NEWS

Japan downed Congo 3-1 on Thursday to finish undefeated after the group stage of the FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Chile.

It was their third straight win and they now face DPR Korea in the quarterfinals.
In the other Group C game, Germany beat Canada 2-1 to advance to the quarterfinals after finishing behind Japan on six points. Canada were third on three points while Congo ended at the bottom with no points.
Having secured a berth in the quarterfinals in their previous match, Japan changed their lineup but still managed 27 shots in an attacking game at Nelson Oyarzun Stadium in Chillan.
Japan took the lead in the fourth minute when Congo defender Nanu Mafuala’s clearance went into her own goal.
The African team drew level two minutes later when Oliva Amani scored Congo’s first goal in the tournament.
But four minutes later, Japan went ahead for good when Konomi Ataeyama drove up on a counterattack and fired the ball past Congo goalkeeper Mamie Buazo.
Japan found a better rhythm after the break, and substitute forward Hikari Nakade came close in the 59th minute. But her shot was denied by substitute goalkeeper Fideline Ngoy, who had replaced the injured Buazo seven minutes earlier.
Nadeshiko Japan senior team defender Rumi Utsugi completed the scoring for the young Japanese side in the 78th minute by slotting home a Michi Goto pass.
Substitute midfielder Yuka Kado threatened the Congo goal in stoppage time, but a Congo defender managed to clear her shot at the last minute.
“Today, I picked those players who hadn’t played in the previous two matches and I also made changes to our backline,” Japan coach Norio Sasaki said. “The players worked hard to collect three points and I think I can give them a passing mark.”
“We will face DPR Korea next. We lost to them twice in our two encounters in the Asian qualifiers, so we’d like to pay that debt back this time by playing as a unit and advancing to the semifinals,” Sasaki added.
The Japan-DPR Korea match will be held on Monday in Santiago.
DPR Korea finished second in Group D behind winners Brazil. The Koreans lost 3-2 to Brazil and beat Norway 3-2 before romping over Mexico 5-1.