U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team loses to Germany, still advances to quarterfinals at 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup

Despite dropping its final Group D match in the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup with a 3-0 loss to defending champion Germany, the U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team advanced to the quarterfinals of the tournament.

In Monday’s other Group D match, China PR defeated Ghana 1-0 to finish the group stage with four points alongside the USA. China could not make up the significant goal differential, and the U.S. advanced to the next round. The U.S. was shut out for the first time in this year’s tournament while Germany has yet to allow a goal through three games and won Group D with nine points.

The USA will face the winner of Group C in a quarterfinal match on Aug. 31 at Komaba Stadium in Saitama. The final matches in Group C will be determined later today, with Korea DPR leading the group with six points behind Canada and Norway with three points each. The quarterfinal match will be broadcast live on ESPNU and ESPN3 with coverage starting at 6:20 a.m. ET.

Germany got on the score sheet in the 35th minute on Lena Lotzen’s unassisted header for a 1-0 lead. Germany right back Leonie Maier provided a dangerous ball toward the edge of the box where U.S. defender Kassey Kallman attempted a header clearance. Kallman, however, could not get on top of the ball as it popped up for Lotzen, who beat USA goalkeeper Bryane Heaberlin to the ball with a header that bounced once in the goal box and crossed the goal line.

Lotzen notched her second goal in the 53rd minute on the rebound. Heaberlin saved the initial strike from Germany’s Lina Magull, but Lotzen followed through for her third goal of the tournament.

In the 55th minute, Germany’s Maier crossed the ball in from the right and Kallman – similar to Germany’s first goal – got a deflection on the ball but Melanie Leupolz converged for the goal and a 3-0 advantage.

USA second-half sub Kealia Ohai had the USA’s first shot on goal in the 71st minute, forcing Germany goalkeeper Laura Benkarth to dive to her right for the save. Ohai also had the USA’s most dangerous attempt in the 89th minute – a strong right-footed shot that she drove past Benkarth but curled just wide left.

Additional Notes:

• U.S. head coach Steve Swanson made three changes to the starting lineup from the team’s 1-1 draw with China in the second Group D match, inserting Kassey Kallman back into the center of the defense and giving Katie Stengel her first start up top after the striker had come off the bench in the first two games. Chioma Ubogagu also got the start after being in the first 11 for the opening match against Ghana and coming off the bench at halftime against China.
• Monday’s match was the first time the USA and Germany met in the group stage of the tournament. Heading into the game, the U.S. posted a 3-1-0 record in four previous U-19 or U-20 Women’s World Cups, with every match taking place in the knockout stage.
• Forward Maya Hayes made her team-leading 40th career U-20 appearance on Monday.
• U.S. captain Julie Johnston, who took a knock to her knee in the first half, was replaced by Cari Roccaro in the 59th minute.
• With the win, Germany equaled the USA’s record 10-match winning streak in the U-20 FIFA Women’s World Cup dating back to 2008. The U.S. streak was from 2002 to 2004.

Match: United States U-20 Women’s National Team vs. Germany
Date: Aug. 27, 2012
Competition: 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup; Group D
Venue: Miyagi Stadium; Rifu, Japan
Kickoff: 3 a.m. ET (4 p.m. local)
Attendance: TBD
Weather: 79 degrees, hot and humid

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA                        0 0 0
GER                        1 2 3

GER – Lena Lotzen (unassisted)         35th minute
GER – Lena Lotzen (unassisted)         53
GER – Melanie Leupolz (unassisted)   55

Lineups:
USA: 1-Bryane Heaberlin; 4-Crystal Dunn, 8-Julie Johnston (capt.) (3-Cari Roccaro, 59), 15-Kassey Kallman, 2-Mollie Pathman; 16-Sarah Killion, 10-Vanessa DiBernardo (13-Samantha Mewis, 74), 6-Morgan Brian; 9-Chioma Ubogagu (7-Kealia Ohai, 54), 12-Katie Stengel, 5-Maya Hayes
Subs not used: 11-Becca Wann, 14-Mandy Laddish, 17-Taylor Schram, 18-Abby Smith, 19-Stephanie Amack, 20-Kelly Cobb, 21-Jami Kranich
Head Coach: Steve Swanson

GER: 1-Laura Benkarth; 2-Leonie Maier, 4-Jennifer Cramer, 5-Luisa Wensing, 7-Annabel Jaeger, 15-Karoline Heinze (8-Melanie Leupolz, 46), 18-Silvana Chojnowski, 20-Lina Magull, 10-Ramona Petzelberger (capt.) (6-Kathrin Hendrich, 46), 11-Lena Lotzen (9-Nicole Rolser, 69), 14-Dzsenifer Marozsan
Subs not used: 3-Carolin Simon, 12-Meike Kaemper, 13-Sophie Howard, 16-Anja Hegenauer, 17-Katharina Leiding, 19-Marie Pyko, 21-Anke Preuß
Head Coach: Maren Meinert

Stats Summary: USA / GER
Shots: 9 / 14
Shots on Goal: 3 / 9
Saves: 6 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 6
Fouls: 5 / 11
Offside: 3 / 3

Misconduct Summary:
None

Officials:
Referee: Abirami Apbai (SIN)
Assistant Referee 1: Seulgi Lee (KOR)
Assistant Referee 2: Thi Thuy Kieu (VIE)
Fourth Official: Esther Staubli (SUI)

ussoccer.com Woman of the Match:
Morgan Brian