Morocco 1, Colombia 0

After playing their part by edging Colombia, Morocco's Atlas Lionesses huddled on the pitch in Perth to follow the end of the Germany-South Korea group-stage finale at the Women's World Cup and hope it remained tied.

"We had the phone and we started praying. We were praying while we were watching the game," said midfielder Anissa Lahmari, who scored Morocco's winning goal in first-half stoppage time on Thursday. "Afterwards it was just a complete explosion of joy."

Cue celebrations, both in Morocco and other parts of the Arab world.

In one of the most unexpected outcomes in the last days of the group stage, Morocco advanced to the knockout round in second place behind Colombia while No. 2-ranked Germany failed to advance for the first time at the tournament.

Morocco is the first Arab or North African nation to qualify for the Women's World Cup and now the first to advance beyond the group stage. That's something none of the other seven tournament newcomers managed to do.

And it all started with a thumping 6-0 loss to Germany. While the Moroccans recovered to win their next two games, Germany lost 2-1 to Colombia and then was held 1-1 by South Korea when it needed a win in Brisbane to avoid elimination.

"When we had won the match, the most stressful thing was the other match," Morocco coach Reynald Pedros said.

The last two group games started at the same time on opposite sides of the Australian continent but stoppage time in Brisbane lasted longer.

"We waited, and then the good news arrived. It was incredible," Pedros said.

If Morocco's qualification for the Women's World Cup inspired a generation, this run to the knockout stage will cement a legacy for the Atlas Lionesses.

The win over South Korea last weekend was historic for the team, for Ibtissam Jraïdi scoring the Morocco's first World Cup goal, and for another significant milestone — defender Nouhaila Benzina became the first player to wear a Hijab in a World Cup game at the senior level.

"After the first match of the tournament, I think 98% of people thought it was over, apart from us," Pedros said. "We thought we could do something, because football is magic.

"We know that emotions and hard work can lead to good things. If we are at the next stage, it's because we deserve it, for all the hard work."

The game against Colombia was an even contest right through the first half until Jraidi was fouled in the penalty area in the dying seconds before the break. Ghizlane Chebbak's penalty attempt was saved, but Lahmari swooped on the rebound to put her team ahead of Colombia — and, just as importantly, ahead of Germany in the standings.

Colombia had its best scoring chance in the 59th minute, when 18-year-old Linda Caicedo served a ball to the far post, which Daniela Montoya one-timed to the left of goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi. The Moroccan 'keeper made a reflex kick save, blocking the ball with just the front edge of her right cleat.

In the 69th, Caicedo, after a long run, stopped and leaned on the field barrier, reaching down to her left ankle and foot. She appeared hobbled for several minutes but stayed in the match.

South Korea 1, Germany 1

Two-time champion Germany failed to reach the knockout stage for the first time ever at the Women's World Cup after being held to a draw by South Korea in a tense group finale.

Morocco's 1-0 win over Colombia in Perth added pressure on a German team that then needed to beat South Korea in Brisbane to advance. The last two group-stage games of the tournament kicked off simultaneously Thursday night on opposite sides of Australia.

Germany pushed forward in search of the winning goal, knowing the equation required to advance. Led by the head of captain Alexandra Popp, the Germans created numerous scoring opportunities but couldn't find the winner.

Colombia finished atop Group H and Morocco took second place with six points, a remarkable turnaround after being routed 6-0 by Germany in its debut game at the tournament. No. 2-ranked Germany, finalists at the 2022 Euros, finished with four points.

South Korea struck in the sixth minute when a defense-splitting pass from Lee Young-ju found Cho So-hyun, who produced a calm finish after a perfectly timed run into open space.

In the 42nd, Popp equalized for Germany with a towering header off a cross from Svenja Huth.

Germany chased the winning goal throughout the second half. The Germans had a would-be winning goal from Popp overturned by VAR in the 57th. Just a few minutes later, Popp went close to scoring with another header but was denied by the crossbar.

Germany's final scoring opportunities came in the 11th and 12th minutes of stoppage time when two shots from Sydney Lohmann missed wide and high.

Germany, the second-ranked team in the world, failed to advance from the group stage for the first time in nine appearances in the Women's World Cup.

South Korea finished in last place in the group with one point but can take away something from the tournament after holding the two-time champions to a draw.