Monthly Archives: August 2012

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 →

USWNT: Costa Rica’s Roster For the September 1st Friendly

[Edit: The roster posted at EqualizerSoccer.com lists Fabiola Sanchez instead of Gabriela Alfaro. It is unclear whether that list or the list on Costa Rica's website is more current, and thus correct.]

On Thursday, Costa Rica’s Women’s National Team released its roster for the September 1st friendly against the United States (2:30 p.m. EDT, live on NBC). Only half of the eighteen players traveling to Rochester were on Costa Rica’s roster for Olympic qualifying back in January, where the USA and Costa Rica met in the crucial qualifying, with the United States winning 3:0 on goals by Tobin Heath, Carli Lloyd, and Alex Morgan (USSoccer.com).

The most notable player not on the roster is team captain Shirley Cruz, who now plays for Paris Saint-Germain in France, after moving from Olympique Lyonnais over the summer. And, thus has a club commitment. Three other players who started against the USA during qualifying are also not on the roster: Karol Sanchez, Fabiola Sanchez (Martin Methodist), and Wendy Acosta (Virginia Commonwealth), who are all defenders. Continue reading →

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: 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-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 5 – Mexico Knocks-Out New Zealand, Brazil Falls to South Korea

The final day of group play for Groups A and B in the 2012 Under-20 Women’s World Cup saw Mexico crush the hearts of the Junior Football Ferns as El Tri scored four second-half goals and Brazil fall to South Korea after scoring a potential go-ahead goal that was disallowed on a disputable offside call. In the other matches, Japan and Nigeria each had relatively easy 4:0 wins over Switzerland and Italy, respectively.

With all matches played in Groups A and B, Japan and Mexico advance out of Group A, while Nigeria and South Korea advance from Group B. Thus, the quarterfinal match-ups for August 30th will be Nigeria vs. Mexico (3:00 a.m. EDT) and Japan vs. South Korea (6:30 a.m. EDT). Both matches will be shown live on ESPNU. Continue reading →

U-20 WWC: Mexico vs. New Zealand (Group A) Will Be Shown on ESPNU

A quick heads-up for those not on Twitter… According to the WatchESPN site, Sunday morning’s schedule for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup on ESPNU has been changed as Mexico vs. New Zealand will be the Group A match televised, instead of Japan vs. Switzerland.

Sunday’s Schedule:
3:10 AM EDT        Korea Republic vs. Brazil (Group B)
6:10 AM EDT        Mexico vs. New Zealand (Group A)

Barring a miraculous Switzerland blowout of Japan, Mexico must win against New Zealand, while the Junior Football Ferns only need a draw to ensure advancement.

In the Group B match, Brazil requires a win, but South Korea can advance with just a draw, although a win for the Koreans would guarantee advancement to the quarterfinals.

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 →