U-20 WWC 2014: First Round Recap, Day 3 – Groups A and B

Group A

Team Played Won Draw Lost Goals For Goals Against Points
Korea DPR 2 1 0 0 5 1 6
Canada 2 0 0 1 3 3 3
Ghana 2 1 0 0 1 3 3
Finland 2 0 0 1 3 5 0

Ghana vs. Korea DPR

Final: 3-0, Korea DPR

1st Half:
PRK – Ri Un Sim – 6′

2nd Half:
PRK – Ri Un Sim – 78′
PRK – Jon So Yon – 94′ (PK)

Misconduct Summary: PRK – Ri Un Yong (caution, 32′), GHA – Cynthia Yiadom (caution, 40′), GHA – Fatima Alhassan (caution, 45′), PRK – Song Kyong Hui (caution, 57′), PRK – Hoe Un Hwa (caution, 69′), GHA – Alice Danso (caution, 73′), GHA – Victoria Agyei (caution, 93′)

Korea DPR all but secured a quarterfinal appearance with a win over Ghana in a very contentious match. A total of 35 fouls were called, 24 just on Ghana, with 4 yellow cards issued to the African side and 3 to their Asian opponents. With two goals by Ri Un Sim, including an early strike to open the match, the penalty kick awarded in injury time was merely icing on a solid performance by the Koreans.

Canada vs. Finland

Final: 3-2, Canada

1st Half:
FIN – Juliette Kemppi – 3′
FIN – Juliette Kemppi – 21′

2nd Half:
CAN – Janine Beckie – 48′
CAN – Valerie Sanderson – 50′
CAN – Nichelle Prince – 80′

Misconduct Summary: CAN – Kadeisha Buchanan (caution, 68′), CAN – Janine Beckie (caution, 84′)

After being up 2-0 at the half, Finland was stunned to see three points get away as host Canada roared to life for a 3-2 win. Substitutions made the difference for the Canadians, as Janine Beckie and Valerie Sanderson each scored within five minutes of being subbed in for the second half. The Finns’ chances to advance hinge on the European side pulling a win out of their final group game.

Group B

Team Played Won Draw Lost Goals For Goals Against Points
Germany 2 1 1 0 7 5 4
United States 2 1 0 1 1 2 3
China PR 2 0 2 0 6 6 2
Brazil 2 0 1 0 1 2 1

Germany vs. China

Final: 5-5, Germany

1st Half:
GER – Pauline Bremer – 10′
CHI – Zhu Beiyan – 40′
GER – Sara Daebritz – 45′

2nd Half:
CHI – Tang Jiali – 48′
GER – Theresa Panfil – 51′
CHI – Lei Jiahui – 52′
GER – Sara Daebritz – 68′ (PK)
CHI – Zhu Beiyan – 62′ (PK)
GER – Theresa Panfil – 71′
CHI – Zhang Chen – 80′

Misconduct Summary: CHI – Tan Ruyin (caution, 31′)

Goals came early and often in the 5-5 draw between Germany and China. Of the 10 goals, Theresa Panfil’s strike in the 51st minute marked Germany’s 100th goal at this age level and the first time a nation has scored that many. Almost as surprising as the number of goals – and more immediately significant – the one-point result leaves the Group B standings open to possibilities that hadn’t seemed likely with the opening day’s results.

USA vs. Brazil

Final: 1-0, USA

1st Half:
No goals

2nd Half:
USA – Lindsey Horan – 82′

Misconduct Summary: BRA – Djenifer (caution, 27′), USA – Lindsey Horan (caution, 39′), BRA – Patricia (caution, 70′)

Despite Brazil having the better of play for the majority of the match, USA stole a 1-0 win late in the game to stay alive in the standings. After barely pressuring in the first half, the Americans picked up their tempo in the second. Substitutions were key in breaking the deadlock, as USA forward Summer Green came on the pitch to provide the opportunity for Lindsey Horan’s decisive goal.