Posted on August 23, 2012
HIROSHIMA, Japan — The United States will have another opportunity to reach the knockout round of the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup after playing China to a 1-1 Group D draw on Thursday.
It certainly was a frustrating result for the Americans, who dominated China in just about every aspect at Hiroshima Big Arch Stadium.
Maya Hayes’ goal in the 36th minute lifted the Americans (1-0-1, four points) into a tie after the Chinese (0-1-1, one) found the back of the net on Shen Lili’s 19th-minute goal past goalkeeper Bryane Heaberlin.
The U.S. will have one more opportunity to reach the next round when it faces Germany (2-0-0, six), 1-0 winners over Ghana on Thursday, in its final group stage match on Monday.
China did not threaten the U.S. goal for the opening 18 minutes, but Lil buried the team’s first opportunity to take a 1-0 lead. Lil received a cross from Han Jiayuan and buried her strike into the upper left corner.
The U.S., which outshot China 17-3, created several chances from the left side and finally equalized in the 36th minute when Kealia Ohai got past her defender and from the end line dished to Hayes, who put a right-footed touch on the ball past goalkeeper Shen Li. The goal was Hayes’ fourth of the tournament and her 16th international tally.
The Americans nearly found the go-ahead goal in the 52nd minute off of Vanessa DiBernardo’s corner kick, but U.S. captain Julie Johnston’s shot hit the right post and China defender Liu Shanshan cleared the ball near the goal line.
Hayes recorded a hat-trick in the Americans’ first victory.
Categories: North America, U.S.A., Women, Youth
Tags: FIFA Under-20 women's World Cup, Julie Johnston, Maya Hayes
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