By 

Eniola Olatunji 

The Yankee Babes of USA early Sunday morning at Bogota whipped Paraguay 7-0 in group C of the Columbia 2024 world U20 female championship.

 

Princeton Tiger’s forward, Pietra Adao Tordin supplied a hat trick in the 10th, 12th and 67th minutes to lift USA. Tordin became the first USA player to score a hat trick in U20 female football match after Savannah DeMale on 8th August 2018 world cup encounter.  Incidentally, that was the only time USA and Paraguay ever met at U20 female level.

 

Other scorers were Gisele Thompson 29’; Yuna McCormack 44’ (she scored against Morocco); Ally Sentnor 52’ and Maddie Dahlien 83’ (she also scored against Morocco in this tournament). 

 

Ref Ivana Projkovska from North Macedonia was meticulous so VAR did not take some of the time in the match between USA and Paraguay.

 

Spain spanked Morocco 2-0 in the other group C match with the first goal from Nahia Jaular in the 5th minute from an assist by Corrales. The second goal from Midfielder, Moral Ruiz in the 89th minute from Amezaga pass went through the VAR before approval at 90+1st minute 

 

The VAR at 45+4th minute denied Spain a goal; rejected a penalty supposed to be for Morocco at 51st minute; declared no Penalty to Spain at 80th minute and another no penalty to Spain at 90+12th minute.

 

Spain still topped group C with 9 full points and +5 goals difference; USA came second with 6 points and +8 goals difference; Paraguay placed 3rd with 3 points and -7 goals difference while the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco went back home after rocking the group’s bottom with no point and -6 goals deficit.

 

Earlier, the Falconets of Nigeria pecked Venezuela 4-0 while Germany surprisingly bowed to South Korea by a lone goal in group D.

 

At 2100 hours today Sunday, Netherlands will try to crush North Korea and Argentina will tackle Costa Rica in Group F.

 

At midnight today the Group E matches between New Zealand and Ghana as well as Austria versus Japan will be decided. After that the full fixtures including the lucky losers will be determined.

 

Here is the outlook for the Round of 16 matches:

1. 11/09 Mexico vs USA at Bogota.

2. 12/09 Germany vs 3BEF at Bogota

3. 11/09 Brazil vs 3A/D at Bogota.

4. 12/09 1F vs 2E at Medellin.

5. 12/09 1E vs Nigeria at Medellin.

6. 11/09 Spain vs 3AB at Cali.

7. 12/09 France vs 2F at Medllin. 

8. 11/09 Columbia vs 3CD at Cali.

 

The quarterfinal Pairing outlook:

1. W1 vs W2 above.

2. W3 vs W4 above.

3. W5 vs W6 above.

4. W7 vs W8 above.