…. BRAZIL BREAKS JINX BEAT DUTCH GIRLS 4-1 TO BAG BRONZE
By Eniola Olatunji
Spanish U20 girls early Monday morning Nigerian time had a sweet revenge on their Japanese counterparts reversing the 2018 defeat when they shocked the Asian champions 3-1 just the way they were beaten in the last edition to lift the world cup in Costa Rica.
Super scorer Inma Gabarro of Spain got away with the Golden Shoe for highest scorer with 8 goals as she opened scoring for the night at the 12th minute.
Spain settled the defeat of Japan in the first half as Parallueto Ayingono scored 22nd minute and tucked in a penalty at 27th minute. Japan got their consolation goal through Amano in the 47th minute.
Ref Emikar Calderaz of Venezuela officiated the match attended by sizable 29,891 fans and closed the scoreboard with 86 goals (2.69 goals per match).
The night favoured Japan statistically but the glory went to Spain for Japan had 58% to 42% ball possession; got 546 to 409 passes indicating they dominated the match; also had 6 to 2 corner kicks.
Current performance as analysed in my match preview showed Spain would lift the cup and they did.
I reported that Spain had better corner kicks of 30-21 and ball possession of 63 to 57 which indicates Spain will put Japan under intense pressure which they did and got the results in the first half
I also reported that Japan having a far higher number of passes of 2612 to 2252 means they will become what in Nigeria is called ‘shine shine bobo’ playing the match like Shooting Stars Club of Nigeria but Spain will win like Rangers of Enugu and we got exactly that
In the last edition, Japan won the trophy 3-1.
New champions, Spain had beaten Mexico 1-0 in the quarter final and Netherlands 2-1 in the semifinals.
Japan got a lucky win over France in the quarter final via penalty shootout 5-3 after 3-3 at full time and edged out the Samba girls of Brazil who eventually won the Bronze 2-1 in the semifinals
In the other match, the Samba U20 girls of Brazil early Monday morning Nigerian time in Costa Rica broke the jinx of bagging at least a Bronze medal in the World U20 cup when the team subdued the novice Netherland girls 4-1 to pick the Bronze for the first time in four attempts.
It looked a dazzling night for Brazil when the first half ended 1-1 as Van Gool cancelled Brazil opener in the 21st minute after Consani scored in the 9th minute.
The Brazilians who are mainly Catholics must have signalled the Pope at the Vatican city for spiritual help like the Italian Male team did at the 1982 world cup finals, for the Samba girls pumped in three more un replied goals in the second half through Do Santos de Lima in 59th minute and by her again via penalty kick in the 79th minute and then Fernandes came with a lullaby to lull the Dutch girls to sleep a minute to end the match for the fourth goal.
Ref Vincentia Amedome of Togo was not stressed to blow off the match for congratulations music to welcome Brazil to medalists list at last.
It was a lesson of one day you will make it for Brazil that lost 5-6 on penalty kicks after a barren draw with USA at Russia 2006; lost to Germany 3-4 after 1-1 draw at Canada 2002 maiden edition of U20 also thoroughly lost 0-3 to same USA at Thailand 2004.
It was a night of desperation for both sides for best of Netherlands was quarter final in Spain 2016.
So the Dutch committed 12 fouls to 6 of Brazil; bagged 3 yellow cards to 2 but Brazil secured 5 corner kicks to 3 and were cut offside 5 to once of the Dutch. Desperation personified.
Brazil had 6 shots on target to 3 but unlike their style in football to always dominate their opponents through ball possession and passes, Brazil did not care there as she could only string 239 passes to the Dutch’s 355 and scored 41% ball possession to 59%.
Brazil managed a slim 1-0 victory over Columbia in the quarter final before losing to defending Champions, Japan in the semis 1-2.
Netherlands thrashed flamboyant Falconets of Nigeria 2-0 in the quarter final before falling to the Spanish girls 2-1 in the semis.
The final is an encore that is a repetition of the last finals of 2018 where Japan ran away with victory over Spain now ninety minutes stand before the Asian champions to have an emphatic lordship over Spain in the U20 category,
