U.S. Under-19 Women’s National Team Falls to Netherlands, 2-1, in First Match of the L’Albir U-19 Women’s International Tournament in Spain

ALICANTE, Spain (Feb. 20, 2024) – The U.S. Under-19 Women’s National Team fell to the Netherlands, 2-1, the first of three matches in Spain at the L’Albir U-19 Women’s International Tournament.

The lone U.S. goal came in just the fourth minute and it was scored by Addison Halpern, who was the USA’s youngest player on the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Team.

The goal originated off a long punt from U.S. goalkeeper Caroline Birkel. Halpern ran the ball down, fought to win it, and then beat the Dutch center back one-on-one before slotting home.

The Netherlands equalized just before halftime and got a game-winner in the 71st minute. The young Americans will next take on England on Sunday, February 23 at Estadio Antonio Solana in Alicante and finish on Wednesday, February 26 vs. Spain Guillermo Amor Stadium Alicante.

Each team will play each other once with three points for a win and one point for a tie. The tiebreakers are goal difference, then goals scored and then Fair Play Ranking.

Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2006, are age-eligible for this U-19 WNT cycle and the 2006 birth year will form the core of the team that will attempt to qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland. This group players – all born in 2006 -- will transition to the U.S. U-20s in August of this year.

--U.S. Under-19 Women's National Team Match Report--

Match: United States U-19 Women's National Team vs. Netherlands U-19 Women’s National Team
Date: February 20, 2025
Competition: L’Albir U-19 Women’s International Tournament
Venue: Jose Rico Perez Stadium; Alicante, Spain
Weather: 60 degrees, mostly sunny

Lineups:
USA: 1-Caroline Birkel, 3-Aven Alvarez, 15-Reese Klein (4-Abby Mills, 73), 5-Elizabeth Boamah, 2-Hope Munson (19-Ines Derrien, 73); 14-Avery Robinson (8-Eleanor Klinger, 63), 6-Grace Restovich (Capt.) (20-Paloma Daubert, 73), 10-Addison Halpern (17-Lily Joseph, 46), 11-Miri O’Donnell (7-Amalia Villarreal, 46); 9-Isabela Engle (13-Kara Croone, 63), 16-Ava McDonald (18-Emily Graham, 46)
Subs not used: 12-Keegan Smith
Head Coach: Carrie Kveton

NED: 1-Danae van der Vliet, 2-Liv Rademaker (12-Kyra Koopman, 63), 3-Anissa Chibani, 4-Aline Weerelts, 5-Inske Weiman, 6-Jasmijn van Uden (18-Sophie van Vugt, 46) 7-Zoë Zuidberg (17-Mirte van Koppen, 63), 8-Ilse Kemper (14-Suus Verdaasdonk,63), 9-Eva Oude Elberink, 10-Jade van Hensbergen, 11-Rose Ivens (21-Lyanne Ledema, 80)
Subs not used:5-Mary Lawrence, 13-Stephanie Hourihan, 16-Britt Young
Head Coach: Roos Kwakkenbos

Stats Summary: USA / NED
Shots: 8 / 14
Shots on Goal: 5 / 7
Saves: 5 / 4
Corner Kicks: 2 / 4
Fouls: 1 / 6
Offside: 3/ 2

Misconduct Summary:
None

Officials:
Referee: Diana Ponce de Leon (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Elizabeth Perez Losa (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Jaime Pascual Andrew Cerda (ESP)