They needed overtime to do it, but Canada won the Cyprus Cup championship by a 2-1 margin over Holland. Just three months ago, Canada had easily defeated Holland 5-0 in a match played in Brazil. This time proved to be much tougher.
The match was played in harsh weather, with rain and very windy conditions. The weather played a part in an early defensive error by the Dutch and Jonelle Filigno, the goal scoring hero against Italy last Friday, once again scored to make it 1-0 for Canada.
Holland was able to tie the match late in the first half. Claudia van den Heiligenberg scored to make it 1-1.
Late in regulation, Erin McLeod suffered a minor injury and had to be replaced by Stephanie Labbé. She was able to keep Holland from scoring any further goals.
Emily Zurrer scored the game winner off of a Diana Matheson corner kick in the 99th minute. Canada completed a solid tournament in which they defeated four strong European sides in the process.
3rd Place: France 3, Scotland 0
Marie-Laure Delie made it her second hat trick of the tournament as she scored all three goals in France's 3-0 victory over Scotland. Bérangèr Sapowicz recorded the shutout for France.
5th Place: England 2, South Korea 0
Sue Smith's brace led England to a 2-0 win over South Korea. After a disappointing run in the group stage of the tournament, England finished strong in taking fifth place.
Karen Bardsley and Siobhan Chamberlain shared the shutout for England.
7th Place: Mexico 5, New Zealand 0
After a scoreless first half, Mexico scored five times in the closing stanza to defeat New Zealand in the 7th place match. Stephany Mayor scored a hat trick to lead the way for Mexico, who finished the tournament unbeaten with two wins and two ties. Dinora Garza added a goal and the fifth was an own goal by New Zealand.
9th Place: Italy 2, Russia 0
Italy won 2-0 over Russia on goals by Patrizia Panico and Giulia Domenichetti.
11th Place: Switzerland 2, Northern Ireland 1
In a match between two teams searching for their first win at the Cyprus Cup, Switzerland edged Northern Ireland 2-1. Lara Dickenmann scored a first half goal to give Switzerland the lead. Northern Ireland tied the match early in the 2nd half, but Martina Moser scored the game winner in the 65th minute.
Showing posts with label South Korea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label South Korea. Show all posts
March 9, 2011
March 7, 2011
Canada and Holland Advance To Cyprus Cup Final
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Labels: Canada WNT, Cyprus Cup, England WNT, France, Holland, Italy, Mexican National Team, New Zealand, Northern Ireland WNT, Russia WNT, Scotland WNT, South Korea, Switzerland
Labels: Canada WNT, Cyprus Cup, England WNT, France, Holland, Italy, Mexican National Team, New Zealand, Northern Ireland WNT, Russia WNT, Scotland WNT, South Korea, Switzerland
Canada won their third straight match at the Cyprus Cup with a 2-0 victory over England in Group A. For Canada, it was their third shutout, this one by Erin McLeod. It was a battle between the world's 9th and 10th ranked teams.
After most of the first half went by scoreless, Christine Sinclair scored on a rebound of Diana Matheson's shot giving the Canadians a 1-0 edge. Halftime substitution Brittany Timko made it 2-0 just ten minutes into the second half. Most of the second half of the match was played in fairly heavy rainfall.
Hope Powell's squad saw massive changes from Friday's match, with Canada also inserting new blood into the lineup.
For Canada, the victory continues an impressive run of soccer dating back to last September. They are 13 wins, 1 loss, and 2 draws over that time. Canada will face Holland, ranked 15th in the world, in the final on Wednesday.
Scotland 0, Italy 0
Scotland and Italy played to a scoreless draw on Monday. It was enough for Scotland to finish in second place in Group A, just one point ahead of England.
It looked like Scotland might win the game late as they were awarded a penalty with just 10 minutes remaining in the match, but Chiara Marchitelli stopped Kim Little's penalty attempt to preserve the tie. Gemma Fay earned the shutout for the Scots.
Holland 6, Switzerland 0
Holland easily defeated Switzerland 6-0 and will play in the championship match against Canada. They were led by a Kirsten van de Ven hat trick and a Chantel de Ridder brace. The Swiss fell behind 2-0 in the first six minutes and never seriously threatened to make it a match.
Holland will now face Canada, a team they lost to by a 5-0 margin at the Torneia Internacional Cidade de Sao Paulo in December.
France 5, New Zealand 2
Marie-Laure Delie scored three times to lead France to a 5-2 victory over New Zealand. Delie scored twice in the first half to give her team a 3-2 lead at the break, after France had fallen behind in the game's opening minutes on an own goal.
Eugenie Le Sommer and Elise Bussaglia added goals for France, while Anna Green scored directly on a corner kick for the Ferns.
Because of their loss to Holland, France settles for a 3rd place match up against Scotland, while New Zealand will meet Mexico, in what should be an interesting 7th place match of two teams headed for the World Cup in June.
Mexico 3, Northern Ireland 1
Mexico was able to finish the Cyprus Cup group stage unbeaten with a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland. However, the Mexicans still fell short of South Korea, who won Group C.
Maribel Dominguez opened the scoring in the 32nd minute on a penalty after Charlyn Corral had been fouled in the box. Corral scored just minutes later to make it 2-0 by halftime.
Northern Ireland cut the lead to one as Rachel Furness headed one home early in the 2nd half. Nancy Gandarilla scored for Mexico late in the match for the final tally. Gandarilla was making her debut for Mexico.
South Korea 2, Russia 1
Ji So-Yun and Yeo Min-Ji scored to lead South Korea to a 2-1 victory over Russia. Ji's goal came in the opening minutes of the match. South Korea led 1-0 at the half.
Russia briefly tied the score in the 77th minute on a goal by Ekaterina Sochneva, but the Koreans quickly answered with Yeo's goal just a minute later for the game winner.
Final Group Standings:
Group A: Canada 3-0-0, 9 pts; Scotland 1-1-1, 4 pts; England 1-2-0, 3 pts; Italy 0-2-1, 1 pt.
Group B: Holland 3-0-0, 9 pts; France 2-1-0, 6 pts; New Zealand 1-2-0, 3 pts; Switzerland 0-3-0, 0 pts.
Group C: South Korea 2-0-1, 7 pts; Mexico 1-0-2, 5 pts; Russia 1-1-1, 4 pts; Northern Ireland 0-3-0, 0 pts.
Finals Day Matches:
Championship: Canada vs. Holland
3rd/4th Place: Scotland vs. France
5th/6th Place: England vs. South Korea
7th/8th Place: New Zealand vs. Mexico
9th/10th Place: Italy vs. Russia
11th/12th Place: Switzerland vs. Northern Ireland
After most of the first half went by scoreless, Christine Sinclair scored on a rebound of Diana Matheson's shot giving the Canadians a 1-0 edge. Halftime substitution Brittany Timko made it 2-0 just ten minutes into the second half. Most of the second half of the match was played in fairly heavy rainfall.
Hope Powell's squad saw massive changes from Friday's match, with Canada also inserting new blood into the lineup.
For Canada, the victory continues an impressive run of soccer dating back to last September. They are 13 wins, 1 loss, and 2 draws over that time. Canada will face Holland, ranked 15th in the world, in the final on Wednesday.
Scotland 0, Italy 0
Scotland and Italy played to a scoreless draw on Monday. It was enough for Scotland to finish in second place in Group A, just one point ahead of England.
It looked like Scotland might win the game late as they were awarded a penalty with just 10 minutes remaining in the match, but Chiara Marchitelli stopped Kim Little's penalty attempt to preserve the tie. Gemma Fay earned the shutout for the Scots.
Holland 6, Switzerland 0
Holland easily defeated Switzerland 6-0 and will play in the championship match against Canada. They were led by a Kirsten van de Ven hat trick and a Chantel de Ridder brace. The Swiss fell behind 2-0 in the first six minutes and never seriously threatened to make it a match.
Holland will now face Canada, a team they lost to by a 5-0 margin at the Torneia Internacional Cidade de Sao Paulo in December.
France 5, New Zealand 2
Marie-Laure Delie scored three times to lead France to a 5-2 victory over New Zealand. Delie scored twice in the first half to give her team a 3-2 lead at the break, after France had fallen behind in the game's opening minutes on an own goal.
Eugenie Le Sommer and Elise Bussaglia added goals for France, while Anna Green scored directly on a corner kick for the Ferns.
Because of their loss to Holland, France settles for a 3rd place match up against Scotland, while New Zealand will meet Mexico, in what should be an interesting 7th place match of two teams headed for the World Cup in June.
Mexico 3, Northern Ireland 1
Mexico was able to finish the Cyprus Cup group stage unbeaten with a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland. However, the Mexicans still fell short of South Korea, who won Group C.
Maribel Dominguez opened the scoring in the 32nd minute on a penalty after Charlyn Corral had been fouled in the box. Corral scored just minutes later to make it 2-0 by halftime.
Northern Ireland cut the lead to one as Rachel Furness headed one home early in the 2nd half. Nancy Gandarilla scored for Mexico late in the match for the final tally. Gandarilla was making her debut for Mexico.
South Korea 2, Russia 1
Ji So-Yun and Yeo Min-Ji scored to lead South Korea to a 2-1 victory over Russia. Ji's goal came in the opening minutes of the match. South Korea led 1-0 at the half.
Russia briefly tied the score in the 77th minute on a goal by Ekaterina Sochneva, but the Koreans quickly answered with Yeo's goal just a minute later for the game winner.
Final Group Standings:
Group A: Canada 3-0-0, 9 pts; Scotland 1-1-1, 4 pts; England 1-2-0, 3 pts; Italy 0-2-1, 1 pt.
Group B: Holland 3-0-0, 9 pts; France 2-1-0, 6 pts; New Zealand 1-2-0, 3 pts; Switzerland 0-3-0, 0 pts.
Group C: South Korea 2-0-1, 7 pts; Mexico 1-0-2, 5 pts; Russia 1-1-1, 4 pts; Northern Ireland 0-3-0, 0 pts.
Finals Day Matches:
Championship: Canada vs. Holland
3rd/4th Place: Scotland vs. France
5th/6th Place: England vs. South Korea
7th/8th Place: New Zealand vs. Mexico
9th/10th Place: Italy vs. Russia
11th/12th Place: Switzerland vs. Northern Ireland
March 4, 2011
Scotland and Holland Post Upsets at Cyprus Cup
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Labels: Canada WNT, Cyprus Cup, England WNT, France, Holland, Italy, Mexican National Team, New Zealand, Northern Ireland WNT, Russia WNT, Scotland WNT, South Korea, Switzerland
Labels: Canada WNT, Cyprus Cup, England WNT, France, Holland, Italy, Mexican National Team, New Zealand, Northern Ireland WNT, Russia WNT, Scotland WNT, South Korea, Switzerland
Upsets were the order of the day at the Cyprus Cup. Scotland were able to shut out England by a 2-0 margin, while France was beaten by Holland 2-1. Canada won their second straight 1-0 shutout, this time over Italy.
Scotland 2, England 0
The Scots got their two goals from Arsenal Ladies players Jennifer Beattie and Kim Little to post a 2-0 victory over neighboring England on Friday. It was the first victory for Scotland against England in over 30 years.
Although it must be noted that England's best player, Kelly Smith, did not play in the match, it was still an impressive victory for Scotland.
Beattie, normally a defender, was moved forward in this match and it paid off handsomely for coach Anna Signeul. In addition to her goal, she also earned an assist on Little's goal in the 1st half.
Shannon Lynn picked up the shutout for Scotland, while a stout Scottish defense helped Lynn keep England off of the scoreboard.
Scotland will now face Italy on Monday, still with an outside chance to win Group A. They need help from England over Canada and then need to win their match by a greater margin.
Canada 1, Italy 0
Canada continued a pattern of strong performances, knocking off Italy 1-0. Young Jonelle Filigno scored the game's only goal, assisted by Christine Sinclair. Italy came close on a few occasions in the second half, but were unable to draw even.
Filigno, who is just 20 years old, scored her sixth career goal as member of the Canadian National Team.
Stephanie Labbé earned a shutout for the Canadians, who have not surrendered a goal in either match at Cyprus.
Canada will now face England on Monday, needing just a tie or a win to secure first place in Group A. Italy will play Scotland in their final Group A match.
Holland 2, France 1
Holland posted a 2-1 upset win over France in Group B action at the Cyprus Cup. Renee Slegers and Manon Melis scored for the victors. Camille Abily scored for France.
The victory over the 8th ranked team in the world puts Holland into the championship match next Wednesday. They will face Switzerland on Monday. France will play New Zealand to decide who finishes in second place for Group B.
New Zealand 2, Switzerland 1
The Football Ferns posted their first win at the Cyprus Cup, with a 2-1 win over Switzerland. New Zealand scored two late first half goals, one by Kirsty Yallop, the other by Betsy Hassett and took a 2-0 lead into the intermission.
Sandy Maendly scored a late goal for Switzerland to close within one, but New Zealand was able to finish with the win. Jenny Bindon got the victory in goal for New Zealand.
New Zealand will now face France on Monday with a chance to finish second in Group B.
Russia 2, Northern Ireland 1
After falling behind early, Russia was able to post a 2-1 win over Northern Ireland.
Ashley Hutton scored her second goal of the tournament to give Northern Ireland a 1-0 lead in the 9th minute. Tatiana Skotnikova answered to tie the score just before halftime. Elena Fomina converted a penalty in the 51st minute to give Russia the lead. A game Northern Ireland squad was unable to equalize.
Russia and South Korea both will enter the final contest with a win and a draw, with the two teams facing each other on Monday. Mexico has posted two ties and still has a chance should they defeat Northern Ireland and the other two teams tie.
Mexico 1, South Korea 1
For the second straight match, Mexico played to a draw, a 1-1 tie with South Korea. Jeon Ga-Eul scored in the 15th minute to give South Korea the early lead. Mexico got the tying goal in the 2nd half with Dinora Garza scoring on a free kick.
Mexico played the last 26 minutes of the match a player short, as Nayeli Rangel received a second yellow card. Erika Vanegas and the Mexican defense were able to keep South Korea off the board for the remainder of the match.
Mexico will face Northern Ireland on Monday and can still finish anywhere from first to fourth depending on the results of the two Group C matches. South Korea can win Group C with a victory against Russia.
Scotland 2, England 0
The Scots got their two goals from Arsenal Ladies players Jennifer Beattie and Kim Little to post a 2-0 victory over neighboring England on Friday. It was the first victory for Scotland against England in over 30 years.
Although it must be noted that England's best player, Kelly Smith, did not play in the match, it was still an impressive victory for Scotland.
Beattie, normally a defender, was moved forward in this match and it paid off handsomely for coach Anna Signeul. In addition to her goal, she also earned an assist on Little's goal in the 1st half.
Shannon Lynn picked up the shutout for Scotland, while a stout Scottish defense helped Lynn keep England off of the scoreboard.
Scotland will now face Italy on Monday, still with an outside chance to win Group A. They need help from England over Canada and then need to win their match by a greater margin.
Canada 1, Italy 0
Canada continued a pattern of strong performances, knocking off Italy 1-0. Young Jonelle Filigno scored the game's only goal, assisted by Christine Sinclair. Italy came close on a few occasions in the second half, but were unable to draw even.
Filigno, who is just 20 years old, scored her sixth career goal as member of the Canadian National Team.
Stephanie Labbé earned a shutout for the Canadians, who have not surrendered a goal in either match at Cyprus.
Canada will now face England on Monday, needing just a tie or a win to secure first place in Group A. Italy will play Scotland in their final Group A match.
Holland 2, France 1
Holland posted a 2-1 upset win over France in Group B action at the Cyprus Cup. Renee Slegers and Manon Melis scored for the victors. Camille Abily scored for France.
The victory over the 8th ranked team in the world puts Holland into the championship match next Wednesday. They will face Switzerland on Monday. France will play New Zealand to decide who finishes in second place for Group B.
New Zealand 2, Switzerland 1
The Football Ferns posted their first win at the Cyprus Cup, with a 2-1 win over Switzerland. New Zealand scored two late first half goals, one by Kirsty Yallop, the other by Betsy Hassett and took a 2-0 lead into the intermission.
Sandy Maendly scored a late goal for Switzerland to close within one, but New Zealand was able to finish with the win. Jenny Bindon got the victory in goal for New Zealand.
New Zealand will now face France on Monday with a chance to finish second in Group B.
Russia 2, Northern Ireland 1
After falling behind early, Russia was able to post a 2-1 win over Northern Ireland.
Ashley Hutton scored her second goal of the tournament to give Northern Ireland a 1-0 lead in the 9th minute. Tatiana Skotnikova answered to tie the score just before halftime. Elena Fomina converted a penalty in the 51st minute to give Russia the lead. A game Northern Ireland squad was unable to equalize.
Russia and South Korea both will enter the final contest with a win and a draw, with the two teams facing each other on Monday. Mexico has posted two ties and still has a chance should they defeat Northern Ireland and the other two teams tie.
Mexico 1, South Korea 1
For the second straight match, Mexico played to a draw, a 1-1 tie with South Korea. Jeon Ga-Eul scored in the 15th minute to give South Korea the early lead. Mexico got the tying goal in the 2nd half with Dinora Garza scoring on a free kick.
Mexico played the last 26 minutes of the match a player short, as Nayeli Rangel received a second yellow card. Erika Vanegas and the Mexican defense were able to keep South Korea off the board for the remainder of the match.
Mexico will face Northern Ireland on Monday and can still finish anywhere from first to fourth depending on the results of the two Group C matches. South Korea can win Group C with a victory against Russia.
March 3, 2011
Canada and England Open with Cyprus Cup Victories
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Labels: Canada WNT, Cyprus Cup, England WNT, France, Holland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Northern Ireland WNT, Russia WNT, Scotland WNT, South Korea, Switzerland
Labels: Canada WNT, Cyprus Cup, England WNT, France, Holland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Northern Ireland WNT, Russia WNT, Scotland WNT, South Korea, Switzerland
Canada won their Cyprus Cup opener over Scotland on the strength of an Emily Zurrer goal in the 70th minute. The University of Illinois product scored her first international goal on the senior level.
Zurrer headed in a Diana Matheson corner kick for the game winner. Erin McLeod earned the shutout for Canada.
England 2, Italy 0
Hope Powell's team got off to promising start with a 2-0 victory over Italy in their Cyprus Cup opener. Goals by Ellen White and Kelly Smith led England to victory.
White took advantage of a defensive error by the Italians early on. Smith's goal was on a penalty after Jess Clarke had been tripped up in the box by Elisabetta Tona.
Holland 4, New Zealand 1
Holland scored three first half goals and coasted their way to a 4-1 victory over New Zealand. Sherida Spitse opened the scoring in the 20th minute and was followed by a Manon Melis brace before intermission.
Sara Gregorius was able to get New Zealand on the board in the 75th minute, before Renee Slegers finished the scoring in the 83rd minute.
France 2, Switzerland 0
Gaëtane Thiney and Camille Abily netted goals as France defeated Switzerland 2-0. Bérangère Sapowicz posted the shutout for the French.
South Korea 3, Northern Ireland 1
South Korea opened Cyprus Cup play with a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland.
Mexico 0, Russia 0
Mexico and Russia played to a scoreless draw on Wednesday, with Erika Vanegas earning the shutout for Mexico.
Zurrer headed in a Diana Matheson corner kick for the game winner. Erin McLeod earned the shutout for Canada.
England 2, Italy 0
Hope Powell's team got off to promising start with a 2-0 victory over Italy in their Cyprus Cup opener. Goals by Ellen White and Kelly Smith led England to victory.
White took advantage of a defensive error by the Italians early on. Smith's goal was on a penalty after Jess Clarke had been tripped up in the box by Elisabetta Tona.
Holland 4, New Zealand 1
Holland scored three first half goals and coasted their way to a 4-1 victory over New Zealand. Sherida Spitse opened the scoring in the 20th minute and was followed by a Manon Melis brace before intermission.
Sara Gregorius was able to get New Zealand on the board in the 75th minute, before Renee Slegers finished the scoring in the 83rd minute.
France 2, Switzerland 0
Gaëtane Thiney and Camille Abily netted goals as France defeated Switzerland 2-0. Bérangère Sapowicz posted the shutout for the French.
South Korea 3, Northern Ireland 1
South Korea opened Cyprus Cup play with a 3-1 win over Northern Ireland.
Mexico 0, Russia 0
Mexico and Russia played to a scoreless draw on Wednesday, with Erika Vanegas earning the shutout for Mexico.
February 24, 2011
Cyprus Cup - Group C Preview
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Labels: Cyprus Cup, Korea Republic, Mexico, Northern Ireland WNT, Russia WNT, South Korea
Labels: Cyprus Cup, Korea Republic, Mexico, Northern Ireland WNT, Russia WNT, South Korea
While Group C doesn't have any of the world's top 15 teams in it, it should be an interesting group to watch. It features a talented, emerging team in Mexico, a solid veteran team in Russia, a young, exciting side in the Korea Republic, and an improving squad from Northern Ireland.
Mexico
Coach: Leonardo Cuellar
World Rank: #22
World Cup: Qualified by finishing second in CONCACAF after defeating the United States 2-1 in the semifinal.
Latest Results:
Torneia Internacional Cidade de Sao Paulo: Lost to Brazil 3-0, Lost to Canada 1-0, Lost to Holland 3-1, Lost to Holland 2-1.
CONCACAF WC Qualifiers: Defeated Guyana 7-2, Defeated Trinidad & Tobago 2-0, Lost to Canada 0-3, Defeated USA 2-1, Lost to Canada 0-1.
Preliminary Roster (final Cyprus Cup roster was not available at press time):
Goalkeepers: Erika Vanegas, Pamela Tajonar, Cecilia Santiago.
Defenders: Kenti Robles, Marlene Sandoval, Rosario Saucedo, Maria Castillo, Leticia Villalpando, Natalie Vinti, Monica Alvarado.
Midfielders: Nayeli Rangel, Monica Vergara, Tania Morales, Evelyn Lopez, Guadalupe Worbis, Liliana Mercado, Teresa Noyola,.
Forwards: Charlyn Corral, Stephany Mayor, Dinora Garza, Maribel Dominguez, Veronica Perez.
The Cyprus Cup will be a major test for the Mexicans leading up to the 2011 World Cup. On one hand, they have a victory over the world’s number one ranked team under their belts and have played some very good teams close, including a pair of 1-0 losses to Canada. On the other hand, their record stands at just 4-11 over the past 15 matches, with the only win of any substance being the 2-1 upset over the United States in CONCACAF qualifying. To be sure, the Mexicans are a young talented team, but will they be ready to take on the world’s best in June?
One player that is essential to their World Cup plans is Maribel Dominguez, Mexico’s leading scorer who plays club soccer in Spain. Dominguez has good speed and uses well-timed runs to get in behind opposing defenses. Other top offensive players include Charlyn Corral, Stephany Mayor, Veronica Perez, and Dinora Garza.
Mexico is led in the midfield by Nayeli Rangel and Guadalupe Worbis. Kenti Robles, who also plays club soccer in Spain, is a top defender. American college star Teresa Noyola, who recently made the decision to play for Mexico, will be vying for a midfield spot on the roster. The goalkeeper battle appears to be between Erika Vanegas and Pam Tajonar, with Vanegas getting the bulk of the minutes over the past year. Monica Ocampo, Natalie Garcia, and Renae Cuellar may not make the trip to Cyprus because of injuries.
Group C will be a solid test for Mexico. With Russia and South Korea being ranked in the top 20, coach Leonardo Cuellar should be able to get some measure of his team’s progress in this tournament.
Northern Ireland
Coach: Alfie Wylie
World Rank: #64
World Cup: Failed to qualify after finishing third in UEFA Group 1 behind France and Iceland.
Latest Results:
UEFA WC Qualifying (Since July, 2010): Defeated Estonia 3-0, Tied Serbia 0-0, Defeated Croatia 3-1.
Cyprus Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Emma Higgins, Ciara McCoy.
Defenders: Kelly Bailie, Lyndsay Corry, Ashley Hutton, Julie Nelson.
Midfielders: Nadene Caldwell, Danielle McDowell, Kirsty McGuiness, Nicola McWilliams, Kim Turner, Demi Vance.
Forwards: Rachel Furness, Trudy Harbinson, Simone Magill, Sarah McFadden, Helen McKenna, Alison Smyth.
The lowest ranked team in the tournament at number 64, Northern Ireland sees this tournament as an opportunity for improvement and growth. They are a very young team, looking toward the future. They have shown progress lately. After losing five straight qualifying matches, they finished group play with two wins and two draws, surrendering just one goal over those four matches.
Defensively, they are a tough unit. With the exception of the 10 goals they gave up in the two matches against France, they played sound defense in qualifying matches. The defense is led by team captain Ashley Hutton. Hutton, Kim Turner, and Sarah McFadden all played college soccer at Southern Mississippi here in the States. Emma Higgins is the number one keeper.
Scoring has been the biggest problem for Northern Ireland. Rachel Furness was their biggest scorer in World Cup qualifying matches with four goals. But two talented young players from the U-17 team may be the key to the future for this team. Simone Magill and Kirsty McGuiness appear to have a bright future ahead of them.
Russia
Coach: Igor Shalimov
World Rank: #20
World Cup: Failed to qualify after finishing second to Switzerland in UEFA Group 6.
Latest Results:
Friendlies: Lost to Finland 4-5.
UEFA WC Qualifying (since July, 2010): Defeated Kazakhstan 8-0, Tied Republic of Ireland 1-1.
Preliminary Roster (final Cyprus Cup roster was not available at press time):
Goalkeepers: Elvira Todua, Elena Kochneva.
Defenders: Anna Kozhnikova, Nadezhda Myskiv, Natalia Pertseva, Daria Makarenko, Elena Semenchenko, Elena Suslov, Oksana Shmachkova, Ksenia Tsybutovich.
Midfielders: Elena Fomina, Nadezhda Kharchenko, Elena Morozova, Olga Petrova, Alla Rogova, Tatiana Skotnikova, Ekaterina Sochneva, Svetlana Tsydikova.
Forwards: Anna Cholovyaga, Elena Danilova, Olesya Kurochkina, Elena Terekhova.
The Russians fell two points short of making the UEFA WC Playoff round, after a disappointing 3-0 loss to Switzerland at home last June. They must now look to build toward the 2013 Euro tournament.
Russia’s most talented offensive player is Elena Danilova. Danilova scored five goals in just five qualifying matches. Still just 23 years old, Danilova scored a goal against Germany in the World Cup quarterfinals back in 2003 at age 16. Olesya Kurochkina led all Russian scorers with six goals in qualification.
Tatiana Skotnikova is a top player in the Russian midfield. The long-time veteran gives the Russians a great amount of experience in the midfield. Anna Kozhnikova is a threat to score out of the back line. Goalkeeping duties are held down by two relative youngsters in Elvira Todua and Elena Kochneva.
After just missing the playoff round for World Cup qualification, Russia will be looking to put together a good tournament and possibly win Group C.
South Korea (Korea Republic)
Coach: Choi In-Cheul
World Rank: #18
World Cup: Failed to qualify after finishing third in the group stage of the 2010 Asian Cup.
Latest Results:
Asian Games: Defeated Vietnam 6-1, Defeated Jordan 5-0, Defeated China 0-0 on penalty kicks, Lost to Korea DPR 1-3, Defeated China 2-0.
Peace Cup: Tied New Zealand 0-0, Tied England 0-0, Defeated Australia 2-0.
Cypress Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Jun Min-Kyung, Moon So-Ri.
Defenders: Lim Seon-Joo, Jung Young-A, Lee Jin-Hwa, Yu Ji-Eun, Hwang Bo-Ram, Shim Seo-Yeon, Lee Eun-Mi, Kim Hye-Ri.
Midfielders: Kim Na-Rae, Jung Won-Jung, Lee Hyun-Young, Jeon Ga-Eul, Kim Soo-Yun, Kwon Hah-Nul, Lee Sea-Eun, Kwon Eun-Som.
Forwards: Yeo Min-Ji, Ji So-Yun, Park Hee-Young, Yoo Young-A.
After a disappointing finish in the Asian Cup, Korea redeemed themselves in the Peace Cup, managing a win and two ties against three World Cup bound teams. They followed that with a strong third place finish at the Asian Games, losing only to Korea DPR.
Two things about this team…they are improving and they are young….very, very young. Seventeen of the 22 players they are sending to the Cyprus Cup are 22 years old or younger. They have only one player on their roster that is older than 26, that being Yu Ji-Eun. The future looks very bright for this team.
While Park Hee-Young is their leading scorer, Ji So-Yun and Yoo Young-A have been lighting up the scoreboard lately. Ji, who just turned 20, has been quite the sensation. She scored five goals in the Asian Games, including a hat trick against Jordan.
Korea boasts a talented group of young midfielders in Jeon Ga-Eul, Kim Soo-Yun, and Kwon Hah-Nul. They are led on defense by their most experienced player, Yu Ji-Eun, and Lee Eun-Mi, who has 11 goals in just 31 international matches. Goalkeeping duties belong to Jun Min-Kyung. This team should be one of the most exciting teams to watch at the Cyprus Cup.
Mexico
Coach: Leonardo Cuellar
World Rank: #22
World Cup: Qualified by finishing second in CONCACAF after defeating the United States 2-1 in the semifinal.
Latest Results:
Torneia Internacional Cidade de Sao Paulo: Lost to Brazil 3-0, Lost to Canada 1-0, Lost to Holland 3-1, Lost to Holland 2-1.
CONCACAF WC Qualifiers: Defeated Guyana 7-2, Defeated Trinidad & Tobago 2-0, Lost to Canada 0-3, Defeated USA 2-1, Lost to Canada 0-1.
Preliminary Roster (final Cyprus Cup roster was not available at press time):
Goalkeepers: Erika Vanegas, Pamela Tajonar, Cecilia Santiago.
Defenders: Kenti Robles, Marlene Sandoval, Rosario Saucedo, Maria Castillo, Leticia Villalpando, Natalie Vinti, Monica Alvarado.
Midfielders: Nayeli Rangel, Monica Vergara, Tania Morales, Evelyn Lopez, Guadalupe Worbis, Liliana Mercado, Teresa Noyola,.
Forwards: Charlyn Corral, Stephany Mayor, Dinora Garza, Maribel Dominguez, Veronica Perez.
The Cyprus Cup will be a major test for the Mexicans leading up to the 2011 World Cup. On one hand, they have a victory over the world’s number one ranked team under their belts and have played some very good teams close, including a pair of 1-0 losses to Canada. On the other hand, their record stands at just 4-11 over the past 15 matches, with the only win of any substance being the 2-1 upset over the United States in CONCACAF qualifying. To be sure, the Mexicans are a young talented team, but will they be ready to take on the world’s best in June?
One player that is essential to their World Cup plans is Maribel Dominguez, Mexico’s leading scorer who plays club soccer in Spain. Dominguez has good speed and uses well-timed runs to get in behind opposing defenses. Other top offensive players include Charlyn Corral, Stephany Mayor, Veronica Perez, and Dinora Garza.
Mexico is led in the midfield by Nayeli Rangel and Guadalupe Worbis. Kenti Robles, who also plays club soccer in Spain, is a top defender. American college star Teresa Noyola, who recently made the decision to play for Mexico, will be vying for a midfield spot on the roster. The goalkeeper battle appears to be between Erika Vanegas and Pam Tajonar, with Vanegas getting the bulk of the minutes over the past year. Monica Ocampo, Natalie Garcia, and Renae Cuellar may not make the trip to Cyprus because of injuries.
Group C will be a solid test for Mexico. With Russia and South Korea being ranked in the top 20, coach Leonardo Cuellar should be able to get some measure of his team’s progress in this tournament.
Northern Ireland
Coach: Alfie Wylie
World Rank: #64
World Cup: Failed to qualify after finishing third in UEFA Group 1 behind France and Iceland.
Latest Results:
UEFA WC Qualifying (Since July, 2010): Defeated Estonia 3-0, Tied Serbia 0-0, Defeated Croatia 3-1.
Cyprus Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Emma Higgins, Ciara McCoy.
Defenders: Kelly Bailie, Lyndsay Corry, Ashley Hutton, Julie Nelson.
Midfielders: Nadene Caldwell, Danielle McDowell, Kirsty McGuiness, Nicola McWilliams, Kim Turner, Demi Vance.
Forwards: Rachel Furness, Trudy Harbinson, Simone Magill, Sarah McFadden, Helen McKenna, Alison Smyth.
The lowest ranked team in the tournament at number 64, Northern Ireland sees this tournament as an opportunity for improvement and growth. They are a very young team, looking toward the future. They have shown progress lately. After losing five straight qualifying matches, they finished group play with two wins and two draws, surrendering just one goal over those four matches.
Defensively, they are a tough unit. With the exception of the 10 goals they gave up in the two matches against France, they played sound defense in qualifying matches. The defense is led by team captain Ashley Hutton. Hutton, Kim Turner, and Sarah McFadden all played college soccer at Southern Mississippi here in the States. Emma Higgins is the number one keeper.
Scoring has been the biggest problem for Northern Ireland. Rachel Furness was their biggest scorer in World Cup qualifying matches with four goals. But two talented young players from the U-17 team may be the key to the future for this team. Simone Magill and Kirsty McGuiness appear to have a bright future ahead of them.
Russia
Coach: Igor Shalimov
World Rank: #20
World Cup: Failed to qualify after finishing second to Switzerland in UEFA Group 6.
Latest Results:
Friendlies: Lost to Finland 4-5.
UEFA WC Qualifying (since July, 2010): Defeated Kazakhstan 8-0, Tied Republic of Ireland 1-1.
Preliminary Roster (final Cyprus Cup roster was not available at press time):
Goalkeepers: Elvira Todua, Elena Kochneva.
Defenders: Anna Kozhnikova, Nadezhda Myskiv, Natalia Pertseva, Daria Makarenko, Elena Semenchenko, Elena Suslov, Oksana Shmachkova, Ksenia Tsybutovich.
Midfielders: Elena Fomina, Nadezhda Kharchenko, Elena Morozova, Olga Petrova, Alla Rogova, Tatiana Skotnikova, Ekaterina Sochneva, Svetlana Tsydikova.
Forwards: Anna Cholovyaga, Elena Danilova, Olesya Kurochkina, Elena Terekhova.
The Russians fell two points short of making the UEFA WC Playoff round, after a disappointing 3-0 loss to Switzerland at home last June. They must now look to build toward the 2013 Euro tournament.
Russia’s most talented offensive player is Elena Danilova. Danilova scored five goals in just five qualifying matches. Still just 23 years old, Danilova scored a goal against Germany in the World Cup quarterfinals back in 2003 at age 16. Olesya Kurochkina led all Russian scorers with six goals in qualification.
Tatiana Skotnikova is a top player in the Russian midfield. The long-time veteran gives the Russians a great amount of experience in the midfield. Anna Kozhnikova is a threat to score out of the back line. Goalkeeping duties are held down by two relative youngsters in Elvira Todua and Elena Kochneva.
After just missing the playoff round for World Cup qualification, Russia will be looking to put together a good tournament and possibly win Group C.
South Korea (Korea Republic)
Coach: Choi In-Cheul
World Rank: #18
World Cup: Failed to qualify after finishing third in the group stage of the 2010 Asian Cup.
Latest Results:
Asian Games: Defeated Vietnam 6-1, Defeated Jordan 5-0, Defeated China 0-0 on penalty kicks, Lost to Korea DPR 1-3, Defeated China 2-0.
Peace Cup: Tied New Zealand 0-0, Tied England 0-0, Defeated Australia 2-0.
Cypress Cup Roster:
Goalkeepers: Jun Min-Kyung, Moon So-Ri.
Defenders: Lim Seon-Joo, Jung Young-A, Lee Jin-Hwa, Yu Ji-Eun, Hwang Bo-Ram, Shim Seo-Yeon, Lee Eun-Mi, Kim Hye-Ri.
Midfielders: Kim Na-Rae, Jung Won-Jung, Lee Hyun-Young, Jeon Ga-Eul, Kim Soo-Yun, Kwon Hah-Nul, Lee Sea-Eun, Kwon Eun-Som.
Forwards: Yeo Min-Ji, Ji So-Yun, Park Hee-Young, Yoo Young-A.
After a disappointing finish in the Asian Cup, Korea redeemed themselves in the Peace Cup, managing a win and two ties against three World Cup bound teams. They followed that with a strong third place finish at the Asian Games, losing only to Korea DPR.
Two things about this team…they are improving and they are young….very, very young. Seventeen of the 22 players they are sending to the Cyprus Cup are 22 years old or younger. They have only one player on their roster that is older than 26, that being Yu Ji-Eun. The future looks very bright for this team.
While Park Hee-Young is their leading scorer, Ji So-Yun and Yoo Young-A have been lighting up the scoreboard lately. Ji, who just turned 20, has been quite the sensation. She scored five goals in the Asian Games, including a hat trick against Jordan.
Korea boasts a talented group of young midfielders in Jeon Ga-Eul, Kim Soo-Yun, and Kwon Hah-Nul. They are led on defense by their most experienced player, Yu Ji-Eun, and Lee Eun-Mi, who has 11 goals in just 31 international matches. Goalkeeping duties belong to Jun Min-Kyung. This team should be one of the most exciting teams to watch at the Cyprus Cup.
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