Picture Credit: Twitter
Colombia and Real Madrid player Linda Caicedo collapsed for the second time this week after the player scored a stunning goal against Germany at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The young forward was dribbling with the ball down the flank when she clutched her chest and collapsed, needing immediate medical attention. This is the second time in the week that the player has collapsed, and worry was prominent on the faces of not only her teammates on the pitch but also the Colombian coaches and medical staff. Luckily the player recovered consciousness and was taken to a local hospital.
Colombian physios raced onto the pitch in the 83rd minute after the player collapsed. According to reports, the young player has been dealing with a lack of adequate sleep combined with the high temperatures after landing in Australia, which has led the fatigue to build. Fortunately, the player regained consciousness soon and was helped to walk onto the sidelines before being replaced by Marcela Restrepo in stoppage time.
This is not the first of medical issues which have plagued the young star, who has already beaten ovarian cancer when she was 16-year-old. After being diagnosed with cancer at the age of 15 prior to the pandemic, she would go on to receive chemotherapy.
During the game the player appeared to try and sit down after clutching her chest before she seemed to kneel over and lose consciousness.
Caicedo scores wonder goal as Colombia shock Germany in memorabl e encounter
The most memorable moment in the game for Caicedo, however, came in the 52nd minute when Caicedo collected the ball at the edge of the box and dribbled into it, before squirming past three German defenders and taking a shot into the top corner. It was so immaculately placed, and technically proficient, that the goal quickly went viral on Twitter, with many fans wowing at the supreme display of talent.
But the game wasn’t done delivering thrilling moments, as Germany equalized in the 89th minute through a penalty. It seemed like the Germans had managed to snatch a point away from the tenacious Colombian team, but Manuela Vanegas scored in 90+7 minutes with a header from a corner to steal away all three points and blow the World Cup group wide open.
Colombia seem destined to qualify after securing six points in their opening two games. Germany are tied on points with Morocco and will face last placed Korea on August 3. Either team can still qualify, though Morocco will have a significantly tougher time going against group leaders Colombia.
