On the eve of the FIFA U-17 Girls’s World Cup remaining, Spain captain Marina Artero spoke of them being able to combat until the top and never panicking even when the targets don’t come early.
On Sunday, the defending champions caught to that perception to beat Colombia 1-0 on the DY Patil Stadium and retain the title.
The winner got here within the 82nd minute when the ball deflected off Colombian right-back Ana Guzman and went into objective. It was the results of sustained strain put by Spain as the sport headed in the direction of full time. Two 79th-minute substitutes—Paula Partido and Laia Martret—have been concerned within the buildup to the objective. Partido discovered house on the appropriate flank and put in a cross for Martret, whose shot deflected off goalkeeper Luisa Agudelo onto Guzman.
All through the event, most of Spain’s targets got here late in video games. They wanted an Eighty fifth-minute winner by Jone Amezaga to beat Colombia 1-0 of their group opener. Of their final group match, a 61st-minute strike by skipper Marina Artero eased them to a 1-0 win over China. Within the quarter-finals, Vicky Lopez netted within the 87th and 93rd minute as they bounced again from 1-0 right down to race to a 2-1 victory over Japan. Within the semi-final, Kenio Gonzalo’s facet scraped to a 1-0 win over their European rivals Germany when Lucia Corrales netted within the ninetieth minute.
Within the remaining, Spain as soon as once more confirmed their prowess by dominating possession whereas Colombia have been joyful to take a seat again and hit on the counter. The technique made sense as Colombia knew that going toe-to-toe with Spain will solely go away them weak on the again.
That’s what occurred late within the match when Colombia pushed ahead in the hunt for an equaliser that gave Spain house to open them up. Martret may have wrapped up the tie within the final minute of regulation time however her well-taken strike hit the publish.
Colombia began on the offensive and Gabriela Rodriguez’s sixth-minute free-kick was saved by Spanish keeper Sofia Fuente. However Spain seized management as the sport progressed.
The principle gamers of the 2 groups — Spain’s Lopez and Colombia’s Linda Caicedo — have been stored in verify all through the sport. Each time they discovered house, the opponents made positive they didn’t have a free run. Spain additionally hit the again of the web within the Forty eighth-minute, however Cristina Libran’s strike was dominated out for a handball.
Earlier, within the third-place match, Nigeria beat Germany 3-2 in a shootout after the rating was 3-3 on the finish of regulation time. It was Nigeria’s third straight shootout. That they had overwhelmed USA 4-3 within the quarters earlier than shedding to Colombia 6-5 within the semis.
They have been 3-0 up by the 63rd minute because of targets from Opeyemi Ajakaye (20), Amina Bello (48) and Edidiong Etim (63). However Germany bounced again by scoring thrice within the final 17 minutes by way of Jella Veit (73), Paulina Bartz (83) and Loreen Bender (90).