Aug. 20, 2012
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By Miquel Jacobs
Assistant Media Relations Director
KOBE, Japan – South Carolina sophomore Sabrina D’Angelo (Welland, Ontario) became the first Canadian goalkeeper to earn a shutout in a FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup opening match as Canada routed Argentina, 6-0, in the first group stage fixture of the tournament.
In the six editions of the U-20 Women’s World Cup since its inception in 2002, Canada has earned six shutouts in group play with D’Angelo joining Erin McLeod, Stacey Van Boxmeer, Stephanie Labbe and Erin McNulty as keepers to hold clean sheets in the international competition. D’Angelo becomes the first of the group to earn the shutout in the opening match with each of the other Canadian legends posting the clean sheets in the second game of the tournament in their respective years. McLeod is the only goalkeeper in the group with two career U-20 Women’s World Cup shutouts, both coming in 2002.
D’Angelo – who has earned five shutouts in six career appearances for the Canadian U-20’s for a stellar 0.33 goals against average at the U-20 level – made four saves in the match that the Canadians dominated from whistle to whistle in front of 3,468 fans at Kobe University Stadium. The sophomore faced her biggest test in the opening minute with a shot by Argentina’s Betina Soriano that bent downward to force the netminder to make a tip-save over the crossbar. From then on it was all Canada with the Argentina squad playing a man down for 84 of the 90 minutes with the dismissal of Agustina Barroso for a foul in the penalty area. The Canadian’s held a 5-0 lead into the half before adding a final tally in the 86th for the 6-0 victory.
It was Canada’s largest margin of victory in a U-20 Women’s World Cup Match since a 7-0 victory over Thailand in the 2004 group stage, and the largest margin of victory for any team in the tournament since Germany defeated Switzerland 6-0 in the 2006 group stage. (Also in the 2006 group stage, Nigeria defeated Finland 8-0 and Germany defeated Mexico 9-1).
Canada – the current leaders of Group C with a +6 goal differential – will face Norway Thursday, August 23, and Korea DPR on Monday, August 27 in an attempt to advance to the knockout stage for the first time since reaching the quarterfinals in 2004.
CANADIAN SHUTOUTS IN THE U-20 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP
Aug. 20, 2012 – Sabrina D’Angelo vs Argentina – Game One – 6-0
Nov. 23, 2008 – Erin McNulty vs Congo – Game Two – 4-0
Aug. 8, 2006 – Stephanie Labbe vs Finland – Game Two – 2-0
Nov. 13, 2004 – Stacey Van Boxmeer vs Thailand – Game Two – 7-0
Aug. 20, 2002 – Erin McLeod vs Japan – Game Two – 4-0
Aug. 22, 2002 – Erin McLeod vs Nigeria – Game Three – 2-0
