Japan walked away with a share of the spoils after a thrilling 2-2 draw with the USA in their FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Poland 2026 tie on Wednesday.
The result left the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup 2026 champions second in Group D after Italy beat New Zealand 3-0 in the other match, with a tie against the European side on Saturday.
Meanwhile. Korea put up a battling display before going down 3-1 to Ghana in their Group C tie.
Against Japan, it was the Americans who broke the deadlock when Kennedy Fuller’s corner kick was headed into the net by Ainsley McCammon in the 35th minute.
There was a golden opportunity for USA to make it two midway through the second half, but Alex Buck couldn’t find a way past goalkeeper Uruha Iwasaki.
Japan took advantage and equalised when a USA giveaway allowed Natsumi Tago to strike home in the 74th minute.
Less than a minute later, USA were back in front when Buck made amends for her earlier miss by outracing the Japan defence to round Iwasaki and slot home.
The East Asian side were unfazed and evened the scoreline again on a sensational right-footed effort from Konoha Nakamura, who expertly curled a shot into the top right corner in the 83rd minute.
Meanwhile, having opened their campaign with a 1-1 draw against France, Korea will now need a positive result in their final group match against Ecuador on Saturday to boost their hopes of reaching the Round of 16.
The East Asian side held firm in the opening half but were undone by a devastating three-minute spell after the break as Ghana took control of the contest.
Captain Sarah Nyarko broke the deadlock with a neat finish in the 52nd minute before Ivy Osei Owusu doubled Ghana’s advantage three minutes later with a deflected effort from the edge of the area.
Korea continued to push for a way back into the game but substitute Ruth Amponsah added Ghana’s third with another deflected strike in the 84th minute.
Beom Ye-ju gave Korea Republic late hope with a superb long-range effort in the fifth minute of stoppage time but there was to be no further response as Ghana secured the points.
