 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup was the first FIFA Women's World Cup, the world championship for women's national football teams. It took place in Guangdong, China from 16 to 30 November 1991. FIFA, football's international governing body selected China as host nation as Guangdong had hosted a prototype world championship three years earlier, the 1988 FIFA Women's Invitation Tournament. Matches were played in the provincial capital, Guangzhou, as well as in Foshan, Jiangmen and Zhongshan. The competition was sponsored by Mars, Incorporated, maker of M&M's candy. With FIFA still reluctant to bestow their "World Cup" brand, the tournament was officially known as the 1st FIFA World Championship for Women's Football for the M&M's Cup.[1]

Quick Facts 1st FIFA World Championship for Women's Football for the M&M's Cup, Tournament details ...
1991 FIFA Women's World Cup
1st FIFA World Championship for Women's Football for the M&M's Cup
Thumb
Official logo
Tournament details
Host countryChina
Dates16–30 November
Teams12 (from 6 confederations)
Venue(s)6 (in 4 host cities)
Final positions
Champions United States (1st title)
Runners-up Norway
Third place Sweden
Fourth place Germany
Tournament statistics
Matches played26
Goals scored99 (3.81 per match)
Attendance510,000 (19,615 per match)
Top scorer(s) Michelle Akers-Stahl (10 goals)
Best player(s) Carin Jennings
Fair play award Germany
1995
Close

It was won by the United States,[2] whose captain April Heinrichs formed a forward line dubbed the "Triple-Edged Sword" with Carin Jennings and Michelle Akers-Stahl. Jennings was named player of the tournament while Akers-Stahl's ten goals won the Golden Boot.[3] The United States defeated Norway 2–1 in the final in front of a crowd of 63,000 people at Guangzhou's Tianhe Stadium.[4] Total attendance for the tournament was 510,000, an average per match of 19,615. In the opening match at the same stadium, Norway was defeated 4–0 by hosts China. Chinese defender Ma Li scored the first goal in Women's World Cup history, while goalkeeper Zhong Honglian, also of China, posted the first official "clean sheet" in the tournament.

The 12 qualified teams were divided into three groups of four (A to C). The top two teams and the two best third-place finishers from the three groups advanced to the knockout round of eight teams. For only the first edition of the Women's World Cup, all matches lasted only 80 minutes, instead of the typical 90, and two points were awarded for a win (both of which would change in 1995).[5]

Venues

More information Guangzhou, Foshan ...
Guangzhou
Guangdong Provincial Stadium Tianhe Stadium Ying Tung Stadium
Capacity: 25,000 Capacity: 60,000 Capacity: 15,000
1991 FIFA Women's World Cup is located in GuangdongMap of Guangdong with 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup venues marked.
Foshan Jiangmen Zhongshan
New Plaza Stadium Jiangmen Stadium Zhongshan Stadium
Capacity: 14,000 Capacity: 13,000 Capacity: 12,000
Close

Participating teams and officials

Qualification

The 1991 Women's World Cup had twelve participating teams compete in the final tournament. Each of the six FIFA confederations had at least one representative.

Squads

For a list of the squads that contended for the final tournament, see 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup squads.

Match officials

Summarize
Perspective

For the first time in FIFA competition, six female officials were included. All functioned as lineswomen, except for Cláudia Vasconcelos who took charge of the third place play-off; becoming the first woman to referee a match sanctioned by FIFA.[6][7]

More information Confederation, Referee ...
Confederation Referee Appointments[8]
Male officials
AFC Dai Yuguang (China PR) 4 matches as linesman
Li Haiseng (China PR) 2 matches as linesman
Lu Jun (China PR) 2 matches as referee, 1 match as linesman
Shyam Krishna Shrestha (Nepal) 2 matches as referee, 1 match as linesman
Xuezhi Wang (China PR) 3 matches as linesman
Yu Jingyin (China PR) 4 matches as linesman
CAF Fethi Boucetta (Tunisia) 2 matches as referee, 2 matches as linesman
Omer Yengo (Congo) 2 matches as referee, 1 match as linesman
CONCACAF Rafael Rodríguez Medina (El Salvador) 3 matches as referee, 2 matches as linesman
CONMEBOL Salvador Imperatore (Chile) 3 matches as referee
John Toro Rendón (Colombia) 3 matches as referee, 1 match as linesman
UEFA Jim McCluskey (Scotland) 3 matches as referee, 2 matches as linesman
Vassilios Nikakis (Greece) 2 matches as referee, 1 match as linesman
Vadim Zhuk (Soviet Union) 3 matches as referee, 1 match as linesman
Female officials
AFC Zuo Xiudi (China PR) 5 matches as lineswoman
CONCACAF María Herrera García (Mexico) 3 matches as lineswoman
CONMEBOL Cláudia Vasconcelos (Brazil) 1 match as referee, 3 matches as lineswoman
OFC Linda May Black (New Zealand) 5 matches as lineswoman
UEFA Gertrud Regus (Germany) 6 matches as lineswoman
Ingrid Jonsson (Sweden) 5 matches as lineswoman
Close

Tournament review

FIFA's technical report demonstrates that, after the tournament, players and officials were undecided whether to persist with 80-minute matches, or to change to 90 minutes in line with men's football. Opinion was also divided about the suitability of using a size five football. Some teams reported difficulty in sourcing good quality equipment in the correct size.[9]

The tournament was considered a major success in the quality of play and attendances at the games. FIFA president João Havelange wrote that:[10]

"As president of FIFA it was a special pleasure for me to watch these young ladies playing with such flair and such elegance, and according to the reports of the many media representatives present, making the game truly into a celebration ... women's football is now well and truly established."

The perceived success of the tournament was a significant factor in the subsequent inclusion of women's football in the 1996 Summer Olympics.[11] Sue Lopez reported that although attendances were very high, many tickets were complimentary. The "novelty factor" of women from foreign lands playing football also encouraged local people to attend.[12]

Draw

The draw for the group stage was held on 14 September 1991 at the Tianhe Stadium in Guangzhou, China. The draw was part of a televised two-hour live show, featuring songs in both Chinese and English from the female singers Zhang Qiang (Beijing), Lin Ping (Guangzhou), Jenny Tseng (Hong Kong) and Irene Yeh [zh] (Taiwan).[13]

Group stage

More information Tie-breaking criteria for group play ...
Close

Group A

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  China (H) 3 2 1 0 10 3 +7 5 Advance to knockout stage
2  Norway 3 2 0 1 6 5 +1 4
3  Denmark 3 1 1 1 6 4 +2 3
4  New Zealand 3 0 0 3 1 11 10 0
Close
Source: FIFA
(H) Hosts
More information China, 4–0 ...
China 4–0 Norway
Report
Close
More information Denmark, 3–0 ...
Close
Attendance: 14,000[8]
Referee: Omer Yengo (Congo)

More information Norway, 4–0 ...
Close
More information China, 2–2 ...
Close

More information China, 4–1 ...
Close
Attendance: 14,000[8]
Referee: Raja Shrestha Gyanu (Nepal)
More information Norway, 2–1 ...
Close

Group B

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  United States 3 3 0 0 11 2 +9 6 Advance to knockout stage
2  Sweden 3 2 0 1 12 3 +9 4
3  Brazil 3 1 0 2 1 7 6 2
4  Japan 3 0 0 3 0 12 12 0
Close
Source: FIFA
More information Japan, 0–1 ...
Close
Attendance: 14,000[8]
Referee: Lu Jun (China PR)
More information Sweden, 2–3 ...
Close

More information Japan, 0–8 ...
Japan 0–8 Sweden
Report
Close
Attendance: 14,000[8]
Referee: Raja Shrestha Gyanu (Nepal)
More information Brazil, 0–5 ...
Close

More information Japan, 0–3 ...
Close
More information Brazil, 0–2 ...
Close
Attendance: 12,000[8]
Referee: Lu Jun (China PR)

Group C

More information Pos, Pld ...
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Germany 3 3 0 0 9 0 +9 6 Advance to knockout stage
2  Italy 3 2 0 1 6 2 +4 4
3  Chinese Taipei 3 1 0 2 2 8 6 2
4  Nigeria 3 0 0 3 0 7 7 0
Close
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
More information Germany, 4–0 ...
Close
Attendance: 14,000[8]
Referee: Rafael Rodríguez Medina (El Salvador)
More information Chinese Taipei, 0–5 ...
Close
Attendance: 11,000[8]
Referee: Fethi Boucetta (Tunisia)

More information Italy, 1–0 ...
Close
More information Chinese Taipei, 0–3 ...
Close
Attendance: 10,000[8]
Referee: Fethi Boucetta (Tunisia)

More information Chinese Taipei, 2–0 ...
Close
Attendance: 14,000[8]
Referee: Rafael Rodríguez Medina (El Salvador)
More information Italy, 0–2 ...
Close

Ranking of third-placed teams

More information Pos, Grp ...
Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 A  Denmark 3 1 1 1 6 4 +2 3 Advance to knockout stage
2 C  Chinese Taipei 3 1 0 2 2 8 6 2
3 B  Brazil 3 1 0 2 1 7 6 2
Close
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored.

Knockout stage

Bracket

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
24 November – Guangzhou (Tianhe)
 
 
 China0
 
27 November – Guangzhou (Ying Tung)
 
 Sweden1
 
 Sweden1
 
24 November – Jiangmen
 
 Norway4
 
 Norway (a.e.t.)3
 
30 November – Guangzhou (Tianhe)
 
 Italy2
 
 Norway1
 
24 November – Zhongshan
 
 United States2
 
 Denmark1
 
27 November – Guangzhou (Provincial)
 
 Germany (a.e.t.)2
 
 Germany2
 
24 November – Foshan
 
 United States5 Third place play-off
 
 United States7
 
29 November – Guangzhou (Provincial)
 
 Chinese Taipei0
 
 Sweden4
 
 
 Germany0
 

Quarter-finals

More information Denmark, 1–2 (a.e.t.) ...
Close

More information China, 0–1 ...
Close

More information Norway, 3–2 (a.e.t.) ...
Close
Attendance: 13,000[8]
Referee: Rafael Rodríguez Medina (El Salvador)

More information United States, 7–0 ...
United States 7–0 Chinese Taipei
Report
Close
Attendance: 12,000[8]
Referee: Omer Yengo (Congo)

Semi-finals

More information Sweden, 1–4 ...
Close

More information Germany, 2–5 ...
Germany 2–5 United States
Report
Close

Third place play-off

More information Sweden, 4–0 ...
Close

Final

More information Norway, 1–2 ...
Close
Attendance: 63,000[8]

Awards

The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament:[15]

More information Golden Ball, Silver Ball ...
Golden Ball Silver Ball Bronze Ball
United States Carin Jennings United States Michelle Akers-Stahl Norway Linda Medalen
Golden Shoe Silver Shoe Bronze Shoe
United States Michelle Akers-Stahl Germany Heidi Mohr Norway Linda Medalen
United States Carin Jennings
10 goals 7 goals 6 goals
FIFA Fair Play Award
 Germany
Close

Statistics

Goalscorers

There were 99 goals scored in 26 matches, for an average of 3.81 goals per match. Michelle Akers-Stahl of the United States won the Golden Boot award for scoring ten goals.

10 goals

7 goals

6 goals

5 goals

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

1 goal

1 own goal

Assists

4 assists

3 assists

2 assists

1 assist

Source: FIFA Technical Report[16]

Tournament ranking

Per statistical convention in football, matches decided in extra time are counted as wins and losses, while matches decided by penalty shoot-outs are counted as draws.

More information Pos, Grp ...
Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Final result
1 B  United States 6 6 0 0 25 5 +20 12 Champions
2 A  Norway 6 4 0 2 14 10 +4 8 Runners-up
3 B  Sweden 6 4 0 2 18 7 +11 8 Third place
4 C  Germany 6 4 0 2 13 10 +3 8 Fourth place
5 A  China (H) 4 2 1 1 10 4 +6 5 Eliminated in
quarter-finals
6 C  Italy 4 2 0 2 8 5 +3 4
7 A  Denmark 4 1 1 2 7 6 +1 3
8 C  Chinese Taipei 4 1 0 3 2 15 13 2
9 B  Brazil 3 1 0 2 1 7 6 2 Eliminated in
group stage
10 C  Nigeria 3 0 0 3 0 7 7 0
11 A  New Zealand 3 0 0 3 1 11 10 0
12 B  Japan 3 0 0 3 0 12 12 0
Close
Source: FIFA Technical Report[17]
(H) Hosts

See also

References

Wikiwand - on

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.