There were terrifying scenes at Colombia training yesterday when young star Linda Caicedo collapsed, with major fears for her condition.
Caicedo, 18, completed a remarkable World Cup scoring “hat-trick” when she netted in her side’s opening win over South Korea.
But the joy of Caicedo’s World Cup bow was overshadowed by her collapse at Colombia’s training base on the outskirts of Sydney.
Caicedo was running with the ball on a dribble when she suddenly stopped and began clutching the left side of her chest.
She then tried to sit down but within seconds had keeled over, seemingly unconscious.
Colombian medical staff rushed over as a sense of panic overwhelmed the camp, with terrified team-mates fearing the worst.
With concern growing, an ambulance was summoned and swiftly arrived.
Caicedo was unconscious for at least 90 seconds as medics and team-mates rushed to the scene.
Thankfully, Caicedo was able to regain consciousness by the time she was placed on a stretcher, ferried into the ambulance and off to a local hospital.
The entire session was unsurprisingly cancelled as team-mates looked on, some of them struggling to contain their emotions at her condition.
Media at the session were immediately asked to leave the site, with Colombian staff explaining: “We cannot give any more details – and we want to avoid any more confusion.”
Later last night, a Colombian FA medical staff member claimed: “Linda is very tired.
“What happened was just a symptom of all the stress and physical demands. She is well and all is back to normal.”
But the scare left her team-mates, who are due to play Germany in Sydney on Sunday, in a state of disarray.
Caicedo was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 15 in February 2020, just before the pandemic struck.She needed surgery to remove a tumour and underwent six months of chemotherapy before she was able to return to the football pitch.
Additional reporting from The Sun
9:32AM DENMARK WARNS PLAYERS OF ‘MORTAL SINS’
Denmark coach Lars Sondergaard told his players that it would be “a mortal sin” not to relish playing European champions England at the Women’s World Cup.
The teams meet in Group D on Friday and both are on course for the last 16 after winning their opening matches of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
England’s Lionesses failed to sparkle in beating debutants Haiti 1-0 thanks to a penalty but they are still among the favourites to deny the United States an unprecedented third title in a row.
With the majority of the Sydney crowd also likely to be behind Sarina Wiegman’s side, Sondergaard said that his team were undoubted “underdogs” against “superpower” England.
Denmark are ranked 13th in the world to England’s fourth, but he said on the eve of the match: “We hope we can spring a surprise.
“We have settled now, we have our first game under our belt, that has eased our nerves.
“There’s a World Cup every four years, you don’t get many of these opportunities in your career,” he added.
“It would be a mortal sin not to enjoy it.”
8:43AM EX SOCCEROOS CALLS OUT COACH
Mark Schwarzer says Tony Gustavsson will have nothing but regret following his side’s shocking defeat to Nigeria.
Amid furious backlash from fans about why the Swedish coach took so long to bring on substitutions against Nigeria in Brisbane, the former Australian goalkeeper has questioned Gustavsson’s tactics.
“I think when he looks back at the substitutions he made and the type of substitutions he made, he will look back with a bit of regret,” he said.
“Bringing in Polkinghorne and moving Alanna Kennedy up front was way too early. It wasn’t effective until late in the game. I think when Chidiac came on she was a big difference. She should have probably scored, but I think if she had been on the field earlier it could have been a different result.”
“There’s 20 minutes to go and they’ve made four substitutions and we haven’t made one. What are our players thinking? They’ve made five substitutions and we haven’t made one.”
8AM SHOCKING IMAGE FROM MATILDAS CLASH EXPOSES FIFA
A week after record crowds in Sydney questions are being asked about the rows of empty seats in prime locations at the Matildas and Nigeria clash at Brisbane Stadium.
Rows of seats on the side of the and pitch and behind the goals were empty. But the top tiers of the stadium were certainly full.
About four hours prior to kick off FIFA announced a limited number of Category 3 tickets, starting at $20 for adults, had been put up for sale.
The reason for the late flurry of tickets is yet to be revealed – it could be due to fans opting to put them up for resale late in the afternoon.
But it’s certainly not a good look.
According to the official stats, 49,156 fans came out to watch the shock upset which ended 3-2 in Nigeria’ favour and leaves the Matildas dangerously close to exisint gthe tournament.
That number represents 93% of the stadium’s capacity.
Australia took the lead in injury time at the end of the first half through Emily van Egmond before Uchenna Kanu, Osinachi Ohale and substitute Asisat Oshoala hit back for Nigeria.
Defender Alanna Kennedy got a late consolation for Australia deep into second-half stoppage time
But look what it meant to Nigeria
7AM WILL KERR PLAY THE DO OR DIE CLASH?
Australia’s captain Sam Kerr will be given until the last minute to prove her fitness for their must-win Women’s World Cup clash against Canada on Monday, coach Tony Gustavsson says.
The prolific striker missed Australia’s opening two games — a 1-0 win over Ireland and Thursday’s shock 3-2 loss to Nigeria — with a calf injury.
With the co-hosts’ hopes of reaching the last 16 now in jeopardy, Gustavsson is desperate to have the Chelsea forward available.
“We won’t get confirmation (on her fitness) until the night before the game, and it might even be where we need to test her to see if she can play on game day,” Gustavsson said.
“That’s how tight it is.”