2012 CONCACAF Under-20 Women's Championship

[Soccer9]

1-0

FULLTIME

Canada escapes with win. GK (D'Angelo was impressive). Our finishing was way off tonight...

Semis vs Panama

[Soccer9]

Game over, Canada wins 1-0. Mexico easily could have won game in the second half, Canada's goalkeeper was very solid and made no mistakes. Canada showed very little in the half, really bad passing, poor decision making and not much talent on display. We were lucky to win.

so right :-) a few days to work on a better plan.

[The Ref]

1-0

FULLTIME

Canada escapes with win. GK (D'Angelo was impressive). Our finishing was way off tonight...

Semis vs Panama

Sabrina kept us in the game. She is worth her weight in gold!

[mtlfan]

Highlights

http://www.concacaf.com/page/WOQ/Home

[red card]

Based on run of play, I would say Canada should have scored 2 goals in the 1st half. While Mexico could have scored 1 in the 2nd half.

But it still is a Canada win.

More promising is that there appears to be a number of talented players offensively and defensively that I can see playing on the senior team in the future.

[Soccer9]

6-0 Canada over Panama

World Cup booked!

Panama did not put up much of a battle, thought they would have more since US only beat them 3-1.

USA vs Canada on Sunday at 8pm est

[soccerfan13]

I think the USA beat them 6-0 also

[Soccer9]

I think the USA beat them 6-0 also

Yes correct, thanks.

[Guest soccer1]

To me this was a forgone conclussion.We will see how they do in the World Cup where they have to face the really top teams in the World,not Concacaf Women's Squads...

[adrenaline11]

We're up 1-0 right now but the U.S. has been dominating possession.

The commentator sounds like he's doing the game from a studio in NY.

[The Ref]

We're up 1-0 right now but the U.S. has been dominating possession.

The commentator sounds like he's doing the game from a studio in NY.

The tv signal website is from the U.K. so I wonder is it is being commented from a studio in the UK.

[red card]

Based on previous match play-by-play where they said things like we don't know if it was offside, they're doing it from a studio. It's also the thrid different announcer I have heard - can't belive you would need to send 3 announcers to Panama for this tourney.

So, website in UK + english accent = somewhere in the UK

[adrenaline11]

Well what else is new? We lost to Americans....again.

[Soccer9]

Well, we had not seen our defense getting really tested yet, and last night they showed they can hold up against a top team. Although the Americans were not very impressive in finishing last night.

Some of the Coach's choices last night were odd, but hey it seemd to work.

Let's hope for better preparation going into the world cup as the team has good potential and I dont think we saw the best from this team yet.

[navycyr]

Good job for coach Olivieri with so little preparation. In such a short period of time you can almost only work on defense and our girls have defended tooth and nail. Hope CSA will use the money saved on Concacaf preparation for better world cup preparation because to be serious contenders we will need more than defend fiercely. Defense is more than destroying opponents attacks, it is also about preventing them launching such attacks by maintaining control of the ball. In that last part, much improvement is needed because we have constantly been giving the ball back to USA, but in order to achieve such a control, you need way more time than what was allowed for team preparation.

Last night, the way Americans played, winning was within reach of our girls. We have been very good in our defensive third of the field with D'Angelo very solid in the goal, defensive players blocked many shots and Americans have been poor on finition (I would be curious to know how many shots they made outside the net). We have been dominated in the second third of the field. Unfortunately, we have not been enough in the offensive third of the field where the US team, of what I have seen was vulnerable. Most of the time we have gotten there we have been dangerous. I was impressed how explosive Richardson has been. Not only did she scored the goal but she also had a similar opportunity but with a sharper angle with the score tied 1-1 where she elected to make a backwards pass where there where no red shirt around. Would she have gone to the net, who knows she might not have scored ? Of what I have seen the US keeper was not comparable in any way with her senior counterpart, Solo. I remember another occasion we were in US territory (can't recall the girl or the time of the game) where a girl made a lob that missed to the right post. Would that shot have been on target it would have caused quite some touble to the US keeper given where she was standing when the action was initiated.

In conclusion, girls and coaching staff can be proud of their achievement ! However, a lot remains to be done to post a strong performance at world cup which will require the players to spend more time together and consequently additional money from CSA !

[ThruBall]

The U20 Team played very well under the circumstances, however was there any doubt the team would not place in the top 3 at the CONCACAF Final?

The USA and Mexico games served to expose this team’s weaknesses. Defensively the team is sound however is there enough depth on the roster to cover off injury and defensive experience? Arguably the soft injury to the ankle incurred by the centre back late in the US game affected her mobility and capability to thwart the US team’s chances close up with in the box. The mind may sense need to act but the body cannot respond! With someone as capable coming off the bench at the time of injury, the first goal may have been nullified. The lack of first touch clearing versus shot blocking instinct displayed by the left back with in the box lead to the US winning goal. Perhaps this action points to a lack of experience on the back line. Does this player patrol defence at her college?

In both games the CDN middle struggled to provide adequate control over the ball while in possession producing few attacking opportunities or an effective amount of cushion on top of the defence. Transition instincts based on ball possession were lacking, player movement among the middle were mostly one way – back – unable to move forward creatively. Tracking back to defend and be a defender became the primary role of the middle team – reminiscent of the U17 team 2 years prior. This tactical level of play is not good enough when facing world class teams; the same condition that plagues our senior team now! If you can’t as a team string together 5 or 6 passes consistently while in possession and under pressure, your team will not be able to progress on the world stage – regardless of how much you make them fit!

Upfront there appears to be depth, skill, some attacking smarts and surprising speed. The few opportunities the team had during the US game materialized off the counter attack either from US player errors in the middle of the park or clearance balls from the Canadian defensive third. Clearly more team control over the ball would result in a better utilization of these team strengths.

Lack of funding is a fact of life here in Canada. No amount of time (money) between now and August will produce the changes in player skills & capabilities necessary for this roster to step up to the world competition lying ahead. A realistic goal would be to advance out of the group stage. With that in mind, the CSA appears to be taking a practical approach by assembling a team made up of a nucleus of players who have played together under this coach with in the W-League. In addition he as wrapped some parts from other regions of Canada with W-League experience. The team progressed! With the August start date just 4 months away, its clear the most significant contributor to team success now will be through the inclusion of new players. The CONCACAF stats show that 4 players on this roster (not including second goalie) appeared in 2 games or less. There’s room for change and perhaps with change comes a step up in team performance. Is the goal to win or show up?

[Jon Que]

I really hope we can do more than just ask the team to show up 2 weeks before the finals in Japan and say have at it. Even by Canadian soccer standards this was awful preperation. And yes there was a real possiblity of not qualifying out of Concacaf before the tournament started (remember Morace's squad from 2 years ago). We were lucky in that really there were only 3 good teams here this time.

Is this perhaps the most talented group of forwards Canada has ever put forward in a U event (Sinclair+Thorlakson were pretty good)? The 3 starters all seem to provide different skill sets (Ezurike-needs to finish much better but otherwise..., Richardson-come a long way in 2 years has great pace and seems more composed than before, Oduro-seems to have flair, passing ability and some scoring). The U20 player of the year (Pietrangelo) couldn't even start because of the other 3.

So bring in some new players (so that we can have real tryouts), have some camps with good quality matches so that the players can become a team. Give them a chance to do as well as they can. With a strong group of forwards and a strong defense (with a great goalie) many things are possible (including beating more skillful teams).

[Soccer9]

The U20 Team played very well under the circumstances, however was there any doubt the team would not place in the top 3 at the CONCACAF Final?

The USA and Mexico games served to expose this team’s weaknesses. Defensively the team is sound however is there enough depth on the roster to cover off injury and defensive experience? Arguably the soft injury to the ankle incurred by the centre back late in the US game affected her mobility and capability to thwart the US team’s chances close up with in the box. The mind may sense need to act but the body cannot respond! With someone as capable coming off the bench at the time of injury, the first goal may have been nullified. The lack of first touch clearing versus shot blocking instinct displayed by the left back with in the box lead to the US winning goal. Perhaps this action points to a lack of experience on the back line. Does this player patrol defence at her college?

In both games the CDN middle struggled to provide adequate control over the ball while in possession producing few attacking opportunities or an effective amount of cushion on top of the defence. Transition instincts based on ball possession were lacking, player movement among the middle were mostly one way – back – unable to move forward creatively. Tracking back to defend and be a defender became the primary role of the middle team – reminiscent of the U17 team 2 years prior. This tactical level of play is not good enough when facing world class teams; the same condition that plagues our senior team now! If you can’t as a team string together 5 or 6 passes consistently while in possession and under pressure, your team will not be able to progress on the world stage – regardless of how much you make them fit!

Upfront there appears to be depth, skill, some attacking smarts and surprising speed. The few opportunities the team had during the US game materialized off the counter attack either from US player errors in the middle of the park or clearance balls from the Canadian defensive third. Clearly more team control over the ball would result in a better utilization of these team strengths.

Lack of funding is a fact of life here in Canada. No amount of time (money) between now and August will produce the changes in player skills & capabilities necessary for this roster to step up to the world competition lying ahead. A realistic goal would be to advance out of the group stage. With that in mind, the CSA appears to be taking a practical approach by assembling a team made up of a nucleus of players who have played together under this coach with in the W-League. In addition he as wrapped some parts from other regions of Canada with W-League experience. The team progressed! With the August start date just 4 months away, its clear the most significant contributor to team success now will be through the inclusion of new players. The CONCACAF stats show that 4 players on this roster (not including second goalie) appeared in 2 games or less. There’s room for change and perhaps with change comes a step up in team performance. Is the goal to win or show up?

Coach O. has not coached any of the players in W-league, and to my knowledge has not coached a high-level girls team either. So there was no plan there I think to get some "quick" benefits.

[quietone]

Yes. The Central Defender in question does patrol the defense for her college team!!!

The U20 Team played very well under the circumstances, however was there any doubt the team would not place in the top 3 at the CONCACAF Final?

The USA and Mexico games served to expose this team’s weaknesses. Defensively the team is sound however is there enough depth on the roster to cover off injury and defensive experience? Arguably the soft injury to the ankle incurred by the centre back late in the US game affected her mobility and capability to thwart the US team’s chances close up with in the box. The mind may sense need to act but the body cannot respond! With someone as capable coming off the bench at the time of injury, the first goal may have been nullified. The lack of first touch clearing versus shot blocking instinct displayed by the left back with in the box lead to the US winning goal. Perhaps this action points to a lack of experience on the back line. Does this player patrol defence at her college?

In both games the CDN middle struggled to provide adequate control over the ball while in possession producing few attacking opportunities or an effective amount of cushion on top of the defence. Transition instincts based on ball possession were lacking, player movement among the middle were mostly one way – back – unable to move forward creatively. Tracking back to defend and be a defender became the primary role of the middle team – reminiscent of the U17 team 2 years prior. This tactical level of play is not good enough when facing world class teams; the same condition that plagues our senior team now! If you can’t as a team string together 5 or 6 passes consistently while in possession and under pressure, your team will not be able to progress on the world stage – regardless of how much you make them fit!

Upfront there appears to be depth, skill, some attacking smarts and surprising speed. The few opportunities the team had during the US game materialized off the counter attack either from US player errors in the middle of the park or clearance balls from the Canadian defensive third. Clearly more team control over the ball would result in a better utilization of these team strengths.

Lack of funding is a fact of life here in Canada. No amount of time (money) between now and August will produce the changes in player skills & capabilities necessary for this roster to step up to the world competition lying ahead. A realistic goal would be to advance out of the group stage. With that in mind, the CSA appears to be taking a practical approach by assembling a team made up of a nucleus of players who have played together under this coach with in the W-League. In addition he as wrapped some parts from other regions of Canada with W-League experience. The team progressed! With the August start date just 4 months away, its clear the most significant contributor to team success now will be through the inclusion of new players. The CONCACAF stats show that 4 players on this roster (not including second goalie) appeared in 2 games or less. There’s room for change and perhaps with change comes a step up in team performance. Is the goal to win or show up?