Brazil halted Canada’s journey at the FIFA women’s under-17 World Cup in Rabat, Morocco, by prevailing in a quarterfinal clash through a penalty shootout. Gabi Pusch, Gi Iseppe, Kaylane, Pepe, and Andreyna successfully converted their penalties, securing a 5-4 win over Canada. Despite efforts from Chloe Taylor, Amy Medley, Naomi Lofthouse, and Reed Tingley, Brazil’s goalkeeper, Ana Morganti, denied Bridget Mutipula’s attempt, ultimately clinching the victory.
The match ended in a scoreless stalemate after regular time, leading to a penalty shootout. Brazil demonstrated a more aggressive offensive approach in the first half and maintained pressure in the second but struggled to breach Canada’s defense. The young Canadian team, which had dominated previous matches by outscoring opponents 18-2, including a 6-0 victory over Zambia in the Round of 16, faced challenges in generating an effective attacking game against Brazil.
With a significant margin in shots, Brazil outshot Canada 22-6, with a notable 7-2 advantage in shots on target. Moving forward, Brazil is set to meet defending champions North Korea in the semifinals following their 5-1 victory over Japan. Meanwhile, France will face the Netherlands, and Mexico will compete against Italy in the upcoming quarterfinal matches.
This marked Canada’s fifth appearance in the quarterfinals out of eight under-17 championship participations. The Canadian women reached the semifinals only once in 2018, finishing fourth after defeats to Mexico and New Zealand. On the other hand, Brazil, after a 3-0 victory over China in the round of 16, achieved their first semifinal appearance in three previous quarterfinal attempts.
The game at Olympic Stadium marked Canada’s transition from the Football Academy Mohammed VI, where they had secured four consecutive wins. Canada’s head coach made strategic lineup changes, including the return of Tingley from suspension. Star forward Giovanna Waksman, a key scorer for Brazil, remained on the bench due to injury concerns.
Despite early pressure from Brazil, both teams struggled with turnovers. A pivotal moment in the game saw a challenge from Canada over a potential handling violation by Brazil’s goalkeeper, which was upheld by the referee after video review. The match remained intense, with both teams creating scoring opportunities throughout the game.
Canada’s progression to the knockout stage was fueled by victories in Group D, while Brazil secured a second-place finish in Group A. The dynamic performances of both teams have set the stage for an exciting continuation of the tournament.
