Mallory Pugh was again the savior of the USWNT U-20s on Monday, scoring to secure the 1-1 draw that gave the U.S. the Group C title. (Photo Copyright Erica McCaulley for The Equalizer)
The U-20 Women’s World Cup knockout stage is set, and the quarterfinal match-ups are scintillating.
The United States advanced first out of Group C, with a 1-1 draw with Ghana on Monday sending the Americans through above France via tiebreaker. That sets up a quarterfinal match with CONCACAF rival Mexico, which finished second in Group D The winner of that match plays the winner of the meeting between rising power Spain (a program that finished runners-up at the U-17 World Cup in 2014) and Korea DPR.
On the other side of the bracket, defending champions Germany will take on France, while Japan — with part of the group that won the U-17 World Cup two years ago – facing Brazil in the other quarterfinal. The winners of those two matches will meet in the semifinals
Quarterfinal matches
Korea DPR-Spain (1 a.m. ET Thursday)
Japan-Brazil (4:30 a.m. ET Thursday)
USA-Mexico (1 a.m. ET Friday)
Germany-France (4:30 a.m. ET Friday)
Going home from the U-20 World Cup after the group stage are: Canada, Ghana, Korea Republic, New Zealand, Nigeria, Sweden, Venezuela and hosts Papua New Guinea.
Canada’s three losses and minus-12 goal differential was better than only Papua New Guinea’s in the 16-team field. The Canadians ended their tournament on Sunday with a 5-0 loss to Japan.
The U.S. clinched first in Group C on Monday with a 1-1 draw vs. Ghana. Mallory Pugh scored the equalizer two minutes after the U.S. conceded an own goal. The draw allowed for the U.S. to avoid a match-up with defending champions Germany in the quarterfinals.
When your GK has an oops but you don't want her to feel bad and you're Mal Pugh so you bag an immediate equalizer #USAGHA pic.twitter.com/PkArUv18Ih
— thrace (@thrace) November 21, 2016
