WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 1991

Sixty-one years after the first men's World Cup, and after several unofficial women's tournament, the first F.I.F.A. Women's World Cup kicked off in the People's Republic of China on Saturday 16 November 1991. Twelve teams appeared in the final tournament, divided into three groups of four. The top two in each group and the two best third place teams would go on to the quarter finals.

Hosts China kicked off the tournament with a stunning 4-0 win over highly fancied Norway in Group A, and despite being held to a draw by Denmark in their next match went on to win the group. Norway as runners-up and Denmark as the best third place team both joined them in the last eight, as both comfortably beat a New Zealand side who were struggling to compete at global level.

Favourites in Group B were the USA, who won all three games to cruise into the quarter finals. They were joined by Sweden, who after a narrow 3-2 defeat to the Americans crushed Japan 8-0 and then edged out Brazil 2-0 to finish second. In Group C, Germany and Italy both won their first two games to clinch the top two positions. When Chinese Taipei defeated Nigeria 2-0 in their last game to finish third, they gave themselves a chance of a quarter final place and when scores from Group B were confirmed, Chinese Taipei had edged out Brazil as the second best third placed team, by virtue of having scored one more goal.

An early goal from Sweden ended the dreams of hosts China in the first quarter final, while Norway edged past Italy 3-2 after extra-time after twice losing the lead in normal time. A penalty each took Germany and Denmark into extra-time at 1-1, where the Germans edged into the last four by a single goal. In the last quarter final, Chinese Taipei were completely out of their depth against the USA, crashing to a 7-0 defeat as American star Michelle Akers-Stahl scored five of her side's goals.

Sweden again took an early lead in their semi final against Norway, but by half-time the Norwegians had turned the match around to lead 2-1, adding two more second half goals for a comfortable win. In the second semi final, the USA led Germany 3-0 after just over half an hour and the Germans could not recover. Despite twice pulling a goal back, they eventually lost 5-2. In the third place match, Sweden thrashed Germany 4-0.

In the final in Guangzhou, Akers-Stahl gave the USA the lead after 20 minutes but Norway hit back quickly, Linda Medalen equalising nine minutes later. As extra-time approached, Akers-Stahl struck again with twelve minutes remaining, claiming her tenth goal of the competition to finish comfortably as leading goalscorer. Norway had no response, and the USA held on the take the title and become the first women's world champions.