U.S. Under-16 Girls’ National Team Defeats the Belgium U-17 WNT 4-0 in Final Match of January Camp
Valentina Perrotta and Bridget Asekomhe Score to Lead USA to First Win of 2026
VALENCIA, Spain (Jan. 15, 2026) – The U.S. Under-16 Girls’ National Team shutout the Belgium U-17 Women’s National Team in the third and final match of their January Camp in Spain. The U-16 GNT faced Germany twice before this match and saw improved results each match, coming away with a loss, a tie and a win today over the Belgians.
A little more than two thirds of the way through the first half, the U.S. opened the scoring. Midfielder Valentina Perrotta won the ball and dribbled up the field. She took a shot from outside the 18-yard box and sent it past the goalkeeper to put the U.S. up 1-0, burying what would ultimately become the game winner.
Perrotta’s goal was the only one of the first half, but less than four minutes into the second, the U.S. tally would double.Forward Bridget Askekohme sent a cross into the box from the left side of the field, driving the ball towards the top of the six-yard box. Forward Kayleigh Cabigon put pressure on a Belgian defender who ultimately deflected the ball into the back of the net.
The next two goals came in quick succession. In the 72nd minute, Asekomhe scored a goal of her own. She shot the ball from inside the box which Belgian goalkeeper Maud Deschutter saved but couldn’t hold. Asekomhe wasted no time jumping on the rebound to put a first-time finish past the Deschutter.
In the 78th minute, forward Eileena Chinyadza scored the final goal of the match. Having subbed on for Cabigon, Chinyadza picked up a loose ball on the top of the 18-yard box as Belgium was trying to build out. Her shot sailed past Deschutter and into the back of the net.
The U.S. didn’t face much in the way of attack with Belgium mustering just five shots to the USA’s 13, while U.S. goalkeepers Gabby Gjeldum and Olivia Hasan combined for two saves to keep Belgium off the board.
The U.S U-16 GNT leaves Spain 1-1-1 to start 2026. All 20 players on this U.S. roster were born in 2010, which is the cutoff birth year to be eligible for the 2027 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, the tournament that this age group of players will be attempting to qualify for at the 2027 Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship.
-U.S. Under-16 Women's National Team Match Report-
Match: United States U-16 Girls’ National Team vs. Belgium U-17 Women’s National Team
Date: Jan. 15, 2026
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Oliva Nova Sports Center - Field #2; Valencia, Spain
Weather: 60 degrees, sunny
| Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | F |
| USA | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| BEL | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| USA – Valentina Perrotta | 35th minute |
| USA – Own Goal | 49 |
| USA – Bridget Asekomhe | 72 |
| USA – Eileena Chinyadza | 78 |
Lineups:
USA: 1-Gabby Gjeldum (21-Olivia Hasan, 46); 13-Ally Damron (15-Dorothea Perry, 55), 5-Cassandra Travers, 4-Brielle Hopkins, 3-Carolyn Voss; 6-Natalia Hanson (16-Camila Fadiga, 46), 8-Isabella Ortiz (Capt.) (18-Makenna Mitchell, 55), 10-Valentina Perrotta (20-Sadie Siedel, 65); 7-Caroline Barrow (14-Lara Almeida,60), 9-Kayleigh Cabigon (17-Eileena Chinyadza, 65), 11-Ryder White (19-Bridget Askekohme, 46).
Subs not used: 2-Emma Sullivan
Head Coach: Katie Schoepfer
BEL: 12-Maud Deschutter; 3-Amélie Vanholderbeke (Capt.), 4-Hailey Van Der Schuren (22-Dieuwke Devlauwe, 46), 5-Fien Vanoverschelde (21-Divine Ogika Obida, 46); 7-Lily Hoeck, 9-Zoë Kasongo (15-Lore Goossens, 76), 10-Esthée Maerschalck (6-Jozefien Demedts, 61),11-Onie Ghysel (13-Nina Van Den Driessche, 46); 14-Lieze Penny (2-Ella Loix, 76), 16-Zoé Van Buggenhou (8-Lili Verstrepen, 61), 18-Eva Vandevelde (19-Lisa Hauspie, 76).
Subs not used: 1-Lore Laneotte, 17-Norah Buijsrogge, 20-Liz Jamssens
Head Coach: Lenie Onzia
Stats Summary: USA / BEL
Shots: 13 / 5
Shots on Goal: 5 / 2
Saves: 2 / 1
Corner Kicks: 8 / 1
Fouls: 4 / 6
Offsides: 5 / 1
| Misconduct Summary |
| BEL – 11-Onie Ghysel (Caution) | 34th minute |
Officials:
Referee: Noelia González (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Ariana Calatayud (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Sandra Baca (ESP)
Fourth Official: Jesús Minguez (ESP)