The FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in France came to an end on Friday with Japan emerging 3-1 winners over Spain to win their first U20 Women’s World Cup trophy.
Asides being the first, this win also means that the Japanese women become the first to win all three Women’s World Cup tournaments.
Japan
— Ann Odongare the first women's football nation to win all three WWC tournaments.
Senior: 2011
U17: 2014
U20: 2018 pic.twitter.com/GCVAsWgAy5(@AnnOdong) August 24, 2018
Despite being a standout performer for Spain in this tournament, Patri Guijarro wasn’t allowed breathing space against the Young Nadeshiko who controlled the game and defended well. In the 38th minute, they got the needed goal through Miyazawa.
From then on, Spain tried to find the equaliser but were soon punished again after a quick and sleek interchange of passes between the Japanese forwards releasing Takarada who made no mistake as she slot past Coll in the Spanish goal.
Japan then added a third less than 10 minutes later to ensure that the trophy remains in Asia. Andujar however pulled one back for Spain but it wasn’t enough as the Japanese managed the game well to see out the entire 90 minutes and emerge U20 Women’s World Champions.
The individual awards saw Spain’s danger woman, Patri Guijarro pick up the Golden ball while Japan’s Sairo Takarada and Moeka Minami took home the Silver and Bronze balls respectively.
For the Golden glove, it was England’s Sandy Maciver who stood head and shoulders above her peers in goal as Japan not only won the trophy but were also awarded with the fair play team of the tournament award.
