Women's World Cup U-17 Finale! 4/5/2014.

The honors went to Japan in their bout with Spain. A master-class performance, the Asians dominated the opportunities tally though Spain had the most of possession with 53%. However, it was the Japanese who found goal, striking in the 5th and 78th minutes through Meika Nishida and Fuka Kono respectively. The Japanese ladies played in the same way they had throughout the tournament, a fair game with limited call for cards and a style of play that was comparable to senior side performances. The Spanish for their part brought their flair and creativity, though it was for naught as Japan's goalkeeper Mamiko Matsumoto and her defenders kept the Spaniards at bay. As for the match for third place, it was as explosive as one might have imagined. Italy and Venezuela threw the shackles of performance behind them, both sides went for glory in a game that was as tense as it was a goals-fest. While the Italians' first goal was unanswered for the longest time, the Latin Americans eventually made a game of things. Valentina Bergamaschi opened the account in the 16th minute with Venezuela's Tahicelis Marcano equalizing in the second minute of stoppage time of the first half. Manuela Giugliano struck in the 55th and 61st minutes, on either side of Gabriela Garcia's 60th minute goal. With the match posed 2-3, Venezuela's Gabriela Garcia struck a second in the 68th minute to tie things up as the last twenty minutes counted down. Flaminia Simonetti put the Europeans back in front with a strike in the 79th minute leaving Sandra Luzardo to draw the Latin Americans level in the fifth minute of stoppage time of the second half. Tied up as the two sides were, there was no way that they would be separated besides on penalties with the Italians' keeper Francesca Durante finally showing the form that she had displayed in the earlier part of the competition. With their goalkeeper on point, the Italians proceeded to win the penalty shoot-out 0-2. Congratulations to all the teams that participated and thank you to Costa Rica for a phenomenal U-17 World Cup!