US U-20 Women Advance to Semifinals with Win over Korea

The US Women’s U-20 National Team defeated Korea DPR 2-1 in overtime on Friday in Saitama, Japan in a quarterfinal match of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. Chioma Ubogagu scored the game-winning goal in the 98th minute of the match. The win means the US will appear in their fifth semifinal game in the tournament.

Both teams created chances in the first half in a nervy 45 minutes where each team were careful to not to make themselves too vulnerable . The second half opened up a bit especially after Vanessa DiBernardo scored the first goal of the match in the 52nd minute. The US had dumped a ball into the center of the field and above the box. Korea hit a lazy clearance that found DiBernardo. Without immediate pressure she took a couple of touches forward, setting herself up between two defenders and hit a 25-yard blast that found its way into the lower left hand side of the net.

Korea equalized in the 75th minute when Kim Un Hwa found Kim Su Gyong unmarked between US defenders and just 10 yards out from goal. Hwa slid a through ball between the US defense which Gyong received, turned and fired at the US goal, smashing the ball past goalkeeper Bryane Heaberlin and tying the match.

Ubogagu’s goal came when defender Crystal Dunn hit a nicely driven cross from the right side of the field while under pressure from the Korean defense. The cross found the head of Ubogagu who put the ball past Korean goalkeeper O Chang Ran and put the US up 2-1.

The USA victory sets up a semifinal meeting against Nigeria – which defeated the USA on penalty kicks in the quarterfinals of the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The match will be broadcast live on ESPNU and ESPN3 on Tuesday, Sept. 4, with coverage starting at 2:50 a.m. ET. Fans can also follow the match on ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker and on Twitter @ussoccer_ynt.

- U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team Match Report -

Match: United States U-20 Women’s National Team vs. Korea DPR
Date: Aug. 31, 2012
Competition: 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup; Quarterfinal
Venue: Komaba Stadium; Saitama, Japan
Kickoff: 6:30 a.m. ET (7:30 p.m. local)
Attendance: 6,284
Weather: 81 degrees, hot and humid

Scoring Summary: 1  2 OT1 OT2 F
USA                          0  1   1      0   2
PRK                          0  1   0      0   1

USA – Vanessa DiBernardo (unassisted)   52nd minute
PRK – Kim Su Gyong (Kim Un Hwa)           75
USA – Chioma Ubagagu (Crystal Dunn)     98

Lineups:
USA: 1-Bryane Heaberlin; 4-Crystal Dunn, 8-Julie Johnston (capt.), 3-Cari Roccaro, 2-Mollie Pathman; 16-Sarah Killion, 10-Vanessa DiBernardo (15-Kassey Kallman, 108), 6-Morgan Brian; 7-Kealia Ohai, 20-Kelly Cobb (13-Samantha Mewis, 61), 5-Maya Hayes (9-Chioma Ubogagu, 71)
Subs not used: 11-Becca Wann, 12-Katie Stengel, 14-Mandy Laddish, 17-Taylor Schram, 18-Abby Smith, 19-Stephanie Amack, 21-Jami Kranich
Head Coach: Steve Swanson

PRK: 18-O Chang Ran; 2-Kim Nam Hui, 5-Yun Song Mi, 14-Pong Son Hwa, 15-Ri Nam Sil; 8-Jon Myong Hwa, 12-Kim Un Hyang, 13-O Hui Sun (capt.), 19-Yu Jong Im (20-Kim Su Gyong, 56); 10-Yun Hyon Hi, 11-Kim Un Hwa (17-Kwon Song Hwa, 78; 3-Ri Yong Mi, 105)
Subs not used: 1-Choe Kyong Im, 7-Kim Un Ju, 4-Kim Un Ha, 6-Ryu Un Jong, 9-Pak Kyong Mi, 16-Ri Hyang Hui, 21-Kim Chol Ok
Head Coach: Sin Ui Gun

Stats Summary: USA / PRK
Shots: 14 / 7
Shots on Goal: 9 / 4
Saves: 3 / 7
Corner Kicks: 9 / 7
Fouls: 14 / 12
Offside: 1 / 8

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Kealia Ohai       57th minute
USA – Cari Roccaro    80
PRK – Yun Song Mi    118

Officials:
Referee: Silvia Spinelli (ITA)
Assistant Referee 1: Karine Solana Vives (FRA)
Assistant Referee 2: Manuela Nicolosi (FRA)
Fourth Official: Fusako Kajiyama (JPN)

ussoccer.com Woman of the Match:
Julie Johnston