By

Eniola Olatunji 

The Young Nadeshiko of Japan on Monday night at the Estadio Metropolitano de Techo stunned the Junior Football Ferns of New Zealand with their worst defeat ever in the U20 football grade with a 7-0 goals margin in group E at the Columbia 2024 world U20 football tournament.

Nadeshiko means Beloved or dear child (a child that is being petted) and that is what is going on in Tokyo right now with the team that has within six appearances at the mundial hosted and won the title for the first time in 2012 when she beat Nigeria 2-1; won it again in 2018 at France beating Spain 2-1; lost the title to Spain in the last tournament in Costa Rica 2022 but had the Bronze at 2016 in Papua New Guinea when she beat USA by a lone goal.

Five Japanese babes supplied the seven goals with Maya Hijikata getting brace in 16th and 38th minutes of play; Chinara Sasai also got a brace 41st and 90+1st minutes. Other scorers were Oyama 45th minute; Kiyama 60th minute and Hayama 75th minute.

New Zealand that has no podium finish had a rough time in Group B at the last tournament playing 2-2 draw with Columbia; lost 0-3 to Germany and also had 1-1 with Mexico.

Japan’s records are very impressive beating Netherlands by a lone goal; beating USA 3-1 and slammed Ghana 2-0 in group D at the last tournament. Japan sent the Vietnam Babes to the siesta of football in their highest victory of 10-0 at the Asian Group b game on 4th March 2024 and also sent the Australian girls sleeping too with a 5-1 bashing at the Knockout stages of the Asian Cup. 

Japan is to meet Ghana on the 5th of September in the 2nd round of the group.

Africa’s entry, the Black Princesses of Ghana also on Monday night lost to Austria by 2-1 in a match that Nigeria’s 18 year old, Nicole Ojukwu born in Austria and plays as Mid Fielder for Freiburg sealed the victory for Austria when VAR confirmed her goal in the 68th minute as 2nd goal for Austria.

Spirin had linked Fankhauser who scored the opener in the 12th minute and Stella Nyamakye scored Ghana’s consolatory goal in the 90+1st minute.

Japan stays on top of group E with 3 points and 7 goals; Austria is 2nd also with 3 points and 2 goals; Ghana is 3rd with no point but 1 goal while New Zealand is 4th with no point no goal.

The tournament goes into the 2nd round today Tuesday with France facing Brazil at 2300 hours in group B and Mexico putting aside Rugby fears to tackle Australia in group A at 2300 hours.

Four matches are slated for tomorrow Wednesday when hosts Columbia slug it out with the Junior Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon at 0200 hours in group A; at the same time, bashed Fiji Islanders will try the Redemption song against Canada or begin to pack the bags and baggages.

Also tomorrow Wednesday a testy match between Falconets of Nigeria and Germany will hold at 2300 hours in group D while Spain meets Paraguay at the same time in group C.