Missed chances cost Canada dearly at U-17 Women’s World Cup

Ri Un Sim scored goals in the 78th and 87th minutes, pacing North Korea to a 2-1 win over the Canadians in Azerbaijan. Sim has scored in every game in the tournament so far.

But, even though the North Koreans held the territorial advantage and outshot Canada 17-8, Canadian coach Bryan Rosenfeld and his troops will be left wondering what could have been. Canadian Summer Clarke smashed a shot off the bar in the first half, and striker Amandine Pierre-Louis was foiled on a breakaway in the second half, when Canada was down only 1-0 at the time.

By the time Nichelle Prince scored, a fluke that the keeper spilled, the match was into time added on — and there was no time for Canada to get another.

But, had Clarke’s attempt been a little lower, had Pierre-Louis got that goal — how would the momentum have shifted? How would the game have changed?

The North Koreans have produced powerful U-17 side after powerful U-17 side; the team has never failed to make the semifinals of the World Cup at this level.

Canada ensured that it would face the North Koreans, who won a tough group that included France and the United States, because it finished second behind Nigeria in Group A. Canada, which tied Nigeria 1-1 and got two wins to close out group play, lost out to the Nigerians on goal difference. The big swing? Canada dominated its game with the minnows from the host country, but could only get a 1-0 result. Nigeria won it’s match with Azerbaihan by, ahem, 11.

But, that’s not to say that the die was cast when Canada lost the Group A title on goal difference. The Canadian girls had the chances on Thursday to change the complexion of their quarter-final match; they just didn’t take them.

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