FIFA U-17 WOMEN&039;S WORLD CUP – USA AND KOREA DPR TO MEET IN WORLD CUP FINAL

AUCKLAND – USA will meet Korea DPR in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Final in Auckland on Sunday after both sides won their respective semi finals 2-1 at QEII Stadium in Christchurch.

The Asian Champions saw off a late comeback by the English to earn their spot while USA scored two second half goals to come from behind against the Germans.

In a terrific match that would itself have made a worthy decider, USA produced their best performance of the tournament to edge out Ralf Peter’s European champions in front of a crowd of 8,040 in New Zealand’s Garden City.

Yet this thrilling semi-final began badly for the Americans, with Alexandra Popp rewarding Germany’s greater early enterprise with a fine headed goal, bulleted home in seven minutes from Dzsenifer Marozsan’s drilled corner.

USA looked to be on the ropes at this stage, but they bounced back to dominate a first half that witnessed both Mewis sisters hit the woodwork; Kristie cracking the post with a left-foot shot and Sam’s looping header being denied by the crossbar.

The reward for their pressure finally came with 63 minutes played, when Germany goalkeeper Anna Sarholz flapped at a deep cross from substitute Erika Tymrak, allowing Vicki Di Martino to preserve her record of scoring in every game in New Zealand by poking home from close range.

Tambi’s side had the bit between their teeth now and, with ten minutes remaining, Courtney Verloo scored a thoroughly merited winner, sweeping the ball into the net from close range after Amber Brooks had hit the bar and Julia Roberts scuffed her attempt to convert the rebound.

In the earlier match Lois Fidler’s English side battled bravely, but couldn’t conjure up another upset and will now move on to contest the third-place play-off against Germany.

Ultimately, England simply left themselves with too much to do, after falling two goals behind in the first half. The North Koreans had actually started poorly when, against the run of play, they took a 19th-minute lead.

Ho Un Byol claimed it, capitalising on some sloppy English defending to battle her way into a shooting position from which she fired the ball inside Lauren Davey’s near post from a tight angle.

Jordan Nobbs came closest to restoring parity but then, a minute from half-time, England’s hopes suffered a hammer blow as Jon Myong Hwa sneaked in to poke home her fourth goal of the tournament from close range, after Kim Un Hyang had scuffed her initial shot.

Korea DPR went on to play better in the second half than they had in the first, yet hopes were raised of another great English escape when Rebecca Jane scored with 16 minutes remaining, running through on to a Lauren Bruton reverse pass and slotting a side-foot shot beyond Hong Myong Hui.

It was to prove too little, too late, however, as Korea DPR held out for a win that maintains their unbeaten record in women’s youth football.

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup New Zealand 2008 – Final

North Harbour Stadium

3rd/4th Playoff – Germany v England 13H00

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup – New Zealand 2008 – Semi Final

England (0) 1 (7. Rebecca Jane 72’)

QE II Stadium

Christchurch

New Zealand

Thursday 13 November 2008

Kick-off: 16h00

Attendance: 8,040

DPR: 1. HONG Myong Hui [gk]; 2. Un Hui HON, 3. Hong Yon JON, 5. Sol Hui KIM, 6. UJ KIM, 8. Yon Hui PAE © (7. Un Ju KIM 71’), 9. Un Byol HO, 10. Myong Hwa JON, 11. Hyon Hi YUN (19. Hyon Sun JANG 53’); 12. Hyon Mi KIM, 18. Un Hyang KIM (15. Un Ae RI 90+3);

Substitutes Not Used: 20. Hyang Hui RI [rgk], 21. Su Jong KIM [rgk], 4. Un Jong RYU, 13. Myong Hui JO, 14. Chol Ok RO, 16. Ok CHA, 17. Yu Ri JONG,

Yellow cards: 2. Un Hui HON 50’; 1. HONG Myong Hui 68’; 19. Hyon Sun Jang 90+2’;

Red cards: None.

Coach: Ri Ui Ham (PRK)

ENG: 1. Lauren DAVEY [gk]; 2. Rachel DALY; 3. Naomi CHADWICK (14. Stephanie MARSH 55’), 5. Jodie JACOBS, 7. Rebecca JANE, 8. Jordan NOBBS ©, 9. Danielle CARTER, 10. Isobel CHRISTIANSEN, 11. Lucy STANIFORTH (17. Sarah WILTSHIRE 85’); 12. Lucia BRONZE, 16. Lauren BRUTON;

Substitutes Not Used: 6. Gemma BONNER; 13. Amy CARR [rgk], 15. Jemma ROSE, , 20. Kirsty LINNETT, 21. Juliana DRAYCOTT [rgk]. 4 Jessica HOLBROOK; 19. Paige ELI; 18. Rachel PITMAN;

Yellow cards: 12. Lucia BRONZE 89’;

Red cards: None.

Coach: Lois RIDLER (ENG)

Referee: Michelle PYE (CAN)

Assistant Referee 1: Emperatriz AYALA (SLV)

Assistant Referee 2: Mayte CHAVEZ (MEX)

Fourth Official: Kirsi SAVOLAINEN (FIN)

FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup – New Zealand 2008 – Semi Final

GERMANY (1) 1 (11. Alexandra POPP 6’)

QE II Stadium

Christchurch

New Zealand

Thursday 13 November 2008

Kick-off: 19h00

Attendance: 8,040

USA: 18. Taylor VANCIL [gk]; 3. Amber BROOKS; 4. Crystal DUNN; 6. Cloee COLOHAN (c); 7. Courtney VERLOO; 8.Vicki DiMARTINO (9. Sam JOHNSON 82’); 10. Kristie MEWIS; 11. Sam MEWIS; 13. Julia ROBERTS, 17. Rachel QUON; 20. Olivia KLEI (5.Erika TYMARK 61’)

Substitutes not used: 1.Alexa GAUL [rgk]; 2. Lexi HARRIS; 12. Hayley BROCK; 14. Mandy LADDISH ;15. Kate BENNETT; 16. Morgan BRIAN; 21.Jenn PETTIGREW [rgk]. 19.Elizabeth EDDY;

Yellow cards: 3. Amber BROOKS 69’;

Red cards: None

Coach: Kazbek TAMBI (USA)

GER: 1. Anna SARHOLZ [gk]; 3. Inka WESLEY, 4. Valeria KLEINER ©, 5. Carolin SIMON, 6. Marie-Louise BAGEHORN (14. Ivana RUDELIC 83’), 7. Turid KNAAK; 8. Lynn MESTER; 9. Tabea KEMME (18. Svenja HUTH 85’); 10.Dzsenifer MAROZSAN; 11.Alexandra POPP; 20. Leonie MAIER;

Substitutes Not Used: 2. Angelina LUEBCKE; 12. Almuth SCHULT [rgk]; 13. Julia DEBITSKI; 21. Lisa SCHMITZ [rgk]; 16. Nicole ROSLER,16.ROLSER; 19. Claudia GOTTE; 17. Isabelle LINDEN; 15. Hasret  KAYICKI;

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None

Coach: Ralf PETER (GER)

Referee: CHA Sung Mi (KOR)

Assistant Referee 1: KIM Kyoung Min (KOR)

Assistant Referee 2: LEE Seul Gi (KOR)

Fourth Official: AVDONCHENKO Natalia (RUS)