Aug. 23, 2012
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By Miquel Jacobs
Assistant Media Relations Director
KOBE, Japan – South Carolina sophomore Sabrina D’Angelo (Welland, Ontario) stopped a first half penalty kick and registered five saves in the match, but the Canadian U-20’s dropped a 2-1 match against Norway Thursday in the second group match of the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup at Kobe University Stadium.
A victory would have clinched a berth in the quarterfinal round, but now Canada must fight for its spot with a match against group-leader North Korea in a pivotal Monday fixture at Urawa Komaba Stadium in Saitama, Japan. North Korea leads the group with six points (2-0-0), Canada is second with three points (1-1-0), Norway is third with three points (1-1-0) and Argentina is fourth with zero (0-2-0). The Canadians currently hold the advantage over Norway with a +5 to -1 goal differential edge, and the top two teams in the group advance to the quarterfinals.
Canada had the better of the chances in the first half but will lament the missed opportunities with only Jenna Richardson’s goal in the 44th minute for the 1-0 halftime advantage being the difference. Norway nearly took the lead midway through the half with a penalty kick opportunity, but D’Angelo saved Ada Hegerberg’s attempt to wrestle momentum from the opposition.
Norway earned the equalizer in the 52nd when Caroline Hansen raced through the defense to set-up Hegerberg for the one-touch in front of the goal. Hansen nearly made it 2-0 minutes later with an open look in the penalty area, but D’Angelo came up with the save from six yards to keep the match even. The Norwegians would eventually break through with the game-winner in the 79th minute when Andrine Hegerberg – sister of Ada – blasted a shot from range for the 2-1 tally.
Canada and Korea DPR meet on Monday, August 27 as Canada attempts to advance to the knockout stage for the first time since reaching the quarterfinals in 2004. Canada will need to match or better Norway’s result on Monday while also striving to maintain its goal differential advantage for the tiebreaker.
