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Watch the Japanese hit against the Orange women under 20 here
The Netherlands has started the World Cup for women under 20 in Costa Rica with a defeat. The team of national coach Jessica Torny lost the first group match 1-0 to Japan.
Japan started much stronger, the Netherlands barely got off their own half. It provided Japan with some shooting opportunities, but keeper Lisan Alkemade (PSV) didn’t really run into problems in the first twenty minutes.
It all went wrong in the 23rd minute. Maika Hamano put Yuzuki Yamamoto alone in front of the keeper. The striker was relentless and pushed the ball past Alkemade in a controlled manner. After the opening goal, things remained exciting for a while, because the VAR checked the goal for offside. But after a few minutes, the Japanese could really cheer: the goal was awarded.
After half an hour, the VAR had to come into action again, after the ball had hit a hand in Japan’s penalty area. But the Orange did not get a penalty.
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The Netherlands was more prominent in the second half. Ella Peddemors (FC Twente) had the best opportunity after 65 minutes. She swung from the right, but saw her shot blocked by goalkeeper Shiori Fukuda. Not much later, the Netherlands was dangerous again, Kim Everaerts (FC Twente) came through on the right and put the ball back on Dana Foederer (Fortuna Sittard), but her shot also failed.
Not accurate
In the pouring rain, it was then Japan that took the game back to itself. But the Japanese were not accurate in the final stage in front of the goal. In the 78th minute Japan was very close, via Maika Hamano, but Alkemade made a good save with the foot.
The Netherlands still pushed a final offensive, but that did not lead to a great chance.
In the next game, Torny’s squad will meet the United States team, which won 3-0 earlier in the evening against Ghana.
