Japan defeated Spain, 3-1 on Friday in the U-20 Women’s World Cup final to win the title for the first time and become the first country to win the Women’s World Cup at all three age levels.
Hinata Miyazawa, Fuka Nagano and Saori Takarada all scored for Japan. Candela Andujar’s 71st-minute goal was the only consolation for Spain, which defeated Japan, 1-0 in the group stage of the tournament.
Japan had previously finished third at the U-20 level in 2012 and 2016. The Nadeshiko famously won the senior World Cup in 2011, mere months after the country was devastated by an earthquake and tsunami. Japan won the U-17 World Cup three years later. Germany and the United States have won World Cup titles at the senior and U-20 levels, but never at the U-17 level. North Korea has won the two youth events on multiple occasions, but has never won the senior tournament.
Miyazawa opened the scoring for Japan in the 38th minute, striking from distance after she created space.
Lovely footwork and finish from Hinata Miyazawa. Just gorgeous. #ESPJPN #U20WWC pic.twitter.com/rIcGeO8Q0R
— Ann Odong ? (@AnnOdong) August 24, 2018
Takarada’s goal to double Japan’s lead in the 57th minute came from a wonderful flick-on, and it was Nagano’s beautiful strike which punctuated Japan’s victory in the 65th minute.
#U20TD De la mano de Takarada, #JPN vuelve a perforar las redes de #ESP y se acerca al título. pic.twitter.com/7gkO8xSCIl
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) August 24, 2018
#U20TD Con un golazo de Fuko Nagano, #JPN sentencia el encuentro ante #ESP y acaricia el título. pic.twitter.com/hMIyjf0Rde
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) August 24, 2018
Spain got one back six minutes later through a beautiful volley from Candela before being denied a second goal by the crossbar.
#U20TD Candela Andujar hace soñar a #ESP con la remontada ante #JPN pic.twitter.com/VTTiPK0B3r
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) August 24, 2018
The tournament continued Spain’s ascent on the youth level. La Roja finished third at the U-17 World Cup in 2010 and 2016, and second at the U-17 World Cup in 2014 — also losing to Japan in the final. Japan defeated Spain in the semifinals of that 2016 U-17 World Cup, at which Nagano was named best player.
England took third place with a penalty-kick shootout victory over hosts France earlier on Friday.
