[Coupe du monde U20 2022] Japan and the United States well launched, Canada beaten by South Korea

After groups A and B on Wednesday, it was the turn of groups C and D to launch the debates in this first round of the U20 World Cup in Costa Rica. A group C which includes the France team, defeated by Nigeria on the lawn of the Estadio Nacional. Canada suffered the same fate against South Korea (2-0), which already makes the duel between the Canadian and French U20s crucial on the night of Sunday to Monday on the occasion of the second day of this phase. of groups.

=> [Coupe du monde U20 2022] France-Nigeria (0-1) : Les Bleuettes showered with starter

South Korea has made a successful entry for its return to competition, after missing the 2018 edition in France. The Asian players won with two goals scored in the second half, each time from a corner. First it was the unfortunate Brooklyn Courtnall who deflected the ball into her own goal, while her goalkeeper Anna Karpenko had missed her exit with fists (53^e).

After the hour mark, a new corner resulted in the same effect, with an excellent cross header from Moon Hae-Yeon (62^e), managed to get the upper hand over Holly Ward at the far post. This good sequence from South Korea allows the players of Hwang In-Sun to definitely take the upper hand in this part, and to take the lead, just ahead of Nigeria.

A title to defend for the Japanese

Two teams at the top of Group C, this is also the case in Group D, with the United States and Japan winning their respective matches against Ghana and the Netherlands. This defeat of the Oranje confirms the difficulty of the European teams at the start of the tournament, since none of them managed to win on this first day, only Spain managing to share the points with Brazil.

If this poor form will probably fuel the debate on the adaptation of the teams to the climate of Costa Rica, the Netherlands were first dominated by an elegant Japanese team, which is satisfied with a narrow victory (1-0), despite multiple dangerous moves and actions in front of Lisan Alkemade’s goal.

An ease in the Japanese game, but also many off-target shots, which finally allowed the Oranje to stay in contact. The Japanese defending champions logically opened the scoring in the first period, with a ball slipped by Maika Hamano for Yuzuki Yamamoto behind the defense. The latter concludes in the box, crossing her shot from the right to deceive the Dutch goalkeeper (23^e).

The Japanese players then regularly hit the goal, in particular Maika Hamano who stumbles on Lisan Alkemade (49^e and 75^e), also on parade against Aoba Fujino (77^e). Ella Peddermors will have the best opportunities for the Netherlands (65^e and 79^e), but without succeeding in snatching the division of points.

Ghana bends against the United States

In this group C, it is the United States who occupy the first provisional place, on the strength of their success (3-0) against Ghana. A wide score partly favored by the expulsion of Jacqueline Owusu at the half-hour mark (31^e), although the American players had already taken the lead. Indeed, Michelle Cooper had opened the scoring in the first quarter of an hour, at the end of the header on the center of Laney Rouse (11^e).

We find Michelle Cooper on the second American goal, this time with a cross to find her teammate Alyssa Thompson at the entrance of the six meters (38^e). In a match in which the United States also hit twice on the frame, the break was definitely made when Allyson Sentnor, just coming on, added the third American goal (51^e).

The group stage continues this weekend in Costa Rica with matches taking place on Saturday and Sunday night (groups A and B) and Sunday to Monday (groups C and D).

Photo: FIFA

=> U20 World Cup 2022 : program and results of the competition