FIFA U-20 Canada 2014: Ghana Shock Hosts, Germany Earn Deserving Revenge On USA

FIFA U-20 Canada 2014Ghana Shock Hosts, Germany Earn Deserving Revenge On USA

*Africa’s first representative begins on a good start*Maren Meinert finally gets long desired win over the US after 2012 final loss*Nigeria expected to continue on winning trend

The 7th edition of FIFA’s under 20 women championship took off in Canada yesterday with interesting results. continue...

Our focus on African teams begins with a good result as the Black Princesses of Ghana gave something to rejoice about when they walloped the hosts Canada 1-0 in the second game of the day played at Canada’s National Stadium, Toronto.

The Ghanaian women took the better off the Canadians in the 22nd minute when Sherifatu Sumaila notched one past the goal-line of the hosts. Before the goal went in, The Africans had been intercepted several times with superb performances from the Canadian defence spearheaded by Azerbaijan U-17 star Kadeisha Buchanan, whose resilience relaxed midway into the first half and then coming up later in the rest of the game but after the Ghanaian girls had recorded one goal.

 

Canada could have pulled one back had the woodwork not come to Ghana’s aid, stopping Emma Fletcher’s strike from going in. Buoyed by a vociferous 14,834 strong crowd, the host tried building momentum later on in the game, an effort which could have turned into something positive; at the end, it just wasn’t the day for the Canadians to smile home with anything from the game.

In other Group A games, Finland fell to North Korea 0-1, setting the next game with the Americans with lots of fire and expectations; Ghana plays Korea next.

Group B which had the curiosity of almost every American and German churned out so pleasantly for the 2012 losing finalists, Germany had their rewarding revenge over the American girls with a 65 minutes goal from Lena Petermann and another in the 90th minute fromTheresa Panfil, which secured victory with an excellent result for the Maren Meinert led side.

In the other Group B game, feared contenders Brazil were stunned with a shocking 1-0 victory by the Chinese ladies.

Africa’s second representative will see first action today in Canada, with the expectation that they continue on the pace set by the Ghanaian girls.

Appearing for the 7th time, Nigeria’s Falconets are charged to fly over the el tri of Mexico in Moncton.