Japan’s Mami Ueno awarded Golden Boot

Japan forward Mami Ueno took out the Adidas Golden Boot award for her outstanding performance overall in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup 2016 staged in Port Moresby.

Ueno scored five goals overall in the tournament and assisted her team mates to score two goals.

She scored a hat-trick during Japan’s first win of the group round against Nigeria 6-0.

The 20 year old scored her fourth goal to help her team to victory against Canada 5-0 in the last match of the group round.

Ueno scored her fifth goal which was the only goal scored in the playoff against the United States 1-0 to help her team win the bronze medal.

She scored in the 86th minute, sweeping a clear shot from the right in the penalty box, finding the top left corner of the net.

"I hadn't realised before the match that I was in with a chance of winning this prize, but I'm obviously thrilled,” Ueno told FIFA.com.

"This was my first World Cup and I was nervous at the beginning, but my confidence grew with every game and I've enjoyed the experience of playing in another country and continent."

The Silver Boot was awarded to Brazil’s Gabi Nunes who also scored five goals overall in the tournament and assisted her team mates to score only one goal.

Brazil midfielder Gabi Nunes scored her first two goals against PNG and one goal each against Korea DPR, Sweden and Japan.

Sweden’s Stina received the Bronze Boot award for also scoring five goals in the tournament.

Blackstenius was the first to score five goals, four against home side Papua New Guinea and one goal against Brazil in the group round matches. 

In other awards, the Adidas Golden Ball was awarded to Hina Sugita of Japan, Kim So-hyang of Korea DPR received the Silver Ball and France’s Delphine Cascarino received the Bronze Ball.      

The FIFA Fair Play Award was awarded to Team Japan.

Author: 
Quintina Naime