Kolkata: Canada has beaten France 3-1 in their Round of 16 match at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in order to reach the tournament’s quarterfinals.
France had topped their group unbeaten and qualified for the knockout round. Canada had fought off the competition in the group stage and qualified for the knockout round after finishing second, during which they scored a 6-0 win against Tanzania in their final group match.
The match was competitive from the drop of the ball, as both teams were looking to gain control of the game from the beginning of the first half. In the 28th minute, Canada’s Kaylee Hunter scored the first goal of the match by driving a right-footed shot to the top corner of the French net.
Just seven minutes later, Hunter had the ball over the French keeper and tapped it into the second story to put Canada up 2-0 at halftime.
France came out strong in the second half and looked to get back in the game, but Canada kept their composure and countered repeatedly. Towards the end of the half, Hunter put the puck in the empty net to complete her hat-trick and put Canada up 3-0.
France would score one goal in the 81st minute to make it 3-1 Canada, but the French side would not be able to find the equalizer in the final minutes of the match.
With this win, Canada advances to the quarter-finals of the tournament, where they will play the winner of the North Korea.
