US Wins U20 World Cup

Leroux Scores Again in 2-1 Victory Over Korea

December 8, 2008

LA FLORIDA, Chile � The United States Under-20 Women�s soccer team downed Korea, 2-1, to win the 2008 U20 Women�s World Cup.

The U.S. got first-half goals Sydney Leroux and Alex Morgan to secure the win. For Leroux, it was her fifth goal of the tournament as she earned the Golden Shoe as the tournament�s top scorer.

The U.S. defense, which allowed a tournament-low three goals in six games, allowed North Korea�s lone score with just 90 seconds left in second half stoppage time. It was the only goal allowed during the five matches played by U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, who was awarded the Golden Glove as the best �keeper in the tournament.

Sydney Leroux scored for the Americans on Sunday. (Hernan Contreras/isiphotos.com).

�I�d like to congratulate North Korea on a wonderful effort,� said U.S. coach and Connecticut Tony DiCicco. �It was obviously very difficult for us to hold onto the lead because they kept coming at us and giving us trouble possessing the ball, but I am very, very proud of my players tonight. We won because we played very good defense throughout this tournament and because Sydney Leroux and Alex Morgan scored as many goals as they did.�

The victory also completed a historic treble of sorts for DiCicco, who led the full U.S. Women�s National Team to the 1996 Olympic gold medal as well as the ground-breaking 1999 FIFA Women�s World Cup title.

After the initial pressure from the Asian champions, the U.S. settled into their rhythm and in the 23rd minute struck first. A deflected shot from Morgan was poorly cleared and bounced to Keelin Winters who was about 30 yards from the goal. Winters� deft first-time touch to Leroux was settled perfectly and she quickly wheeled toward goal and struck a side-footed shot into the right side of the net from 18 yards out.

�It�s an absolutely amazing feeling,� said Leroux. �I�ve never felt like this before in my life. After the game we were all crying because it just felt so amazing. I�m so happy with my team and the way we played the whole way through. We�ve gone through a lot together and to go to the final and have the gold medals around our necks is just amazing.�

Just three minutes before halftime, Morgan tallied the crucial goal when she doubled the USA�s lead on a remarkable individual dribbling run after receiving a throw-in from Elli Reed near the right sideline.

Morgan settled the bouncing ball as she spun around a defender and took off toward goal. She spilt two more defenders with lengthy strides, but then almost lost the ball as a North Korea defender came hard into the tackle. She was able to keep control, then beat another defender with a quick move to the inside before sliding to smack a 26-yard shot with her left foot into the upper left corner of the net.

�I think we were happy with a 1-0 lead, but once it became 2-0 I think we realized that we weren�t going to lose this one,� said Morgan. �We stepped it up after the first goal and we didn�t let them come back.�

With time ticking away, North Korea stepped up its pressure and created a number of dangerous opportunities before finally putting away a goal in the 92nd minute on a nice volley from Cha Hu Nam. That proved to be too little, too late for the North Koreans, who did not get another good chance.

The U.S. triumph capped a big year for the U.S. Women�s National Team programs, which advanced to the championship game of all three FIFA women�s tournaments this year, winning the 2008 Olympics and finishing second at the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women�s World Cup. The victory for the U-20s makes the United States the first country to win two women�s world titles in the same calendar year.

U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT

Scoring Summary:
USA � Sydney Leroux (Keelin Winters) 23rd minute
USA � Alex Morgan (unassisted) 42nd
PRK - Cha Hu Nam (Ri Ye Gyong) 92+

Lineups:
USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 6-Elli Reed, 15-Lauren Fowlkes, 17-Nikki Marshall, 3-Meghan Klingenberg; 11-Christine Nairn (12-Ingrid Wells 81), 14-Keelin Winters (capt.), 8-Becky Edwards; 16-Nikki Washington (10-Michelle Enyeart, 65), 13-Alex Morgan, 19-Sydney Leroux

PRK: 1- Kim Un Ju; 3-Pak Kuk Hui, 16-Sin Sol Ryon, 17-Ri Un Hyang; 6-Kim Chun Hui, 7-Ri Ye Gyong, 9-Choe Un Ju, 12-Ri Jong Sim (10-Ri Hyon Suk, 42), 14-Hwang Song Mi; 11-Ra Un Sim (capt.), 20-Cha Hu Nam

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