Canada’s Olivia Smith and Spain’s Sara Ortega compete for the ball during the U-20 Women’s World Cup round of 16 match in Cali, Colombia, on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. (Photo credit: Dolores Ochoa/The Canadian Press/AP)
Canada's journey in the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup came to an end, but not before putting up a valiant fight against defending champions Spain. Despite leading 1-0 in the second half, Canada fell 2-1 after a late goal by Spain's captain Silvia Lloris in the 81st minute. The match, held in Colombia, saw the Canadians nearly pull off an upset, giving Spain one of its toughest challenges of the tournament.
Canada broke through Spain's defence in the 63rd minute. Amanda Allen's cross found Anabelle Chukwu, whose shot was saved by Spain’s goalkeeper Eunate Astralaga. However, the rebound landed at Canadian captain Florianne Jourde’s feet, and she promptly hammered it into the net. Canada had scored against Spain, something no other team had done in the tournament so far.
Spain didn’t take long to respond. Just two minutes later, Jone Amezaga levelled the score after a headed pass from Sara Ortega dropped right at her feet, allowing her to slide the ball through Canadian goalkeeper Noelle Henning’s legs. Spain, with their eyes set on victory, kept pressing for the win.
Although Canada had the edge for much of the second half, Spain regained momentum. In stoppage time, Spain’s Lucia Corrales nearly put the game to bed but struck the post. Spain dominated in terms of shots, outshooting Canada 17-6, and also earned more corners, with an 8-2 advantage.
Despite the loss, Canada’s performance was commendable. They grew stronger as the match progressed, showcasing resilience and tenacity. The underdog Canadians had advanced to the knockout stages as one of the top third-place teams, a significant achievement on its own.
Spain, on the other hand, is no stranger to success in the U-20 Women’s World Cup. They won the 2022 tournament and were runners-up in 2018. With their win against Canada, Spain extended their winning streak in the competition to nine games. Their next challenge will be in the quarterfinals against either Japan or Nigeria.
Spain’s dominance in European youth football has been remarkable, winning five of the last six European championships in this age group. The team’s impressive form continued at this World Cup, finishing first in Group C with victories over the United States, Paraguay, and Morocco. Canada, meanwhile, finished third in Group B after drawing 3-3 with France, beating Fiji 9-0, but losing to Brazil 2-0.
For Canada, this marks yet another missed opportunity in the knockout stages of the U-20 Women’s World Cup. Their last win in a knockout game came in 2002 when they reached the final. Although they haven’t been able to replicate that success, the fight they showed against Spain gives hope for future competitions.
The Spaniards came into the match with five players who had previously won the U-17 World Cup in 2022, showcasing their depth of talent. The hot Colombian weather added another layer of difficulty, but both teams fought hard until the final whistle.
