On Sunday, September 15th, the quarterfinals stage of the 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup began with a rather pedestrian 1-nil victory for Korea DPR over Brazil and ended with the USA stunning Germany by scoring two goals in less than 90 seconds(!) during the last minutes of second-half added time and then besting Germany 3:1 in the penalty shootout.
The middle two matches of the day both went to extra time. In the earlier match, the Netherlands came back twice against host Colombia and then won the penalty shootout 3-nil. And, in the later match, Japan needed a stoppage time goal from Hiromi Yoneda to eliminate the defending champions, Spain.
Thus, on Wednesday, the USA will face Korea DPR in the first semifinal (5:30 p.m. EDT) while Japan will take on the Netherlands in the later semifinal (9:00 p.m. EDT). Both matches will be shown live on FOX Sports 2 and will stream live by Telemundo Deportes (including on NBC.com).
Brazil 0, Korea DPR 1
Korea DPR goal: Chae Un Yong (49′)
Additional Links: FIFA match page, FIFA highlights
Netherlands 2 (3), Colombia 2 (0) aet/pso
Netherlands goals: Fleur Stoit (37′), Inske Weiman (85′)
Colombia goals: Karla Torres (14′, 63′)
Colombia’s opening goal benefited from three deflections: First, a shot by the Natalia Hernandez was blocked by one Dutch defender, then rebounded off of a second to an unmarked Karla Torres whose shot was slightly deflected by a sliding Dutch defender.
Just after Colombia’s second goal, Linda Caicedo temporarily went off for what appeared to be a minor hamstring issue, then returned briefly before dropping to the ground in pain after half-avoiding a sliding tackle. After additional treatment, Caicedo returned to the pitch. Caicedo played the rest of the match, including extra time.
For the penalty shootout, the Netherlands, who went first, made their first three kicks, while Colombia did not convert any of their kicks. Dutch goalkeeper Femke Liefting saved the first and third kicks. The second Colombia kick was high above the crossbar.
Additional Links: FIFA match page, FIFA highlights
Japan 1, Spain 0 (aet)
Japan goal: Hiromi Yoneda (102′)
Additional Links: FIFA match page, FIFA highlights
USA 2 (3), Germany 2(1) aet/pso
USA goal: Jordynn Dudley (90’+8), own goal (90’+9)*
Germany goals: Cora Zicai (61′ PK), Loreen Bender (90’+2)
Additional Links: FIFA match page, FIFA highlights, Full Replay (NBC.com)
Note: USA midfielder Claire Hutton was not available as she was in concussion protocol. (USYNT x.com post)
In the first sixty minutes of the match, while both teams had their chances, Germany generally looked the more organized and dangerous of the two squads. If the USA had been more accurate and focused in their attacks, the USA could have readily led 2-nil at halftime.
The USA conceded their first penalty of the tournament when Gisele Thompson knocked Loreen Bender to the ground while trying to poke away the ball. The USA ended up wasting their second Football Video Support review request in an attempt to overturn the penalty.
Just after Cora Zicai converted the penalty, Leah Klenke replaced Gisele Thompson at right fullback, in what has been a regular substitution pattern all four previous matches. In the same window, Jordynn Dudley replaced Pietra Tordin, which may have been earlier than planned.
In the first minute of stoppage time, Maddie Dahlien sent a tantalizing ball across the six yard box, but two USA players, including a sliding Sentnor, were unable to make contact.
Right after that, Germany countered with Sophie Nachtigall striking a hard shot that rebounded off of USA goalkeeper Teagan Wy to an open Lisa Baum who then passed off to an oncoming Loreen Bender, who one-timed the skipping pass into an open net. “Game Over” declared the Telemundo announcer.
Except, not.
As the game clock turned over into the eighth minute of stoppage time, a half-hearted German clearance bounced in front of midfielder Ally Lemos who sent a high looping ball ahead of Germany’s back line. Jordynn Dudley, who had her back turned toward goal, spun and latched onto the ball, dribbling briefly, then sending a shot across the ground and into the back of the net.
Dudley’s shot bounced off the bottom piping of the goal and got stuck in the top of the net, leading to a brief scuffle as Taylor Suarez tried to free the ball, followed by Germany’s goalkeeper Rebecca Adamczyk who ending up falling onto her back after Jordynn Dudley went to help Suarez.
Dudley’s goal crossed the line at the 7:06 mark of added time.
Eighty seconds later, Dahlien received the ball, dribbled down the right-side line of the penalty area, and sent a low cross that was deflected by the foot of her defender, causing the ball to pop over to Ally Sentnor who was at the top of the 6-yard box, in front of the right goalpost. Sentnor took a couple steps and lifted up her right knee to redirect the shot with the inside of her right leg. Sentnor’s shot ended up hitting the inside of Jella Veit’s leg, nutmegging into the goal. Veit’s accidental redirection may have prevented Germany’s right fullback Laura Gloning from possibly saving the goal.*
The USA’s second goal crossed the line at the 8:33 mark of added time.
In added time, the tenor of the match was more subdued, with both teams having some chances, but none that there really threatening.
For the penalty shootout, Germany went first and Jella Veit confidently converted their first kick, but would then miss there next two, wide left and hitting the woodwork, respectively. Meanwhile, for the USA, Ally Sentnor and Leah Klenke both converted their kicks, sending them to the (their) left and high of a diving Adamczyk, followed by Riley Jackson who sent a low skipping shot also to the left but beyond the reach of a diving Adamcyzk. Germany’s 4th kicker, Alara Şehitler, sent her shot straight down the middle, which was saved by Wy’s right hand. (Telemundo Deportes posted an edited replay of the entire penalty shootout on x.com.)
The USA’s celebrations were momentarily paused as the Fourth Official, who acted as a de facto video assistant referee during the penalty shootout, needed a couple minutes to determine that Wy’s back foot had stayed on the line. Finally the center referee, Oh-Hyeon Jeong of the Korea Republic, blew the whistle, confirming the Wy’s stop would stand.
*Sentnor’s equalizer has been credited as own goal per FIFA’s write-up for the match and the updated FIFA match page (link above).
Women's Soccer Express 