U.S. U-17 Women Routs China PR, Clinches Round of 16 Berth

The U.S Under-17 Women’s National Team moved into sole possession of first place in Group C with a convincing 5-2 win over China PR in the second group stage match for both teams. With the result of the other Group C match that saw Ecuador defeat Norway, 2-0, the USA has clinched one of the top two spots in the group and a berth to the Round of 16.

The USA will finish the first round against Norway on Friday, Oct. 24 at Mohammed VI Football Academy (Pitch 3) in Salé (9 a.m. ET; FS2) with a win or a tie clinching first place in the group.

The USA was powered by two goals each from forward Lauren Malsom and midfielder Nyanya Touray and a single score from forward Maddie DiMaria.

China PR, which was coming off a 5-0 win over Norway, and wasted little time testing the American defense. He Yuanqi got a shot off on target less than a minute into the match, but U.S. goalkeeper Evan O’Steen covered it up easily, but in the 12th minute, China opened the scoring. U.S. defender Sydney Schmidt headed a long goal kick toward the attacking area, but China’s Zhang Kecan latched onto the ball and sent a pass to Zhou Xinyi. Zhou received the ball at midfield and then dribbled into the attacking area before unleashing a left-footed blast from just outside of the 18-yard box that flew into the upper left corner to make it 1-0.

Midfielder Chloe Sadler nearly equalized with a highlight goal of her own in the 19th minute. After a Chinese defender failed to properly clear a U.S. corner, Sadler to a stop before firing a rocket just above the crossbar.

It wouldn’t take long for Lauren Malsom to notch her second goal of the tournament to tie the match. Defender Cali O’Neil forced a turnover at midfield and then slotted a pass to Malson down the right side of the pitch. Malsom dribbled the ball 40-plus yards into the box before cutting inside to her left, nutmegging her defender in the process, before beating the ‘keeper with a brilliant strike into the upper left corner to make it 1-1 in the 27th minute.

The USA then scored twice in four minutes to end the half with a bang. The U.S. made it 2-1 in the 44th minute with a buildup that started with Sydney Schmidt along the left side with a pass to DiMaria. The forward dribbled toward the box with the intention of passing to Touray, but the defender got in front of the pass only for the ball to bounce right back to DiMaria. She took advantage, dribbling her way through the defense and then beating the ‘keeper just inside the left post from the top of the box.

Four minutes later, the USA extended its lead. Defender Pearl Cecil broke the lines with a pass from midfield to Malsom who was about 30 yards from the box. The forward turned and slid a pass to Touray, who got in behind the defense and then slotted a clinical finish from the top of the box to make it 3-1 at the half.

In the 63rd minute, it was 4-1, as forward Micayla Johnson received the ball from O’Neil along the right flank. She promptly drove hard into the box on the dribble, splitting a pair of defenders, enroute to the endline. At the last moment, she fired the ball into the six-yard box where it deflected off the diving goalkeeper. The ball bounced to an open Touray, who calmly tapped it home to make it a three-goal lead.

Five minutes later, midfielder Riley Kennedy got the buildup going with a pass from the bottom of the midfield circle toward the left touchline for DiMaria. After a long dribbling into the attacking area, DiMaria slid a pass to an oncoming Malsom into the left side of the box and she calmly buried her left-footed shot to make it 5-1.

A handball late in the game gave China its second goal-scoring opportunity. Zeng took advantage by curling her shot into the upper far left corner from just outside penalty box to make it 5-2 in the 85th minute, but by that time, the game had been decided.