…Prado Scores Again, Now Highest Scorer with 5 goals.
La Roja Babes of Spain on Friday morning at Santo Domingo before a crowd of 2,970 football fans caged the Princess Lionesses of England 3-0 to move into their 4th ever appearances at the final of the world women’s U17 football grand finale.
Highest scorer at the U17 European championship with 7 goals, Alba Izquierdo opened scoring for Spain in the 45+2nd minute of the first half. It was her 2nd goal in the world final as she scored against USA in the 3-1 drubbing of 16th October at the group stages.
Fleet footed Paula Prado roved forward to score her 5th goal in the tournament in the 58th minute from a Gomez Luna assist. She stands to collect the golden boot now being highest scorer conditionally dumping Nigeria’s Shakirat Moshood to Silver Boot and Rim-Jong Choe of North Korea to Bronze Boot. That is if Choe does not score in the finals and Prado scores again.
VAR in the 82nd minute ruled out a penalty award of Ref Asaka Koizumi of Japan given to England who was under severe pressure of the Spanish attack looking for more goals. Defender, Zara Shaw under pressure scored an own goal in the 90+9th minute to make the score board read Spain 3 England 0.
Spain terrorized England in every department of the game having 17-10 shots at goal; with 7-3 shots on target (1-1 shots hitting the woodwork and 4-2 blocked shots); 65-35% ball possession stringing 463-249 passes though Spain played rough getting 14-9 foul calls with 3-3 corner kicks.
England scored 8 goals and conceded 3 on her way to the semifinal stage beating Kenya 2-0; spanked Mexico 4-2; lost to North Korea 0-4 and won Japan 4-1 on penalty kicks after 1-1 at full time in the quarterfinal.
Spain scored 15 goals and conceded 2 golas on her way to the semifinals. Spain beat USA 3-1; drubbed South Korea 5-0; piped Columbia 2-1 and also spanked Ecuador 5-0 in the quarterfinals.
Spain and England both from the European Confederation never met outside their confederation. They met 7 times with Spain having 5 wins, there was a draw and England won once in a friendly match. All the matches were in European U17 Championships.
On 5th April 2009 Spain won 2-0; on 5th December 2013 Spain won 3-0; it was 1-1 draw on 22nd June 2015; Spain piped England 2-1 on 12th May 2018; Spain won 3-1 on 23rd May 2023 and it was serious 4-0 drubbing on 12th May 2024 by Spain. Their last meeting which was a friendly played on 12th September 2024 while preparing for Dominican Republic 2024 that England won 2-1.
Spain had superior record having won the title twice in 2008 and are current defending Champions having won again in India 2022. Spain was runners-up in 2014 and won Bronze twice too in 201 and 2016.
Also Read:
Arsenal Got Biggest Win Ever Over Chelsea 5-0.
How three times champions, was booted out of World Cup
Spain’s Worlds Women Cup Champion
England best run was 4th place at the maiden edition at Switzerland 2008 and a quarterfinal at Jordan 2016.
England will face USA for the Bronze medal on Sunday at Santo Domingo at 7: 30pm Nigerian time and at the same venue, same day the grand finale between Defending Champions and former Champions, North Korea will take place at 11pm.
Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line.
#DominicanRepublic2024 #FIFA#EUFA #AFC
#DPRKoreaFA SpanishFA #BritishFA
#USAFF #CAF #NFF.
