Brazil eliminated Canada from the FIFA women’s under-17 World Cup in Rabat, Morocco, winning the quarterfinal match through a penalty shootout. The Brazilian team emerged victorious with a 5-4 score in the shootout, with players like Gabi Pusch, Gi Iseppe, Kaylane, Pepe, and Andreyna converting their penalty kicks against Canadian goalkeeper Khadijah Cisse. Despite efforts from Canada’s Chloe Taylor, Amy Medley, Naomi Lofthouse, and Reed Tingley, Brazil’s goalkeeper Ana Morganti saved Bridget Mutipula’s attempt. The game concluded goalless after regular time, leading to the penalty shootout.
Although Canada had a strong offensive record leading to the quarterfinals, scoring 18 goals and conceding only 2, they struggled against Brazil, who dominated with a 22-6 shot advantage (7-2 shots on target). Brazil will now face defending champion North Korea in the semifinal after North Korea’s 5-1 victory over Japan. In other quarterfinal matches, it will be France versus the Netherlands and Mexico versus Italy on Sunday.
This marked Canada’s fifth appearance in the quarterfinals out of eight under-17 championship participations. The Canadian team reached the semifinals only once in 2018, finishing fourth after losses to Mexico and New Zealand. Brazil, on the other hand, made history by reaching the semifinals for the first time after shutting out China in the round of 16. Canada made two lineup changes, and star forward Giovanna Waksman remained on the bench due to injury. The game saw intense moments, including a referee review and missed opportunities from both teams.
Canada had a successful group stage, finishing on top of Group D, while Brazil secured a spot in the knockout stage by placing second in Group A. The match showcased strong performances from both teams, with Brazil ultimately advancing to the next stage of the tournament.