U18 Women´s World Championship Group stage review

Group A Recap

The United States dominated Group A, finishing with a perfect record (3-0-0-0) and an impressive goal differential of 14-0. Their defensive discipline and offensive depth were on full display, with standout contributions from Anabella Fanale (5 points) and Christina Scalese (4 points). A commanding 5-0 win over Finland in their final game underlined their status as tournament favorites.

Sweden claimed second place with 4 points, edging Finland in a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory that proved pivotal. Edit Danielsson led the Swedish offense with 3 goals in as many games. Finland, also with 4 points, finished third due to goal differential despite their solid 4-2 win over Japan. Japan battled valiantly, including an exhilarating 5-4 overtime loss to Sweden, but ultimately fell short with just a single point.

Group B Recap

Canada mirrored the USA’s dominance in Group B, sweeping their games with a 3-0-0-0 record and a staggering 16-3 goal differential. Their roster showcased both offensive firepower and defensive solidity. Maxine Cimoroni and Stryker Zablocki led the charge, combining for 9 points, while Canada’s decisive 5-0 win over Czechia cemented their supremacy.

Czechia secured second place with 5 points, highlighted by a hard-fought 2-1 overtime victory against Switzerland. Switzerland finished third, with Gabriela Jakubová scoring key goals in their campaign. Slovakia struggled to find footing, finishing winless despite standout performances from Nela Lopušanová (8 points) and Gabriela Lacna (4 points).

Quarterfinal Lineup

The group stage set up an exciting quarterfinal slate:

• Sweden vs. Switzerland: A clash between two evenly matched teams with strong defensive systems.
• USA vs. Slovakia: The high-flying Americans face a Slovakian team led by Lopušanová’s heroics.
• Czechia vs. Finland: A matchup between disciplined Czech play and Finland’s offensive creativity.
• Canada vs. Japan: A David-and-Goliath contest where Japan will need a near-perfect performance.

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