Undefeated USA eliminated on tiebreaker [Oct 01, 2012]

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[UNDER-17 WOMEN'S WORLD CUP] For the first time, the USA has been eliminated from a FIFA women's championship in the group stage, exiting the 2012 Under-17 Women's World Cup without losing a game. A 1-1 tie with North Korea left the Americans tied with North Korea and France in Group B but third in the final standings on goal difference. The difference was how badly the three teams defeated Gambia's hapless Girl Scorpions. The USA's 6-0 win left it third behind North Korea (11-0 winner) and France (10-2 winner on Saturday thanks to six goals in the final 19 minutes).

North Korea advances to its third straight U-17 quarterfinal after winning the event in 2008 and taking fourth place in 2010. France advances to its first U-17 World Cup quarterfinal stage.

Darian Jenkins scored the USA's lone goal in the second minute, but North Korea responded 72 seconds later on Ri Un Sim's fifth goal of the U-17 Women's World Cup.

The goal was the first and only goal allowed by the USA in the tournament after shutting out France, 0-0, and Gambia, 6-0, in the first two Group B matches.

As it was against France which had a 23-3 edge in shots, the USA was dominated by North Korea. Goalkeeper Jane Campbell made seven saves against a Korean team that outshot the Americans 22-10.

The USA, nonetheless, had a chance to win the game in the 86th minute and go through when Morgan Andrews struck a free kick from about 35 yards out that hit the crossbar near the upper left corner.

The U.S. U-17s leave Azerbaijan without losing a single international game this year. Their overall record in 2012 is 13-0-4.

Sept. 29 in Baku
USA  North Korea 1. Goal: Jenkins 2; Ri Un Sim 4.
USA -- Campbell; Basinger, Bauer, Freeman, Miranda; Andrews (Kaskie, 90), Sullivan (Stanton, 82), Payne; Green, Munerlyn (Bruder, 86), Jenkins.
North Korea -- Rim; Choe Sol Gyong, Kim Hyang Mi, Jon, Choe Yun Gyong, Ri Hyang Sim, Choe Chung Bok , Ri Un Yong, Kim Un Hwa (Kim Phyong Hwa, 74), Ri Un Sim, Ri Kyong Hyang (Kim So Hyang, 88).
Referee: Katalin Kulcsar (Hungary).
Att.: 2,500.