Panama score their first-ever Women’s World Cup goal… with Marta Cox’s stunning 35-yard free-kick hailed as a ‘goal of the tournament’ by fans
- Panama are playing in their first World Cup after the tournament’s expansion
- Marta Cox’s superb strike gave them a shock lead against heavyweights France
- Cox’s free-kick has been lauded as one of the goals of the competition so far
Panama’s Marta Cox scored one of the goals of the Women’s World Cup to claim the nation’s first ever goal at the tournament.
The skipper smashed in a 35-yard free-kick after only two minutes of their final Group F clash against France in Sydney.
The North American side have already been eliminated from their maiden World Cup outing following defeats to Brazil and Jamaica.
But Cox’s strike, which was lauded by fans on social media, gave the county’s supporters something to show for their efforts Down Under.
Among those celebrating the 26-year-old’s spectacular effort was broadcaster Katie Shanahan, who took to Twitter to share her opinion on the effort.
Cox’s second minute effort was expertly dispatched into the top corner of the France net
Panama players swarmed the Cox after her strike gave the team its first World Cup goal
‘Best goal of the World Cup,’ she wrote. Another agreed, writing: ‘That’s got to be the goal of the tournament.’
This summer’s showcase has not been short unbelievable strikes. On Wednesday Netherlands’ Esmee Brugts scored two near identical stunning long-range goals in a 7-0 win against Vietnam.
Teresa Abelleira opened the scoring for Spain in a 5-0 victory over Zambia last week with a crisp drive which found the top corner.
And England’s Lauren James scored an incredible volley at the far post in the Lionesses 6-1 win against China after having an equally impressive effort chalked off for offside.
James continued her fine form at the tournament with an eye-catching brace against China