Canada w20 opens with three points in Japan
Posted on 20 August 2012 in FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
Canada has opened the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Japan 2012 at the top of Group C with three points and a +6 goal differential. Canada won its opening match 6:0 in Kobe, JPN over 10-player Argentina, scoring six times after an Agustina Barroso dismissal in the sixth minute. Korea DPR won the other Group C match on Monday 20 August, winning 4:2 over Norway.
Adriana Leon scored three times for Canada while Shelina Zadorsky, Jaclyn Sawicki and Catherine Charron-Delage also scored for Canada. Leon is quickly the tournament co-leading goal scorer, becoming the third Canadian to score a hat trick at the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup (joining former Golden Shoe winners Christine Sinclair in 2002 and Brittany Timko in 2004). Canadian goalkeeper Sabrina D'Angelo posted the clean sheet.
Canada's next FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup match in Thursday 23 August against Norway (19.00 local / 06.00 ET / 03.00 PT). The match will be broadcast on CBC television as well as CBCSports.ca. Fans can also follow all the action via twitter.com/CanadaSoccerEN.
Also on Monday 20 August, Group D winners were USA 4:0 over Ghana and Germany 4:0 over China PR. The top-two teams from Group D will face the top-two teams from Group C in the 31 August quarter-final phase.
On Sunday 19 August, Group A winners were Japan 4:1 over Mexico and New Zealand 2:1 over Switzerland. In Group B, Nigeria won 2:0 over Korea Republic while Brazil equalled Italy 1:1. The top-two teams from Groups A and B will meet in a pair of quarter-final matches on 30 August.
The FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Japan 2012 runs 19 August to 8 September. Canada is one of 16 teams participating in the tournament, with all players born in 1992 or later. This marks Canada's fifth participation in a FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.
