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US start strong in title defence - Gr C wrap
The United States has gotten off to a good start in their U/19 womens championship defence, with a 3-0 defeat of South Korea.
The Americans rarely looked troubled against a poor Korea showing and it showed with the US taking an early two goal lead. The first coming when Korean defender Park Min Jung brought Angie Woznuk down in the box. Woznuk brushed herself off to put the ball away on 15 minutes.4
Two minutes later the champions doubled their lead when Amy Rodriguez was found by a lovely thorughball who finished clinically.
The US took their foot off the pedal slightly but that didn't stop Korea conceding another penalty. Park Eun Sun handled the ball in the box however Alexa Orand's attempt from the 12 yard dot was well saved by Jun Min Kyun. Soon after Sheree Gray sealed the match on 72 minutes netting from a neat cross.
Russia also had a comfortable victory over Spain recording a 4-1 victory. However the Spanish had a goal disallowed at a crucial moment which could have turned the tide of the match.
Elena Terekhova began the rout with a pacey run resulting in a 10th minute goal. Moments later Spain found space and put the ball away only for it to be called back for offside. Replays shows the decision may have been a little harsh.
Regardless Spain managed to pull the goal back on 24 minutes. Spain captain Iraia Iturregi found Nuria Zufia in a perfect cross who made no mistake in scoring. However the lead was regained 12 minutes later when Ekaterina Sochneva scored with a touch of magic.
In what is refered to as an "Olympic goal", Russia's Sochneva curled the ball from a corner kick and beat the outstreched hand of Spanish keeper María Sánchez. The Surakul Stadium went crazy after witnessing a rare event in international football.
After the break Elena Petrova increased Russia's lead to 3-1 when she broke away and scored in the 69th minute. As if Spain hadn't suffered enough though, defender Zurine found the back of her own net to give Russia a fourth goal and Spain yet another moment of misery (88th minute).
Russia did however suffer a sour note. Goalscorer Sochneva had to be taken to hospita after a sever clash where she's expected to have broken her leg.
After the two matches Russia lead the group on 3 points (+3 goal difference, 4 goals), USA in second on 3 points (+3, 3 goals), Spain with 0 points (-3, 1 goal) and Korea Republic fourth with 0 points (-3, 0 goals).
12 November, 2004 |
