FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup Chile 2008 Day 2 Summary & Highlights
Match Highlights (Updated Daily)
Brazil 3, DPR Korea 2
In what was always going to be the glamour game of the first round at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Chile 2008, Brazil managed to do just enough to beat defending champions Korea DPR in Temuco on Thursday.
The first goal of an evenly-contested match came, predictably, from a mistake. Two Brazilian defenders failed to clear a dangerous ball at the back and Ri Ye Gyong stepped up to take the gift and fire home to make it 1-0 to the East Asians on the half-hour mark. One minute later, Ra Um Sim nearly made it two only to be denied by Viviane.
Brazil regained their composure after going down a goal and Janaina hauled them back level with a fine strike in first-half stoppage time, sending the South Americans to the locker room feeling good.
They kept up the pace in the second period. Franciella sent a long through ball for Erika, who hammered home to make it 2-1 in the 48th minute. Nerves looked to be setting in to the Asian side and Erika was hauled down in the penalty area in the 68th minute. Francielle made no mistake from the spot to increase Brazil’s lead to 3-1.
After hitting the bar with a quarter-hour to go, the Koreans brought the deficit to 3-2 with a Ri Jong Sim header in the fading moments of stoppage time. But it was too little, too late.
Germany 5, Congo DR 0
Thailand 2004 winners Germany made light work of African debutantes Congo DR, winning out 5-0 in Santiago on Thursday to open their Chile 2008 Group C campaign. The talented Africans were always in over their heads, but won over the crowd by trying to attack and playing some fine football in spurts.
Norway 2, Mexico 1
Norway made a hot start to their FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 2008 campaign with a 2-1 win over Mexico to move to the top of Group D at Germán Becker stadium in Temuco.
In a balanced affair, the Mexicans gave as good as they got. It was the North Americans who created the first scoring chances when team star Charlyn Corral and Stephany Mayor tested the Norwegian keeper in the early momens. Susana Mendoza also tried a long-ranger early, but her try went zipping over the bar.
Despite keeping themselves in the game and making the early running, the Mexicans saw the first goal of the game end up in their own net. After a poor clearance by keeper Erika Vanegas, the ball dropped to Marita Skammelsrud and all she had to do was poke into an unguarded net to make it 1-0 after 26 minutes.
Straight away, it was the Norway keeper’s chance to make a glaring error of her own. Unable to get hold of the ball, she spilled out to Dinora Garza who hit the ball home to tie the game at 1-1 in the 28th minute.
The Mexicans tried to haul themselves back into it with long-range shots and speedy countre-attacks in the second half. Both sides had their chances with Garza looking dangerous for the Mexicans and Ingvild Isaksen and June Tarnes causing problems in attack for Norway.
In the end, luck was with the Scandinavians. Tina Wulf darted up the left side and sent in a ball that was nodded home by Ida Elise Enget after a fortunate deflection to make it 2-1 in the 76th minute.
Japan 2, Canada 0
Japan, with a firm focus on technique-driven, free-flowing football, made easy meat of 2002 U-20 runners-up Canada in Santiago on Thursday. Two first half goals brought the three points that the East Asians fully deserved against the hard-working Canadians.
Match reports source: fifa.com/u20womensworldcup
