By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
. . .Yankee babes dismiss New Zealand with 9-0-gun shots . . .
JAPANESE U20 Women’s Football team Saturday put up a superlative performance to earn a 1-1 draw against their Italian counterparts to Clinch a second spot in group D.
Konoha Nakamura had fouled in the vital area and Paola Fodder stepped in to score the penalty kick in the 59th minute before Miharu Shinjo laced a pass to Natsumi Tago to equalize in the 80th minute for the two teams to share honours.
Japan and Italy met twice before at the Toulon Tournament on 27th May 2008 where they played goalless and at a group D world cup match in South Korea on 27th May 2017 where they played 2-2 draw.
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In the other Group D clash, Yankee Babes of USA took New Zealand to the cleaners in a 9-0 thriller. Goal Merchant Kennedy Fuller scored her hatrick in the 6th minute which was the 2ng goal, scored the 7th goal in the 83rd and poked in the last goal, a penalty in the 90+2 minute.
Alex Buck opened scoring in the 4th minute and made her brace with the 5th goal in the 58th minute. Other scorers were Linda Ullymark who scored the 4th goal in the 43rd minute, after Micayla Johnson scored the 3rd goal in the 38th minute, Emeritus Adams got the 6th goal in the 60th minute and Sealey Strawn scored the 8th goal in the 87th minute.
Japan had beaten New Zealand 2-1 and USA bowed to Italy 1-2 in the first group matches, Japan played 2-2 draw with USA and Italy defeated New Zealand 3-0 in the 2nd group matches.
Italy tops group D with 9 points scoring 4 goals difference; Japan placed 2nd with 5 points with zero goals difference; USA made 4 points and +8 goals difference while New Zealand with no point and -13 goals difference goes home.
At 5pm today group C will be decided when the Black Princesses of Ghana will clash with France and South Korea will play Ecuador.
Tomorrow Sunday at 2.00pm Falconets will play a make or Mar match against New Caledonia and China will tackle Spain for group F tickets.
At 5.00pm Columbia will file out against former champions North Korea while Portugal will meet Costa Rica in a hot tango that will end group stage matches.
Six teams are waiting in the wings to know their round of 16 opponents namely Argentina, England, hosts Poland, Brazil, Japan and Italy which will be clear Sunday night as round of 16 matches start 16th September.
#FIFA #2026U20WWORLDCUP
#UEFA #CAF #CONCACAF #AFC
#CONMEBOL
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