Under-xx Teams – Page 11 – Women's Soccer Express

U-20 WWC: The USA Wins Third Title, Defeats Germany [Brief]

After struggling in the group stage, the United States Under-20 Women’s National Team put on a solid defensive effort and defeated Germany in the final of the 2012 Under-20 Women’s World Cup on a lone goal from Kealia Ohai, off an assist from fellow UNC Tar Heel, Crystal Dunn.

USA captain Julie Johnston (centerback) won the Bronze Ball for third overall best player, with Japan’s Hanae Shibata getting Silver and Germany’s Dzsenifer Marozsan claiming top honors, the Golden Ball. Germany’s Laura Benkarth won the Golden Glove as best goalkeeper.

FINAL: United States 1, Germany 0.
USA Goal: Kealia Ohai (44′).
See Also: FIFA.com match page, USSoccer.com write-up, ESPN3 replay*.

*For those who only want to watch the goal-scoring play, that sequence begins at the 01:02:45 mark, off a free kick restart. The replay also has the closing ceremony.

In the earlier match, host Japan weathered a potential comeback by Nigeria to secure a third place finish.

THIRD PLACE: Japan 2, Nigeria 1.
JPN Goals: Y. Tanaka (24′), Nishikawa (50′).
NGA Goal: Oparanozie (73′).
See Also: FIFA.com match page, ESPN3 replay.

U-20 WWC: The Semifinals – The United States and Germany Win, Will Meet in the Final

After struggling in the group stage, the United States are right where they wanted to be, in the final of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup, after defeating Nigeria 2:0 on Tuesday in the first semifinal, via a header goal by Morgan Brian and a counter-attack goal off the foot of Kealia Ohai. In the later semifinal, host Japan fell to a merciless Germany who scored a goal in the first minute and then added two more in the next eighteen minutes.

Thus, the United States and Germany will meet in the title match on September 8th at 6:30 a.m. EDT. That match will be televised live on ESPNU, starting at 6:20 a.m. EDT, with Adrian Healey and Julie Foudy as commentators, instead of the single pool announcer (Foudy’s Twitter). Continue reading “U-20 WWC: The Semifinals – The United States and Germany Win, Will Meet in the Final”

U-17 USWNT: Roster for the 2012 Under-17 Women’s World Cup Named

On August 29th, the United States Under-17 Women’s National Team roster for this year’s Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan was released by U.S. Soccer. From the team’s CONCACAF qualifying roster, the only player to not make the U-17 WWC roster was midfielder Sarah Robinson, apparently due to an unspecified “medical issue,” while centerback Claire Wagner and third goalkeeper Morgan Stearns were added. Continue reading “U-17 USWNT: Roster for the 2012 Under-17 Women’s World Cup Named”

U-20 WWC: Quarterfinals Round-Up – Nigeria, Japan, Germany, and the USA Advance

The quarterfinals matches for the 2012 Under-20 Women’s World Cup were a mix of the predictable and the dramatic.

On the predictable side, Germany rather easily defeated Norway 3:0. The match between Japan and South Korea was more a mix of predictable and dramatic, with South Korea getting an early equalizer before Japan re-took the lead for good.

The other two quarterfinals, Mexico vs. Nigeria, and United States vs. North Korea, were each a bit more dramatic, as both went to extra time. Against Mexico, Nigeria needed a stoppage time goal to seal victory. Meanwhile, the United States took a 1:0 lead over North Korea off a strike from Vanessa DiBernardo, only to see the Koreans equalize and send the match into extra time. Eight minutes into extra time, Chioma Ubogagu headed in the game-winner, off a Crystal Dunn cross. Continue reading “U-20 WWC: Quarterfinals Round-Up – Nigeria, Japan, Germany, and the USA Advance”

U-17 USWNT: Quick Updates on Jane Campbell and Sarah Robinson

In a new TopDrawerSoccer.com article on the United States Under-17 Women’s National Team, it was confirmed that starting goalkeeper Jane Campbell’s formerly unspecified injury is a knee injury and that she should be healthy in one to two weeks. Also, the article states that midfielder Sarah Robinson, who was not at the most recent camp, has an unspecified “medical issue”and will be unavailable for the Under-17 Women’s World Cup. Continue reading “U-17 USWNT: Quick Updates on Jane Campbell and Sarah Robinson”

U-17 USWNT: The USA Defeats China Twice In Its August Camp

In its final domestic training camp prior to this year’s Under-17 Women’s World Cup, the United States played China in two friendlies, winning both. The first match, on Wednesday, August 22nd, was a sub-par performance for the Americans, who conceded the opening goal but came back to win 2:1. However, the second match, on Saturday, August 25th, was a much stronger victory, with two goals scored in the first eight minutes and a final scoreline of 5:1. Continue reading “U-17 USWNT: The USA Defeats China Twice In Its August Camp”

U-20 WWC: Match Day 6 – USA Loses But Still Advances, Canada Eliminated

On the final day of group play at the 2012 Under-20 Women’s World Cup, the marquee match-up, between the United States and Germany, was anything but a thriller, as the USA’s defensive lapses and lack of attacking prowess was punished by the Germans in a 0:3 loss. In the other Group D match, China only managed a 1:0 win over Ghana, so even though the United States and China were tied on points, the USA advanced to the quarterfinals via a better goal differential.

In Group C, Norway defeated Argentina 4:1 while Canada lost 1:2 to North Korea. Norway, on a goalkeeping error, let in an 82nd minute Argentine goal to make the score 2:1, but a goal by Andrine Hegerberg three minutes later restored the Norwegian’s two goal advantage.

On Friday, August 31st, Germany will face Norway in the earlier quarterfinal (3:00 a.m. EDT), while the United States will play North Korea in the later one (6:30 a.m. EDT). Both matches will be televised live on ESPNU. Continue reading “U-20 WWC: Match Day 6 – USA Loses But Still Advances, Canada Eliminated”

U-20 USWNT: On the Draw with China

The draw between the United States Under-20 Women’s National Team and China’s U-20 WNT in their second group match of the 2012 Under-20 Women’s World Cup is a disappointing result for the USA squad, but far from a disaster. Continue reading “U-20 USWNT: On the Draw with China”

U-20 WWC: Match Day 4 – USA Only Gets a Draw, Germany Ekes Out a Win, Canada Falls to Norway

On the fourth day of group play at the 2012 Under-20 Women’s World Cup, two of the favorites, the United States and Germany each struggled against teams easily dispatched by the other squad in the opening matches of Group D. The USA, in a lackluster performance, could only manage a 1:1 draw with China, while Germany needed a stoppage time goal from late sub Lina Magull to pull out a 1:0 win over Ghana. In Group C action, Norway edged out Canada 2:1, while North Korea pummeled Argentina 9:0. Continue reading “U-20 WWC: Match Day 4 – USA Only Gets a Draw, Germany Ekes Out a Win, Canada Falls to Norway”

U-20 WWC: Match Day 2 – USA and Germany Tied Atop Group D, Canada With An Easy Win

Action continued in the 2012 Under-20 Women’s World Cup on Monday, with favorites United States and Germany both posting 4:0 wins, while Canada cruised and then coasted over Argentina and North Korea defeated Norway. With the USA’s and Germany’s equivalent wins, the two teams are even in the Group D table. Continue reading “U-20 WWC: Match Day 2 – USA and Germany Tied Atop Group D, Canada With An Easy Win”