Canada U-20 Fighting For Their World Cup Life At Olympic Stadium
By Jared Book
Canada is in charge of it’s own destiny in the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup after a thrilling come-from-behind win against Finland on Friday night. However, it won’t be easy as they face group leaders North Korea Tuesday night at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.
The host country played their previous two games in Toronto at the National Soccer Stadium and now come to Montreal to close out the group stage. They lost 1-0 to Ghana in their opening game last week and were down 2-0 to Finland at half time before scoring three second half goals to win 3-2.
That win allowed them to control their destiny against North Korea who has won both of their group games, 2-1 vs Finland and 3-0 vs Ghana. Canada is currently at three points, tied with Ghana although Canada does have the goal differential advantage.
Ghana and Finland will be playing at the same time as is the norm for the final games of the group stage. That match will be played in Moncton, New Brunswick at 7:00 Eastern. Finland has played tough in both of their previous matches and will surely be looking for a result as they are not out of the tournament just yet.
The afternoon games will be from Group B, the so-called Group of Death at this World Cup. USA and China will face off in Moncton while Germany and Brazil will play in Montreal. Action for the afternoon session starts at 4:00 p.m. What is notable is that every team in the 16-team tournament still has a chance to move on to the quarterfinals going into the final group stage game.
This is the first Canada game that Montreal will host, but has hosted other group games so far in this World Cup and will be hosting a quarterfinal, semifinal and the first and third place games of this tournament. The final is scheduled for Sunday, August 24.
This is considered a test event before the FIFA Women’s World Cup hits Canada next year.