Today was the fourth day of matches for the U20 Women’s World Cup in Canada.
Group C – England 1 – 1 Mexico (Moncton)
All four Group C teams (England, Mexico, Korea Republic and Nigeria) entered Sunday dead even after their first round of matches. All four nations had a point earned by a draw. All four had one goal for and one goal against.
England struck first in their match against Mexico in their attempt to usurp the Group C evenness. Sunderland forward, and England U20 number nine, Bethany Mead struck a rocket from well outside the penalty area that went untouched into the back of the net. The shot from the Women’s Premier National Division top goal scorer for two consecutive seasons, was well out of the reach of a diving Cecilia Santiago.
Whereas England had to manage to come up with an equalizer in their first match against Korea Republic, they entered the second half against Mexico trying to hold on to their one-goal lead. England keeper Elizabeth Durack did her part by coming up with big saves. On the English attack, Nikita Parris nearly doubled the lead with a shot that careened into the post and then back into play.
With twenty minutes left in regulation, however, Mexico’s Fabiola Ibarra, who scored their lone goal in their match against Nigeria, struck from distance. The ball rattled the crossbar and came back in play. An alert Tanya Samarzich was there to kick in the rebound to equalize for Mexico.
Play continued but neither side could add to their tally and when the final whistle blew, Mexico and England had once again come away with a 1-1 draw.
Group C – Korea Republic 1 – 2 Nigeria (Moncton)
With England and Mexico drawing, Korea Republic and Nigeria knew that a win meant being atop the group and being in control of their own destiny.
Nigeria took control and took it fast when Oklahoma State’s Courtney Dike became the fastest goal scorer in the history of FIFA Women’s tournament soccer, scoring inside the first minute from just outside the six-yard box.
The Nigerian attack kept working Korea Republic’s keeper Min Yukyeong. However, the South Koreans created chances of their own, including a chip shot that went over the approaching Nigerian keeper, Sandra Chiichii. The shot went over the crossbar, too, keeping the score 1-0.
Nigeria doubled their lead in the 36th minute when Ugo Njoku crossed to Chinwendu Ihezuo who laid the ball down easy with a great first touch inside the area before drilling it into the back of the net.
Nigeria went into the half with a two-goal lead. Korea Republic, however, remained fighting. In the 72nd minute, the Koreans converted their fight into a goal when Kim Soyi struck one in from just outside the area to give Korea Republic a chance by cutting the Nigerian lead to one.
But fight was not enough for the Koreans and when the final whistle blew, the Nigerians were on top of the group with a 2-1 victory.
With the win, Nigeria now leads Group C with four points, followed by England and Mexico with two points each while Korea Republic sits at fourth with a single point.
Group C action concludes on Wednesday, August 13th, when Korea Republic plays Mexico at the National Soccer Stadium in Toronto while Nigeria squares off against England at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.
Nigeria, England and Mexico can each advance with a win. The Korean Republic could advance with a win and a Nigerian victory over England. Nigeria would advance with a draw. If Mexico and England both draw, they may be flipping coins up in Canada.
Group D – New Zealand 0 – 4 France (Montreal)
France continued their domination in a 4-0 victory over New Zealand in a fairly lopsided match at Olympic Stadium in Montreal. Once again, Claire Lavogez played a tremendous role in France earning another three points that has them at the top of Group D after two matches.
Lavogez sent a brilliant ball off a free kick behind New Zealand’s defense and out of the reach of goalkeeper Lily Alfeld. The ball appeared to bounce off the legs of Kadidiatou Diani and into the back of the net giving France a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute. Diani would return the favor early in the second half, fighting down the left flank and giving the ball to Lavogez who one timed it in to the net to put France up 2-0
France dominated the first 45 minutes in both possession and shots on goal, with New Zealand only having one shot in the first half. France had several wide open attempts on goal that they could not convert. That and the stellar goalkeeping of Alfeld kept the game to one goal going into the second half.
Despite a slightly better effort from New Zealand (including an excellent goal saving clearance by Meikayla Moore), a brace from Clarisse Le Bihan put the game out of reach. Le Bihan, who was a second half substitution, scored in the 80th minute after managing to stay onside and receiving a long ball that she slotted past Alfeld. She scored again two minutes later when the ball was batted right to her feet during a free kick.
Group D – Paraguay 2 – 1 Costa Rica (Montreal)
A penalty in the 88th minute made all the difference as Paraguay earned their first win in the U-20 Women’s World Cup, defeating Costa Rica 2-1. The match was a well fought and exciting battle by both teams who, after having lost their first group matches, knew that a win was necessary to keep hopes of advancing to the knockout stages alive.
It only took four minutes for a goal to be scored in this one as Paraguay’s Silvana Romero managed to find space in the box and draw Costa Rica’s goalkeeper Noelia Bermudez off her line before firing between the goalkeepers legs and into the net.
Though she missed a chance on goal herself, Melissa Herrara played a huge role in Costa Rica’s equalizer in the 29th minute. After receiving a beautiful long ball, Herrara managed to somehow beat three defenders and was able to find Michelle Montero who was wide open in front of the net and was able to slide it past goalkeeper Cristina Recalde, making it 1-1 which would remain the score at the half.
The second half was a very even contest with an emphasis put on strong defending by both sides. There were opportunities for each team to put the game away, but it appeared the contest would end in a draw until a penalty in the 88th minuted would provide a winner. Paraguay’s Maribel Portillo found herself with a breakaway opportunity in the box. Bermudez came out to challenge for the ball but ended up getting Portillo instead. Paraguay was awarded a penalty which Jennifer Mora put away, giving Paraguay the 2-1 victory.
(Photos Courtesy of FIFA.)
