FORT BLISS, Texas –
The 11th Annual Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM) World Military Women’s Football Championship came to a close Tuesday evening, July 3, with Brazil taking home its fifth title by beating South Korea in a back and forth barn burner at Stout Field.
Both teams came into the championship game undefeated with neither having allowed a goal.
Brazil applied the pressure early and got on the board first with a Flavia Feliciano goal in the eighth minute.
South Korea would answer quickly as Kwon Hanul tied the game at one with her goal in the ninth minute.
However, Brazil continued to use its height and weight advantage to body South Korea. The physical play and continued pressure resulted in a Brazilian goal by Danyelle Lima in the 22nd minute to give them the 2-1 lead.
In the second half, Brazil came out firing with Flavia Feliciano scoring her second goal of the night in the 55th minute to give her team a two-goal cushion.
South Korea used some renewed pressure and a sense of urgency to strike with a goal by Wang Jieson at the 68th minute to close the game to 3-2.
Korea would keep pressuring but Bazil played ball control and closed the game out to take the 2018 title. The win gave Brazil its first gold medal since 2012.
CHINA TAKES BRONZE
Competing in their first CISM women’s football championship, China took on defending champion France in the 2018 bronze medal game.
China used its ball control offense to strike first and keep the athletic French team off the board in the first half.
France would find its footing in the second with a goal by Kimberly Cazeau at the 53rd minute to tie the game up.
France almost took the lead a few minutes later with a shot hitting off the top crossbar and bouncing down. The Chinese goalie quickly reached for the ball before it could cross the line, preserving the tie.
That would turn out to be a big momentum swing as China would grab the lead on a Lyu Yueyun goal in the 60th minute.
China continued to control the ball and capitalize on French miscues with Liu Yangqui scoring her second goal of the day in the 79th minute. The goal would close out the scoring and assure China the bronze medal.
China head coach Zhoa Zhengum said this was a great test for his team as they prepare to host the games next year.
“We enjoyed it very much,” he said. “The performance of the players was high level. We need to practice harder and maybe next year go for the gold.”
CLOSING
This year’s tournament featured teams from Bahrain, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Netherlands, South Korea, and the U.S.
The tournament came to close after the gold medal game with an awards ceremony with all nine teams in attendance.
Brazil’s Pamela Vasconcelos was awarded the top scorer trophy, France’s Celine Deville was awarded the MVP goalkeeper and Canada’s Renee MacLellan received the fair play award.
Each member of the top three teams received medals and each of the three teams received trophies.
During his closing remarks Brig. Gen. Martin Kizito Ong’ oyi, representing CISM’s president, spoke about the players taking home more than just trophies.
“I employ you to take the contacts and friendships you have made here home with you,” he said. “For that is the goal of CISM, friendship through sports.”
The CISM Sports program is the culmination of each nation’s military service’s sports and fitness programs. Service members compete at elite levels to advance to the global stage where they seek victories in international competition.