| Ezurike Goal Not Enough - Canada Eliminated |
| Michael Hunter |
| 11/8/2008 10:12:33 PM |
Canada's run at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup New Zealand 2008 came to an end on Saturday afternoon after a 1:3 loss to European champion Germany. Canada cut an 0-2 deficit late in the first half, but could not get back on terms with the German giants at Wellington Stadium in Wellington.
It took all of four minutes for Germany to find the back of the net. Dzsenifer Marozsan scored her first of two goals on the day on a pass from Lynn Mester. With her back to the goal, Marozsan accepted the pass, pivoted and fired on net, beating four defenders and the Canadian goalkeeper.
Within half an hour, Canada would be down 0-2 after a Lynn Mester goal. Canada had created some chances in between goals, but could not penetrate a real threat against German goalkeeper Anna Sarholz. So in the 34th minute, Alexandra Popp struck the post and Mester made no mistake with the rebound for the commanding lead.
Canada finally got on the board late in the first half, breathing life into the country's semi-final hopes. Nova Scotia's Nkem Ezurike (Sackville, NS) scored in the 44th minute, her second marker of the tournament. With the ball in deep off a Canadian free kick, Tiffany Cameron helped push the ball to Ezurike who found the back of the net.
In the second half, however, Germany maintained its high tempo, providing attack after attack against the Canadian defence. Finally in the 78th minute, Marozsan scored her second of the game and sixth of the tournament for a 3-1 lead. The goal difference would be too much for Canada to climb.
Coach Rosenfeld made his third and final substitution in the 79th minute following the Marozsan goal. Late in the match, Julia Ignacio fired a shot that beat the German goalkeeper, but could not beat the crossbar.
Germany dominated the match with 15 shots and 10 corner kicks compared to Canada's eight shots and zero corner kicks.
Canada kept the same starting lineup as it featured against Denmark four days earlier. The three substitutions were Ignacio in the 61st minute, Allyscha Mottershead in the 67th minute, and Amy Harrison in the 79th minute.
Canada now heads home while Germany presses on to the semi-final stage. The semi-final is 13 November in Christchurch while the final is 16 November in Auckland.
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