BURTON-ON-TRENT, England (Feb. 15, 2023) – The U.S. Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team fell in a wild 5-4 match in the first of two games against England at St. George’s Park. The teams will meet again on Feb. 18.
The young Americans conceded in just the eighth minute as Michelle Agyemang scored the first of her three goals, but 2022 U-17 Women’s World Cup veteran Onyeka Gamero equalized in the 14th minute
Forward Amalia Villarreal, who was also on the 2022 U-17 WWC Team, carried the ball up the left side of the field and sent in a cross to Gamero near the top of the penalty box. Gamero settled the ball and sent a rocket into the top left corner past the ‘keeper’s outstretched hands.
From there, England ran off three goals in quick succession, striking three times in 17 minutes to take a 4-1 lead into halftime.
The USA then mounted a comeback as 2022 U-17 Women’s World Cup veteran forward Emeri Adames scored in the 54th minute and forward Jaden Thomas tallied in the 74th.
Adames’ goal came after a shot from midfielder Melanie Barcenas from the top of the box was deflected off the post by the England goalkeeper. Adames was first to the rebound to slot it home. The goal from Thomas came after a good sequence of USA connections and she sent a curling shot from the top of the box into the top right corner. The England ‘keeper got her fingertips to the ball but couldn’t turn it out of the net.
With the USA on the cusp of pulling even, Mia Sorrentino scored for England to make it 5-3, but the USA wasn’t done yet.
U.S. midfielder Kendall Bodak scored in the 84th minute as midfielder Claire Hutton slipped a through ball to her at the top of the penalty box. Bodak maneuvered past two defenders in tight space before ultimately beating the ‘keeper, but and time ran out before the USA could produce a fifth goal.
This group of players, made up mostly of players born in 2006, is age-eligible for the 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup which has an age cutoff of players born on or after January 1, 2004.
Match: United States U-17 Women's National Team vs. England U-17 Women’s National Team
Date: February 15, 2023
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Field #9 – St. George’s Park, Burton-on-Trent, England
Weather: 50 degrees, cloudy
Attendance: 120
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 1 3 4
ENG 4 1 5
ENG -- Michelle Agyemang 8th minute
USA -- Onyeka Gamero (Amalia Villarreal) 14
ENG -- Michelle Agyemang 20
ENG -- Ava Baker 22
ENG -- Michelle Agyemang 37
USA -- Emeri Adames 54
USA -- Jaden Thomas 74
ENG -- Mia Sorrentino 78
USA -- Kendall Bodak (Claire Hutton) 84
Lineups:
USA: 1-Kealey Titmuss (12-Sonoma Kasica, 46); 3-Abbi Sine (6-Aven Alvarez, 51), 15-Kami Winger (20-Tanna Schornstein, 46), 7-Jordyn Bugg, 17-Nikki Fraser (4-Carla Small, 46), 10-Eleanor Klinger (18-Claire Hutton, 46), 19-Avery Robinson (13-Grace Restovich, 31), 9-Melanie Barcenas (2-Kendall Bodak, 60), 8-Onyeka Gamero (11-Miri O’Donnell, 68), 16-Amalia Villarreal (Capt.) (14-Jaden Thomas, 60), 5-Emeri Adames
Subs not used: None
Head Coach: Katie Schoepfer
ENG: 1-Katie Cox; 2-Araya Dennis (23-Tia Mai Young, 79), 3-Mari Ward, 4-Laila Harbert (Capt.), 5-Katie Reid, 6-Zara Shaw, 7-Milly Round (15-Lauryn Thompson, 62), 8-Lexi Potter (16-Mia Sorrentino, 62), 9-Michelle Agyemang (17-Millie Curnyn, 62), 10-Lola Brown, 11-Ava Baker
Subs not used: 12-Lucy Newell, 13-Sophia Poor, 14-Holly Deering, 18-Vivienne Lia, 19-Grace Nascimento, 20-Lola Nesbeth, 21-Scarlett Kagalwala, 22-Hope McSheffrey, 24-Isabel Watts
Head Coach: Natalie Henderson
Stats Summary: USA / ENG
Shots: 12 / 11
Shots on Goal: 8 / 7
Saves: 2 / 4
Corner Kicks: 4 / 4
Fouls: 7 / 7
Offside: 6 / 2
Misconduct Summary:
None
Officials:
Referee: Julia Kings (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: Kavanagh (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Sophie Perry (ENG)
Fourth Official: Ruby Cole (ENG)