U20 Women’s World Cup: What result does the US team need today against Japan to qualify?

Following the cancellation of the U-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Costa Rica are the sole hosts of the 2022 edition where the progress of the USWNT U-20 side in the tournament hangs by a thread as Tracey Kevins’ side have to face reigning champions Japan and are aware that only a win (by a two goal margin) will guarantee a berth in the next stage of the tournament.

A solid 3-0 opening win over Ghana’s ‘Black Princesses’ was followed by a to a 3-0 loss to the Netherlands and now the side face a major task in facing the highly fancied Japanese team with the match set to be played on Wednesday, 17 August at Estadio Morera Soto in Alajuela.

Calculators at the ready

The USA have to beat Japan by two clear goals to guarantee a place in the next round with Samurai Blue currently topping Group D on six points from two wins and a ‘plus 3′ goal difference. The US and the Netherlands are tied on points with three each, but the Dutch have a ‘plus 2′ goal difference against the zero currently held by the US. Any other win over Japan would then depend on the outcome of the game between Netherlands and Ghana which will be staged at the same time in Costa Rica capital San Jose. Should the Ghana-Netherlands clash end in a draw, then the US can progress with any win over the Japanese.

A night of tension and constant refreshing of live score applications lies in wait as the US take on the unbeaten Japanese team.