The Spanish team was crowned this Sunday, for the first time in history, women's sub-20 champion by beating Japan (3-1) with two goals from Salma Paralluelo and one from Inma Gabarro in the final of the 2022 World Cup in Costa Rica .
Spain concludes a dream campaign by being crowned undefeated champions, with only two goals conceded throughout the tournament, as the highest scoring team (14) and with Inma Gabarro as the top scorer in the competition with 8 goals.
Coach Pedro López's team took revenge for the previous U20 final of the 2018 World Cup in France, in which Spain fell 3-1 to Japan.
In this Sunday's final at the San José National Stadium, Spain won with goals from Inma Gabarro at minute 12, and two from Salma Paralluelo at 22 and 27, while Japan closed the gap at 47 through Suzu Amano.
In a dreamy first half hour, Spain imposed its conditions and won the match 3-0 against an Asian squad that looked nervous and erratic at the start, making many mistakes that paid dearly.
Inma Gabarro, the World Cup scorer, opened the account in the 12th minute when she dodged offside, lowered a pass from Ane Elexpuru and finished with class next to goalkeeper Shu Ohba.
The Spanish pressure continued to cause damage and at minute 22 another high pass found, again, well ahead of the Japanese defense, which Salma Paraluello took advantage of to escape alone and increase the advantage for Spain.
The Spanish domain was suffocating and at 27 Paralluelo scored the 3-0 from a penalty.
As of minute 30, Japan reacted and forced goalkeeper Txell Font to work hard to prevent Hamano and Tabata from scoring a stoppage goal.
Yusuki Yamamoto also came close to putting Japan on the scoreboard with a cross shot that escaped to the side of the vertical.
As soon as the second half began, a set piece from a free kick gave Japan the stoppage goal, on the first ball touched by Suzu Amano, who came on as a substitute.
In the second half, Japan completely changed the face of the game and dominated the actions with a dizzying game on the wings, full of combinations, but without the necessary punch in the area to dream of a comeback.
Spain entrusted itself to the solidity that its defense showed throughout the World Cup with only one goal conceded before the final, and in attack it opted for some counterattack play.
Despite their physical effort and greater possession of the ball in the second half, Japan fell short and could not break the defensive lock of 'the red' again.
3. Spain: Txell Font, Ana Tejada, Andrea Medina, Silvia Lloris, Esther Laborde (Mirari Uria m.62); Ariadna Mingueza (Sonia Majarín, m.75), Julia Bartel, Asun Martínez (Fiamma Benítez, m.46), Ane Elexpuru; Salma Paralluelo (Izarne Sarasola, m.78) and Inma Gabarro (Maite Zubieta, m.75).
Coach: Pedro Lopez.
1. Japón: Shu Ohba, Ibuki Nagae (Suzu Amano, m.46), Rion Ishikawa, Mihoshi Sugisawa, Haruna Tabata; Shinomi Koyama, Aemu Oyama (Mei Shimada, m.88), Kokona Iwasaki (Manaka Matsukubo, m.46) ), Aoba Fujino; Yusuki Yamamoto (Maya Hijikata, m.83) y Maika Hamano.
Seleccionador: Futoshi Ikeda.
Referee: the Venezuelan Emikar Caldera. He admonished the Japanese Ishikawa.
Goals: 1-0, m.12: Gabarro. 2-0, m.22: Paralluelo. 3-0, m.27: Paralluelo (p). 3-1, m.47: Amano.
Incidents: Final match of the Women's U20 World Cup in Costa Rica 2022, played at the National Stadium in San José before some 30,000 fans.
