Germany, USA advance in contrasting fashion

The last two quarter-finals of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Japan 2012 could hardly have turned out more differently. Germany kicked off the day’s proceedings by surging into a 2-0 lead after just seven minutes of their tie with Norway, Lena Lotzen and Melanie Leupolz scoring the goals that set the defending champions on the road to a commanding 4-0 win. Losing coach Jarl Torske later acknowledged that his side had been well beaten. There was nothing one-sided about the evening meeting between Korea DPR and USA, however, as goalkeepers O Chang Ran and Bryane Heaberlin turned in inspired performances to keep the scoreline close. It took a Vanessa Di Bernardo wonder goal to beat the North Korean custodian, while Heaberlin was eventually undone by Kim Su Gyong’s precise drive. The last word of a pulsating game went to USA substitute Chioma Ubogagu, who struck eight minutes into extra time to give the Americans victory by the same scoreline as when the two sides met in the final at Chile 2008