Under 20 World Cup Update July 1st

Japan 3 Scotland 1
Japan kicked off their Group F campaign with a straightforward 3-1 dismantling of disappointing Scotland in front of a sold-out crowd at Victoria's Royal Athletic Park on 1 July.  The scoreline could have been even worse as the nimble Japanese had the advantage from the start over the clearly tense and out-of-sorts Europeans. But, the Asians were often wasteful with their ample space in the attacking third, and they had to wait to open the scoring until a dreadful mistake just before half-time by Scottish captain Scott Cuthbert gifted a goal to Yosuke Kashiwagi. An impressive long-range effort from Tsukasa Umesaki in the 57th minute and another defensive blunder - this time by previously impressive keeper Andrew McNeil in the 79th minute - sealed Scotland's fate, despite a consolation from substitute Ross Campbell in the 81st. Scotland will be looking to improve in their next match on Wednesday 4 July against 2005 finalists Nigeria, while Japan will try to consolidate their good start to the tournament against Costa Rica on the same day.

Chile 3  Canada 0
The first game from Toronto's brand-new National Soccer Stadium saw South American champions Chile soundly thrash lethargic-looking hosts Canada 3-0 in front of a packed house of 20,000 in the first of Group A's clashes. In minute 25 a harmless-looking ball in from Dagoberto Currimilla was misplayed in the area by Holland-based Marcus Haber. Nicolas Medina then hopped on the gift of a chance to hammer past Asmir Begovic from close in. The Canadians, looking swamped and out of their depth for large portions of the match, were again undone in minute 54 when Carlos Carmona nodded home from inches out after a free kick from the left was headed back across the line. The knockout blow came in the 81st minute, when substitute Jaime Grondona headed home a fine team move with his first touch after only having come on seconds before. Even without their suspended star Alexis Sanchez, Chile look the class of Group A and thoroughly deserving of their first-place perch after one match. Canada coach Dale Mitchell will have some work to do ahead of his next game in four days' time against Austria in Edmonton.

Argentina 0 Czech Republic 0
Holders and five-time U-20 champions Argentina could not find a way past a steely and determined Czech outfit as the second Group E game from Ottawa ended in a scoreless draw. All the pre-tournament hype was about Atletico de Madrid starlet Sergio Aguero and his compatriots, but in the end the industry and collective intelligence of the Czechs proved the crucial factor. Early on it seemed as if the Argentines were going to steam-roll over their European counterparts with Aguero and Mauro Zárate attacking well and forcing defenders firmly on to the back foot. But Miroslav Soukup's Czechs adapted well to create a wall of midfielders and defenders that proved impossible for the talented South Americans to breach. And in what would have been a cruel twist, the Czechs nearly stole the win late only to see a goal-bound bobbler cleared off the line at the last. With Panama and Korea DPR drawing the earlier game in Ottawa, all four of Group E's combatants are tangled on one point each after the opening day ... so it's all to play for with matchday two approaching.

Jordan 1 Zambia 1
A packed crowd in Burnaby's Swangard Stadium saw Jordan make history with their first ever FIFA U-20 World Cup point, following a 1-1 draw with Zambia on Sunday 1 July in the opening game of Group B. The early exchanges went less than promisingly for coach Jan Poulsen's Jordan side, Tariq Al Jumah receiving his marching orders for handling the ball on the goalline. Fwayo Tembo then made no mistake from the penalty spot, putting Zambia into the lead after just eight minutes. The Africans continued to dictate proceedings for much of the first half, only for a defensive error to prove their undoing. A poor clearance from William Njobvu four minutes before the interval forced his own keeper to come charging out at the feet of Jordan striker Loiy Al Zaideh, the resulting rebound falling kindly for the well-placed Abdallah Salim to stroke home. The goal and subsequent dismissal of Rodgers Kola further dampened the spirits of the Zambian players, who struggled to get back into the game. Even the livewire Sebastian Mwansa, a constant menace to the Jordanian backline throughout the opening period, appeared to lose his sparkle after the break. The game gradually lost in intensity, although the African team continued to enjoy the clearer chances to take all three points. Next up for the Asian outfit are Uruguay on 4 July, while Zambia take on tournament contenders Spain.