The first-ever Round of Sixteen at a FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup has not lacked for drama. Two matches went into extra time, including the USA’s drama-filled 3:2 victory over their southern neighbors, Mexico. Brazil also needed a full 120 minutes to defeat Cameroon, though the game-winning goal came less than 20 seconds into the first period of added time. Also, Spain needed a comeback victory over Canada, while host Colombia defeated Cameroon on just a single Linda Caicedo goal. And that was just the first day of Round of Sixteen matches.
Here are the video highlights for Wednesday’s matches, with a brief recap of the USA-Mexico match, plus the schedule for Thursday.
Spain 2, Canada 1
Spain goals: Jone Amezaga (65′), Silvia Lloris (81′)
Canada goal: Florianne Jourde (63′)
In the second half, Canada gained a foothold in the match, so their goal was not against the run of play, though Spain did have much more of the possession, which was mostly in Canada’s half.
Additional Links: FIFA match page, FIFA highlights
Brazil 3, Cameroon 1 (a.e.t.)
Brazil goals: Priscila (35′ PK), Dudinha (91′, 120’+4)
Cameroon goal: Naomi Eto (22′)
Dudinha’s game-winning goal came about 20 seconds into added time.
Additional Links: FIFA match page, FIFA highlights
Colombia 1, Korea Republic 0
Colombia goal: Linda Caicedo (64′)
Additional Links: FIFA match page, FIFA highlights
Mexico 2, USA 3 (a.e.t.)
Mexico goal: Valerie Vargas (22′)*, own goal (39′)**
USA goals: Pietra Tordin (10′), Ally Sentnor (27′), Jordynn Dudley (97′)
Princeton’s Pietra Tordin opened the scoring early for the USA, deftly redirecting a curling cross from Emeri Adames.
Sentnor almost doubled the lead in the 20th minute, but was apparently saved by Mexico’s goalkeeper, Renatta Cota. The ball looked to have been stopped just before fully crossing over the line. The USA did not challenge the non-goal call, which was likely the correct thing to do, as video replay would most likely not have been able to show conclusively that the ball crossed the line.
About a minute later, Mexico equalized for the first time, but Sentnor would score conclusively five minutes later from outside the box. Cota’s view was shielded somewhat by three Mexico defenders and the shot curved away from her.
In the second half, Tordin had a go-ahead goal called back after an automatic Football Video Support review showed that Gisele Thompson, who, in the build-up to the would-be goal, received and then passed the ball, was a foot or so offside. The on-screen FVS display showed that the FVS system in use has a basic offside overlay with a translucent black rectangle for the area beyond the offside line, plus lines for the second-to-last defender and the offensive player.
After giving up two equalizers, having an earlier would-be goal barely saved, and having a go-ahead goal called back, a lesser team may not have had the mentality to grind out a win, but this team did.
In added time at the end of the second half, Mexico had a long shot attempt rattle the crossbar, while the USA had two solid attempts, including a what-would-have-been-spectacular Dudley backheel off of a Dahlien cross. Dudley had another shot in front of goal that was saved for a corner kick.
Dudley’s game-winning goal came several minutes into the first period of added time when a weak Mexico pass was intercepted by Yuna McCormack, who dribbled to the top of the penalty area and then passed to Dudley, who dribbled to the outer right corner of the six-yard box and unleashed a hard shot over Cota, which ultimately hit the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net.
In the second period of extra time, the USA had a clear penalty that was not given until after a Football Video Support review. Riley Jackson took the penalty, but the shot lacked power and Mexico’s goalkeeper, Mariangela Medina, who replaced Cota several minutes earlier. During second-half stoppage time, Cota appeared to be grimacing (90’+5).
Most of Mexico’s success was on their left flank, which was due to a combination of Mexican talent and tactics, as the USA’s right flank, with Gisele Thompson at fullback plus Ally Sentnor as a right forward who had the freedom to go central, often allowed Mexico’s left flank to have plenty of free space to dribble and receive passes down into the USA’s defensive third.
The USA does have the benefit of an extra rest day compared to their potential quarterfinal opponents, Germany and Argentina, who play on Thursday.
*The FIFA English announcer mentioned that Mexico’s first goal was changed to an own goal off of Bugg, but FIFA match page has not changed the goal credit.
**Mexico’s second goal was originally credited to Montserrat Saldivar, but was changed to an own goal (off of Gilchrist) a day or two after the match.
Additional Links: FIFA match page, FIFA highlights
Remaining Round of Sixteen matches
Four more matches will be played on Thursday, September 12th:
Women's Soccer Express 