Canada went into their third FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup game with a slim chance of qualifying for the next round, but lost 5-0 to the Asian Champions Japan who ended up topping the group table. Yui Hasegawa opened the scoring in the 26^th minute, firing home a bouncing ball following a corner. The lead was doubled just before the break by Mami Ueno who fired home a rebounded shot in the 42^nd. Japan got a quickfire double at the beginning of the second half, when Honoka Hayashi scored in the 47^th minute, and Yui Hasegawa her second of the game in the 51^st minute. The final goal was netted by substitute Hina Yugita in the 73^rd minute.

FIRST HALF:

Lysianne Proulx was called into action early when Yuka Momiki was given a little bit of space outside the penalty area. The Japanese midfielder's shot was well struck and on target, but Proulx was able to scurry across and make the safe, palming the ball out for a corner that came to nothing.

Canada came close in the 16^th minute. Deanne Rose initially had a powerful run up the left flank, cutting inside at the top of the box. She was dispossessed, but Victoria Pickett did well to track the ball down and play it back to Rose at the top of the box. The wingers shot was blocked up into the air, but Sarah Stratigakis had made a strong run into the centre of the box and was first to the ball. Her header was on target, but she had to generate all the power herself, allowing Mamiko Matsumata in the Japanese net to make the save.

Proux was again alive to another shot from the top of the penalty area from Momiki in the 20^th minute, the shot coming in softly off her weaker left foot. Canada were defending well in the first 20 minutes, rarely giving the Japanese side time or space to set up in the offensive third, and working hard to apply pressure when they did.

Canada had a scare on a corner in the 24^th minute when the dead ball went all the way over the box and ended up with Ueno at the top of the area. She let fly a solid shot, but Proulx was able to spot the attempt through the bodies and make a save. She was called on again in the 26^th minute, saving off Momiki at her near post.

Japan opened the scoring on the ensuing corner. The delivery from the left was allowed to bounce and fell to Nana Ichise on the edge of the six yard box. Her hard shot was blocked on the line by Emma Regan, but bounced kindly for Yui Hasegawa to blast in from inches away.

In the 33^rd minute Proulx was again able to keep Canada close, as Yuki Mizutani cut in off the right flank and let loose a curling shot. The ball bounced awkwardly in front of the diving goalkeeper, but she was able to keep hold of it and deny the following attacker a rebound. Just moments later Hannah Taylor was called upon to cut out a dangerous cross and deny Japan a scoring chance.

Japan doubled their lead in the 42^nd minute through Mami Ueno. Mimiko had done well to get in behind the defence, but Proulx was able to stop her poked attempt. The rebound fell to the feet of Ueno inside the box and, despite Proulx being able to get to her feet and challenge the shooter, the Japanese midfielder was able to pick a spot in the top left.

Victoria Pickett and Vital Kats combined terrifically well in the 45^th minute. Pickett was able to get possession of the ball in her own half and drove forward at the heart of the retreating Japanese defence. She laid the ball of for Kats, who continued the play with a first touch flick past the defence for Pickett, who had continued her run. The forward was able to get behind the defence, but couldn't get clean contact on her shot, putting it just wide of the right hand post.

The added time of the second half played out without great incident, and Japan went into the half-time break ahead 2-0.

SECOND HALF:

Japan didn't wait long to extend their lead to three. A corner won on the left was worked short for Yuka Momiki to have some space. Her cross found its way to Mami Ueno on the right edge of the penalty area, who was able to look up and see the advancing Honoka Hayashi. Her layoff was perfectly weighted, and Hayashi's shot was fired just inside the right post putting Japan 3-0 ahead in the 47^th minute.

The lead was extended to 4-0 just four minutes later. Japan had worked the ball well down the right flank, but Canada looked to have retreated well and denied the Japanese attackers any space in the penalty area. Momiki was able to find Ueno on the edge of the box who laid a ball into the path of the advancing Yui Hasegawa. The midfielder didn't appear to have anywhere to go, but flicked the rolling ball with her heel past the defenders and Lysianne Proulx in the net, scoring her second and Japan's fourth.

Ueno was able to get another shot on target in the 60^th minute, sending in a hard shot from wide on the right. Proulx was able to get her hands to that attempt and push it wide. She was called on again shortly after, substitute Hina Sugita taking a shot from outside the area. The shot seemed to have sped up by the wind, but Proulx was able to make the save in an unorthodox manner, trapping the ball in between her legs to keep the scoreline as it was.

The game settled into a familiar pattern for the next ten minutes, as Canada were able to comfortably rebuff any Japanese attacks, but couldn't mount a serious offensive of their own with Pickett as isolated as she was.

The change came in the 73^rd minute via Hina Sugita. Asato Miyagawa overlapped well on the flank and had the Candian defense retreating towards their own goal. The pass from the right back cut into the space that they left behind and Sugita was able to blast the ball into the top right corner.

Hannah Tayor was called upon to make a clearance in the 82^nd minute. A corner was sent in from the right and found Nana Ichise at the back post. Her header looked to be going on target, but the Canadian centre-back was able to block the shot and make a good clearance.

Nagawa was involved in some wonderfully intricate play on the right side of the penalty area in the 90^th minute, exchanging passes with Sugita and finding herself in space. Her shot was viciously hit, but was wide of the right post and ended up hitting the side of the net.

That was the last moment of note from the game, save Momiki coming close from a free kick in the 94^th minute. Deanne Rose came close to making a breakthrough on a through ball from Victoria Pickett, but the Japanese defence stayed strong and full of energy until the last, and the game finished as a 5-0 win for Japan.

LINEUPS & NOTES:

Canada’s starting XI featured Lysianne Proulx in goal, Emma Regan at right back, Bianca St-Georges and Hannah Taylor at centre back, Marike Mousset at left back, and Ashley Moreira, Sarah Stratigakis, Vital Kats, Gabrielle Carle, Deanne Rose, and Victoria Pickett from the midfield up through to the attack.

Coach Danny Worthington made three substitutions, Sura Yekka replacing Marike Mousset at half-time, Anyssa Ibrahim replacing Sarah Stratigakis in the 64^th minute, and Sarah Taylor replacing Vital Kats in the 76^th minute.

Japan's starting XI featured Mamiko Matsumoto in goal, Asato Miyagawa at right back, Nana Ichise and Ruka Norimatsu at centre back, Hikaru Kitagawa at left back, and Yuki Mizutani, Rin Sumida, Honoka Hayashi,Yui Hasegawa, Yuka Momiki, and Mami Ueno in midfield through to attack.

Coach Asako Takakura made three substitutions, Hina Sugita replacing Honoka Hayashi in the 58^th minute, Shiho Matsubara replacing Yuki Mizutani in the 62^nd minute, and Meika Nishida replacing Mami Ueno in the 73^rd minute.