France defeated Panama 6-3 in a nail-biting match to advance to the Women’s World Cup’s round of 16 On Wednesday.

Kadidiatou Diani scored three times in the match to help France win.

After Marta Cox’s miraculous goal on 67 seconds stunned the French by curving a freekick into the corner from 30 yards for her nation’s first-ever World Cup goal, it was a professional comeback.

At a packed Sydney Football Stadium, teammates surrounded her as she whirled away in excitement and sobbed.

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The joy, however, was short-lived as France racked up a flurry of goals, including two goals from Diani, one of which was a penalty, and one each from Maelle Lakrar and Lea Le Garrec before halftime.

After the restart, Diani of Paris Saint-Germain scored her third goal from the penalty spot, but Panama remained persistent.

In a thrilling conclusion, Lineth Cedeno scored once more, Yomira Pinzon added their second goal with a well-hit penalty, and Vicki Becho successfully completed to give France the victory in stoppage time.

With the victory, France finished first in Group F, securing a matchup with the second-place team in Group H, most likely Germany, in the knockout phase.

To finish second and go to a matchup with the Group H winner, most likely Colombia, Jamaica held Brazil to a scoreless draw in the other group match.

Herve Renard, the France coach, changed five players with just a point on the line.

He gave inspired captain Wendie Renard a break, and Grace Geyoro took over as captain. Clara Mateo and Diani replaced veteran attacker Eugenie Le Sommer up front.

But as play started and Cox pushed forward, Le Garrec tripped her, the recurring World Cup underachievers were caught off guard.

One of the goals of the competition was scored by Cox, who lined up the kick and curled it into the upper left-hand corner.

The anticipated equaliser arrived 20 minutes after France took control, quickly bringing Panama back to earth.
After a period of heavy pressure, Lakrar got her head on a cross, and Deysire Salazar, who was given credit for the goal, put the ball in her own net.

Nine minutes later, after Pinzon had been given a penalty for handball, they went up 3-1. Le Garrec added a fourth goal after a curling cross fooled the custodian and went in.

Seven minutes after the restart, Diani converted her second penalty, this time for handball, before Pinzon drew even when teammate Riley Tanner was knocked to the ground in the penalty area.

When Cedeno scored France’s third goal by pressing home the rebound after the ball hit the bar, Panama put all they had at them as the fans roared them on.

Becho rose up at the near post after an end-to-end play to score France’s sixth goal.