SoccerAmerica - Undefeated USA eliminated on tiebreaker 10/01/2012

[UNDER-17 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP] For the first time, the USA has been eliminated from a FIFA women's championship in the group stage, exiting the 2012 Under-17 Women's World Cup without losing a game. A 1-1 tie with North Korea left the Americans tied with North Korea and France in Group B but third in the final standings on goal difference. The difference was how badly the three teams defeated Gambia's hapless Girl Scorpions. The USA's 6-0 win left it third behind North Korea (11-0 winner) and France (10-2 winner on Saturday thanks to six goals in the final 19 minutes).

North Korea advances to its third straight U-17 quarterfinal after winning the event in 2008 and taking fourth place in 2010. France advances to its first U-17 World Cup quarterfinal stage.

Darian Jenkins scored the USA's lone goal in the second minute, but North Korea responded 72 seconds later on Ri Un Sim's fifth goal of the U-17 Women's World Cup.

The goal was the first and only goal allowed by the USA in the tournament after shutting out France, 0-0, and Gambia, 6-0, in the first two Group B matches.

As it was against France which had a 23-3 edge in shots, the USA was dominated by North Korea. Goalkeeper Jane Campbell made seven saves against a Korean team that outshot the Americans 22-10.

The USA, nonetheless, had a chance to win the game in the 86th minute and go through when Morgan Andrews struck a free kick from about 35 yards out that hit the crossbar near the upper left corner.

The U.S. U-17s leave Azerbaijan without losing a single international game this year. Their overall record in 2012 is 13-0-4.

Sept. 29 in Baku
USA North Korea 1. Goal: Jenkins 2; Ri Un Sim 4.
USA -- Campbell; Basinger, Bauer, Freeman, Miranda; Andrews (Kaskie, 90), Sullivan (Stanton, 82), Payne; Green, Munerlyn (Bruder, 86), Jenkins.
North Korea -- Rim; Choe Sol Gyong, Kim Hyang Mi, Jon, Choe Yun Gyong, Ri Hyang Sim, Choe Chung Bok , Ri Un Yong, Kim Un Hwa (Kim Phyong Hwa, 74), Ri Un Sim, Ri Kyong Hyang (Kim So Hyang, 88).
Referee: Katalin Kulcsar (Hungary).
Att.: 2,500.

10 comments

R2 Dad

commented on: September 30, 2012 at 1:39 a.m.

At this age I'm still not really worried about winning or losing, but this metric is more concerning since it doesn't sound like a one-off: "As it was against France which had a 23-3 edge in shots, the USA was dominated by North Korea...outshot the Americans 22-10."

Luis paulo Oliveira

commented on: September 30, 2012 at 5:04 a.m.

If you usually measure wins as positive improvement, how can you measure this early loss coming home so early? R2 Dad you are not worried about winning or losing at that age? At a WC tournament, you MUST make enough points during the first three games (ideally you win all three) and MUST win the last four games in order to be considered the World Champions! To bad the women's side has been winning all levels, but I have been hoping they start to lose in all level, so they might starting making some changes on how soccer is really approached in the USA...They lost because they are lacking something crucial the game requires them to have and they don't...

Kernel Thai

commented on: September 30, 2012 at 11:37 a.m.

I think they suffered a lot at losing Sarah Robinson before the tournament. She has great field vision and is their best interior passer. Without her the attack became a little predictable. Congratz on a great effort by all the girls. They should be proud.

kate bartlet

commented on: October 1, 2012 at 11:08 a.m.

Sad for America

David Huff

commented on: October 1, 2012 at 11:39 a.m.

@Kernel, if you are correct then that has very disturbing implications, the loss of one player should not have such a pronounced effect on the team provided that the team is fundamentally sound.

Art Robles

commented on: October 1, 2012 at 1:59 p.m.

As a coach, you come to realize the importance of that one player that has a certain intangible. You can teach kids how to pass and receive the ball until they are precise. You can tell them what to look for and how to move, and you will see progress from the good students of the game. But there is a certain special quality that players that have a true feel for the game have that is very hard to teach--because it is hard to grasp. If this Robinson girl is that special, I hope we see more of her.

Gordon Hayes

commented on: October 1, 2012 at 3:04 p.m.

Hoping American teams lose is a poor attitude and a poor excuse for true fans of all our US national teams.

Mary Wilder

commented on: October 1, 2012 at 3:24 p.m.

I think the problem was the Americans need to learn how to play The Beautiful Game of Soccer, like Korea. Plus they needed to use other talented players that sat on the bench. I agree with David, one player should not have impacted the whole team. Robinson is just good at running all over the field tripping players. Hope the coaching is better next time.

Luis Arreola

commented on: October 1, 2012 at 10:04 p.m.

Please ignore Gordon who can't understand anything else but "go USA" when it comes to soccer. I believe what Luis is pointing out is the way USA women side has gotten away with just being more athletic and not really focusing on tecbical style of play. Now that other countries have given their women's side their support they are catching up and surpassing USA with a tecbically sound style of play that is attractive to watch. Good point Luis.

Gordon Hayes

commented on: October 2, 2012 at 3:20 a.m.

Please note that Luis never played the game and believes his 'superior knowledge' comes simply by his ethnicity. Luis is a race-baiting divisive element in youth soccer who believes everyone is a racist and all the coaches in US Soccer are racists who are biased against Hispanics. Luis has become recently afraid to write what he truly means but what he really means is that he wants a USMNT of 100% Mexican Americans (and assuredly the same for the USWNT) and he, and I suspect Luis Paulo above, feel white people are big strong players that have no technique and that we should all play like Hispanics who he believes are better than everyone else on the planet. This is why him and Luis Paulo want the US to lose. They want it to happen so they can feel justified in their hatred of white people. And always remember Luis is a pathological liar so when he says things like the rest of the world is "catching up and surpassing" the US women he is flat out lying through is deceitful teeth - the US just won the Olympic Gold and just won the U20 Women's World Cup - pity these two Luis' only see things racially and now Luis is afraid to even come out and say it.

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