On Wednesday, September 4th, Group C and Group D played their second group stage matches of the 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup.
In Group C, both the USA and Spain won their respective matches 2-nil. The USA’s victory over Morocco gives it a crucial goal difference advantage over Paraguay, who loss to Spain. The USA are now in a good position to advance as the second-place team in the group. Meanwhile, Spain, who are on 6 points, has secured advancement to the Round of Sixteen.
Over in Group D, Germany also secured advancement, thanks in part to its 3:1 win over Nigeria. The other match, between Korea Republic and Venezuela ended in a scoreless draw.
Here are the match highlights and goals summaries for the day’s four matches, plus the standings for Group C and Group D, along with some brief discussion of advancement scenarios.
Match Highlights
Germany 3, Nigeria 1
Germany goals: Alara Şehitler (17′), Sofie Zdebel (61′), Sarah Ernst (90’+3)
Nigeria goal: Chiamaka Okwuchukwu (50′)
Additional Links: FIFA Match Page, FIFA Highlights
Spain 2, Paraguay 0
Spain goals: Jone Amezaga (20′, 37′)
Additional Links: FIFA Match Page, FIFA Highlights
Morocco 0, USA 2
USA goals: Yuna McCormack (48′), Maddie Dahlien (90’+6)
Forward Jordyn Dudley was not available for this match as she was “in the latter stages of concussion protocol” (x.com post by @USYNT). Dudley had at least two head contact incidents in the match against Spain (a whiplash-like head-to-ground incident and then a head-to-head clash after heading a ball).
The USA had 28 total attempts on goal, including 2 shots that hit the woodwork, along with several shots inside the Moroccan penalty area that were blocked by defenders.
Late in the first-half, the USA had a review for a penalty due for holding on a corner kick. Holding is a “direct free kick offense” under Law 12, and thus, when it occurs inside the penalty area, would result in a penalty kick (Law 14) if called.
The final video replay showed clear shirt holding, which caused the USA player, #15 Heather Gilchrist to go to ground, so I’m not sure why the penalty kick was granted. (compare the EPL’s 2016 grappling directive – Sky Sports article) One argument could be that Gilchrist had no chance of making a play on the ball, even without the holding, but I don’t think that would be valid in this circumstance.
The review request came about a full minute after the incident, and Gilchrist did not protest after going down. The holding continued after the corner kick was kicked, so the ball was in play. There was no restart for a foul, throw-in, et cetera, so the timing of the review should not have been an issue. The broadcast “VS Review” replay took a while to show the corner kick replay, but that does not appear to be the same feed as what the referee was reviewing.
Two minutes into the second-half stoppage time, a penalty kick for the USA was not called. Just after Ally Sentnor connected on a pass, she was tripped by the diving Moroccan goalkeeper who did not appear to make any contact with the ball. Only a corner kick was awarded to the USA.
Sentnor had an incredulous look, but did not overtly protest for a penalty kick. Tracey Kevins did not request a review, perhaps because she would have been out of review requests for the match had the review not been successful for the USA.
Dahlien’s late insurance goal means that the USA now has the tie-breaker advantage over Paraguay should their match on Saturday end in a draw.
(For the official details about the review protocol, see this FIFA document: Football Video Support Protocol (for the) FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2024.)
Additional Links: FIFA Match Page, FIFA Highlights
Korea Republic 0, Venezuela 0
Additional Links: FIFA Match Page, FIFA Highlights
Group Standings
The top two teams from each group advance to the Round of Sixteen, along with the four best third-place teams.
Group C
- Spain: 6 points, +3 goal difference, 3 goals scored
- USA: 3 points, +1 goal difference, 2 goals scored
- Paraguay: 3 points, 0 goal difference, 2 goals scored
- Morocco: 0 points, -4 goal difference, no goals scored
Spain has secured advancement to the Round of Sixteen, as only either the USA or Paraguay can also reach 6 points, thus Spain can finish no worse than second.
The USA only needs a draw against Paraguay to secure the second-place spot in the group, thanks to the USA’s superior goal difference compared to Paraguay.
Paraguay needs a victory against the USA to secure an automatic slot into the next round. A loss for either Paraguay or the USA may not be fatal, as there is a decent chance that at least two third-place teams finish with 2 points or less.
Morocco, absent a historic win against Spain, will likely finish fourth in the group. At best, if there is a winner in the USA-Paraguay match, Morocco could finish third, but would need to make up the goal difference against the loser of that match.
Group D
- Germany: 6 points, +5 goal difference, 8 goals scored
- Nigeria: 3 points, -1 goal difference, 2 goals scored
- Korea Republic: 1 points, -1 goal difference, no goals scored
- Venezuela: 1 points, -3 goal difference, 2 goals scored
Germany, like Spain, have secured advancement to the Round of Sixteen, since only Nigeria can also reach 6 points.
Nigeria would advance automatically as the second-place team via a draw with Venezuela, as long as Germany does not lose to Korea Republic. A victory for Nigeria would guarantee their advancement as at least the second-place team.
Both Korea Republic and Venezuela need victories on the final match day.
If both Korea Republic and Venezuela draw their matches, then Korea Republic will finish as the third-place team due to its superior goal difference.
If Korea Republic loses to Germany and Venezuela draws with Nigeria, then Venezuela will be the third-place team.
For the third-place team from this group, having 2 points could be enough to squeak through as their is a fair chance that at least two of the other third-place teams end up on 1 point.
Women's Soccer Express 