U-20 Women’s World Cup 2018: Final Round Recap

14 Aug

Here’s how the quarter-finals shaped up following some wickedly dramatic moments in the final round. The most dramatic was the China vs Nigeria match. China needed to win vs Nigeria and Nigeria just needed a draw to go through to the quarter-finals. It looked like China had the win until the 90+5′ minute when Nigeria bagged the tying goal.

If that last minute devastation wasn’t cruel enough for China, the officials dropped the cruelest of cherries on top by ruling it an own goal. ‘Ugh’ is the reaction you are looking for right now.

Group C had its own drama, as expected. Spain only needed a draw vs the USA to retain top spot in the group. The USA needed a win and nothing less to progress. It looked like Spain might cruise through, leading by two goals at half-time. Then the USA roared back with two late goals to tie the game with six minutes to go but could not get the winner.

And of course, the sky is falling when the US lose –

Not to pile on but I will pile on. U20s won in 2012 and best finish since is Qtrs. Let's add in U17 Women's World Cup. After finishing runner up in 2008 U17 WWC, US U17 women have gone: '10 DNQ, '12 Didnt get out of group, '14 DNQ, '16 Didnt get out of group. '18 TBD. Yep. https://t.co/aFLWcdSdPa

— Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) August 13, 2018

The US have some exciting young players like Savannah DeMelo (4 goals); would it have hurt to focus on their successes rather than ‘pile on’ their loss? Guess not when you have an axe to grind elsewhere.

No question other countries are getting better, which is a great thing for the game, but when we have a nation w/ MILLIONS of girls playing & opportunities galore, we still should win everything everyday every level every hour. https://t.co/kemdo1KjFR

— Julie Foudy (@JulieFoudy) August 13, 2018

Right, because quantity trumps quality no matter the context or circumstance.🙄🙄🙄

For Haiti, they lost all of their games but scored three goals. Their achievements are monumental not just for Haiti but for CONCACAF as well. Now that CONCACAF has a Head of Women’s Football in Karina LeBlanc, smaller countries like Haiti are going to start getting more attention and funding and this can only be viewed as a great thing.

The 🇭🇹 women's teams came from a long way, they prove they're one of the top teams in the @Concacaf now, it's not like the old days, where we barely get a shot on goal when we play team like 🇲🇽🇺🇸🇨🇦, they're still growing and it's good for Caribbean football #ProudOfThem pic.twitter.com/Dmqzti2twB

— Haiti Futbol (@HaitiFutbol) August 14, 2018

So glad I got to spend my summer with my sisters making history❤️🇭🇹 pic.twitter.com/LdJODLGY7N

— Dani❣️ (@detienne8) August 13, 2018

On the statistics front, a total of 78 goals were scored in the group stage (wth an average of 26 per round). Three players scored four goals each and ten players have scored three each. Six players have scored a hat trick and four of these hat tricks came against a single team (Paraguay – ouch).

In terms of discipline, there have been zero red cards and 53 yellow cards. All teams have received yellow cards, with Nigeria and England the leaders with six each.

Group A: Netherlands (0) vs France (4)
Attendance: 2,262
Location: Stade Marville, Saint-Malo

Spot the orange 😬
Embed from Getty Images

Hat trick complete
Embed from Getty Images

Cleat test
Embed from Getty Images

POTM: Amelia Delabre FRA
Embed from Getty Images