The group games in Group B commenced today at the Al Hassan International Stadium in Irbad, simultaneously kicking off the U-17 Women’s World Cup, the first major women’s tournament in the Middle East.
The stadium is located 20km from the Syrian border, the 15,000 capacity stadium is mostly used for football which includes being a home to Jordan’s national women’s team. Today it was the host of four teams from four different contintents; Germany, Venezuela, Cameroon and Canada.
Venezuela 1 – 2 Germany
The opening game of the tournament was between Venezuela and Germany with the Germans the better start with a 2-1 win. Venezuela had a less than perfect game as they finished the match with 10 players.
Germany asserted their dominance from the onset and throughout, coming close to a goal in the opening two minutes via Giulia Gwinn’s run and captain Janina Minge’s shot. Gwinn was back in front of goal five minutes later where she caught a high ball on the volley, bounding it past keeper Naylusa Caceres.
Following the goal, the ball was mostly seen in the Venezuelan third, often being brought into play through the wings by Gwinn and Verena Wieder but Germany failed to hit anymore shots on target despite having another three chances, nevertheless they closed the first half with a clean sheet, Venezuela left the pitch in a less glorious manner having committed seven more fouls than Germany and with two yellow cards.
The second half started with a twist, Venezuela were the more confident team returning to the pitch as a stronger attacking unit, making use of pacy midfielder Olimar Castillo. Venezuela’s rejuvinated side missed their prime goal scoring opportunity in the 58th minute when captain Deyna Castellanos’ expertly curled free kick hit the top of the post. This only gave the South American side more confidence as they equalised through Maria Carzola’s strike on the rebound, not only was the score levelled but the play too, it looked as though anyone could score.
Conceding only seemed to motivate the Germans more, they quickly adapted by compacting their defence and sharpening their attack, driving down the wings in a similar manner to the first half but this time with a more clincial approach to being in front of goal. It took 12 minutes for Germany to restore the lead, Gwinn was involved again earning an assist when she made a perfect pass to take Klara Buhl around the Venezuelan defence where the midfielder buried the ball in the back of the net.
Following their second goal, Germany maintained 60% of possession to deny the opposition goal scoring opportunities despite their persistance. Despite Venezuela’s squad being the most experienced in the tournament, defender Sandra Luzardo was sent off with two yellow cards and considering the German’s abiltity to manage the game, the winning side showed the most expertise.
Giulia Gwinn of Germany was awarded player of the match in addition to scoring and assiting (Image: Christine Dzakah)
Cameroon 2-3 Canada
The second game held in Irbid was between Cameroon and Canada, two sides with very different styles of play, with Canada the more organised of the two, which resulted in a chaotic display at times and a thrilling five-goal battle.
Three minutes into the game the deadlock was broken by Jordyn Huitema who glided through the disorganised Cameroon defence, but an early goal did not set the tone for the game as the Cameroon players began to show a better understanding of one another which led to the Baby Lionesses taking advantage of an indirect freekick,which was awarded after keeper Marissa Zucchetto picked up a backpass, to level the scoring.
Just before play was changed by Cameroon’s goal and Canada began to look shaky at the back allowing Claudia Dabda to force her way through, her urgency to the ball was rewarded as her low strike found its way to the back of the net.
Luckily for Canada half time came soon after the goal which gave the team a chance to regroup, frustrating Cameroon into making errors in their tackles and in the 76th minute goal keeper Carole Mimboe made a deliberate challenge, taking out subtitute Lauren Raimondo and conceding a penalty and a yellow card. Captain Sarah Stratigakis stepped up to to the mark and buried the ball with a powerful strike to pull her team level.
The congestion in midfield died down following, opening up for Canada’s style of play and as the game drew to a close they emerged as the more dominant side making pacy runs through the centre. However the Canuck’s saving grace did not come from open play, in fact it came from the head of defender Hannah Taylor when she met Julia Grosso’s delivery from a corner, gifting Canada with all three points from their first game of the tournament.
Canada U-17 celebrate Hannah Taylor’s winning goal in Irbid (Image: FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup twitter).
