USA, Canada fall in U20 Women’s World Cup finals

Michelle Cooper #9 of United States competes for the ball with Haruna Tabata #12 of Japan during the match between United States vs Japan as part of the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Costa Rica 2022 held at the Alejandro Morera Soto stadium in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
Michelle Cooper #9 of United States competes for the ball with Haruna Tabata #12 of Japan during the match between United States vs Japan as part of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Costa Rica 2022 held at the Alejandro Morera Soto stadium in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
PHOTO BY JOHN DURAN/CONCACAF/STRAFFON IMAGES/

Both the United States and Canada completed their respective campaigns in the 2022 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica following their group stage finales last Wednesday, according to CONCACAF.

It said the participation of the US in the U20 Women’s World Cup came to a close with a 3-1 defeat to Japan in Group D at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto in Alajuela, Costa Rica.

A scoreless first half gave way to an “action-packed second stanza”, in which Japan scored twice to take a 2-0 lead, but Simone Jackson gave the U.S. hope in the 70’ to make it 2-1, CONCACAF said.

“However, in the end, the spoils belonged to Japan, who tacked on a late insurance goal to seal the 3-1 win and end the US hopes of a knockout round berth,” CONCACAF said.

It said that, despite starting the day eliminated from advancing to the knockout round, Canada put up a “valiant effort” in its Group C finale versus Nigeria before falling 3-1 at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto.

CONCACAF said Canada was first on the scoreboard in the 2’ when Kaila Novak took advantage of an error from Nigeria GK Omini Oyono for an early 1-0 lead, but Nigeria would respond with a trio of goals to secure the victory