The Japanese, current champions, had no mercy on the South Americans and defeated them 2-1
The Asians went ahead through Yamamoto, Cris equalized and Hamano unbalanced the duel
The selection of Japanled by his lethal duo Yuzuki Yamamoto and Maika Hamano, advanced this Thursday to the final of the 2022 Costa Rica Women’s U20 World Cup after win 1-2 to its similar Brazil. The Japanese, current champions, will now have to face the Spanish team in the final, which qualified after defeating the Netherlands 2-1. Japan demonstrated, once again, their good tactical order and collective game, which with the offensive duo led by Yamamoto (30′) and Hamano (84′), allowed them to seal their pass to the final of the World Cup event. The discount was scored by the Brazilian Cris (55′).
In the first half, the Japanese had a broad control of the match, with proposals that allowed them to build spaces and unbalance the Brazilian defense. The figure of your selection, Yamamoto, dominated the pitch from the start. At minute 25, the forward applied offensive pressure, but the opportunity slipped away after a poor reception of the ball. However, five minutes later he received the ball after a poor defensive clearance, took shape and finished from long range to beat goalkeeper Gabi Barbieri and make it 0-1.
The Japanese tried to avoid the strong game and the body, since they know the power and strength of the Brazilians from the heights, for which they put together their strategy with the touch of the ball. For their part, Brazil pressed intensely, especially after Yamamoto’s goal, although it was difficult for them to be precise in the last quarter of the field. A header from Vitória Yaya (38′) seemed close to the first for the Brazilians, but it went wide. Defender Lauren Leal (43′) also tried high, but goalkeeper Shu Ohba was attentive.
With their sense of urgency at full throttle, the Brazilians got off to a better start in the second half and managed to maintain control of the ball while preventing the Japanese from creating their tactical play. The Verdeamarelas tried again and again, until their insistence was reflected with a long-distance goal from Chris (55′); whiplash impossible for Ohba.
With the score at 1-1, Brazil managed to reduce the Japanese game, but despite the number of times they reached the rival goal, they could not translate their attacks into goals. In the 66th minute, a shot by Aline Gomes Amaro came close to leveling the score for the Brazilians. However, Brazil’s anxiety to close out the game caused them to neglect the ball and Japan, who never lost their cool despite losing control of the match, recovered the ball so that haman (84′) defined luxury and sentenced the semifinal.
The final match of the U20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica 2022 between Japan and Spain will be played next Sunday at the National Stadium in San José.