The U-20 reigns in Costa Rica

MADRID, 29 Ago. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Spanish U-20 women's team was proclaimed this Sunday the new U-20 world champion after defeating Japan 3-1 in the final of the World Cup played in Costa Rica, defending the title and against which they took revenge for what happened four years ago.

Spanish women's football achieved another milestone to demonstrate its current strength, especially at youth level, winning the second world title in its history after the one achieved in 2018 with the U-17 team. He did it with more suffering than the score reflects, since the team led by Pedro López made the most of his great first half hour and then found himself cornered the rest of the match, although he knew how to hold on with enough fortitude.

Spain, with the generation of Patri Guijarro, Aitana Bonmatí or Laia Aleixandri, had fallen four years ago in the World Cup final against Japan, and now it was possible to take revenge at the San José National Stadium, with a batch where Inma Gabarro, Salma Paralluelo, both decisive, Julia Bartel or Ane Elexpuru, many of whom were proclaimed European Under-19 champions last May.

The team had to fight to take the crown from some Japanese who did not give up despite being disarmed and severely punished in the first half of the game. Then they reacted and locked up their rival, who had a very bad time for the remaining hour, more because of the overwhelm than because of real chances.

Spain was ambitious from minute one and went for the current champions, subduing them with their pressure and possession game. To this, he added an extraordinary efficiency and always necessary in a final to leave the final almost ready for the sentence ahead of schedule.

Pedro López's team punished the back of the Japanese defense. A great pass from Elexpuru was 'catched' by the 'top scorer' Inma Gabarro, who scored his eighth goal in the championship with his usual precision and skill (minute 12). The Andalusian won the 'Golden Shoe' and the 'Silver Ball' as the second best player in the tournament.

Another ball to Japan's back caused the defense to fail to allow Salma Paralluelo's pulse not to tremble and calmly beat Ohba ten minutes later. And almost unable to digest the 2-0, the Japanese conceded the third, after a penalty that was also scored by the new FC Barcelona player.

But from there, the party changed completely. The Asian team did not give up and finally managed to snatch the ball from a Spain that could no longer peek into the rival area for practically the rest of the match. Sugisawa had a good chance to get his team into the game before the break, but his shot went close to the post, and Futoshi Ikeda's team gave a couple more warnings to warn that the game was not quite over. final.

And this warning had its confirmation as soon as the second part resumed. In a set piece, Amano beat Font and had some restlessness in the Spanish side, which began to suffer a lot with the speed and pressure of its rival.

Bartel and Ariadna Mingueza were left without the ball and Gabarro and Paralluelo could no longer even threaten. The match was always played in the field of a Spain that was suffering on both sides, but that was then supported by the work of the captain Ana Tejada and Silvia Lloris. Japan pressed, but did not find the prize of a new goal that would get on the nerves of Pedro López's team who reacted by changing three central defenders to better control the end of a duel that goes into the history of Spanish women's football.