World Cup female player collapses for the second time in three days
In the 83rd minute, Caicedo collapsed on the field. Footage shows paramedics entering the yard, helping Caicedo to his feet and walking out. However, after that, they let the 18-year-old continue to play. In the sixth minute of compensation, Colombia brought in Marcela Restrepo.
Before that, in the 52nd minute, it was Caicedo who opened the scoring for Colombia. She tricked two German defenders, then cut her heart into the top corner of the goal. According to the Sun, Caicedo's goal is a candidate for the Best Goal award at the 2023 Women's World Cup. In the 89th minute, Alexandra Popp took a penalty kick to equalize for Germany. However, in the 90+7 minute, Manuela Vanegas headed home to win 2-1 for Colombia.
On July 27, Caicedo suffered a stroke while dribbling on the training ground in Australia. She stopped, clutching her left breast, tried to sit, but then collapsed onto the field. The 18-year-old was unconscious for about 90 seconds. But after going to the local hospital for emergency, she recovered in time to see Duc.
Caicedo was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 15. She had to have surgery to remove the tumor and undergo six months of chemotherapy before returning to the field. "I was very young and maybe I didn't quite understand what was happening to me," Caicedo said. Her mother, Herlinda added: "Every time we take Linda to the hospital, she cries and begs the doctors to tell her the truth, whether she can play football again. Just wanted to know."
Fans see Caicedo as an inspiration. They praised the young girl's efforts to beat cancer at the age of 15 and score at the 2023 World Cup at the age of 18. "A goal, a player and a great story," one fan wrote on Twitter. Another fan compared Caicedo's goal against Germany with that of male player Willian in the Fulham match against Nottingham Forest in the 2022-2023 season.
In the opening match of the World Cup against Korea 2-0, Caicedo also scored a goal. Colombia is leading Group H, with six points from two games. They just need to draw Morocco in the last round, to win tickets to the 1/8 round and top of the table. Germany and Morocco are behind with the same three points, while South Korea has no points yet.
