Chicago Stars Forward Micayla Johnson Scores Twice As U.S. Under-19 Women’s National Defeats The Argentina U-20 WNT, 3-1
Kylie Maxwell Also Scores as USA Sweeps Two-Game Series
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (April 17, 2026) – The U.S. Under-19 Women’s National Team defeated the Argentina Under-20 Women’s National Team, 3-1, in the second of two matches in Buenos Aires. Forward Kylie Maxwell scored for the second match in a row and Chicago Stars forward Micayla Johnson tallied twice as the young Americans came from a goal down to win.
Argentina, which fell to the USA, 2-0, in the first match of series on April 14, took an early lead when Annika Paz headed in a cross from the right wing in just the fourth minute.
The USA tied the match in the 29th minute on a penalty kick from Johnson, who earned the spot kick herself when she was fouled from behind after running onto a through ball from Florida Gator Adia Symmonds.
The USA took the lead four minutes into the second half when San Diego Wave midfielder Melanie Barcenas received a pass and made a nice turn with the ball before quickly finding Johnson in the seam at the top of the box. Johnson then poked the ball with her right foot around the goalkeeper and into the net as she was falling to the ground.
That turned out to be the winning goal, but the USA got a clincher in the 71st minute from Maxwell, a forward at Wake Forest. The goal came off a short corner kick and Penn State midfielder Riley Cross drove a service into the penalty box, delivering a beautiful opportunity for Maxwell to head home with confidence from just outside the six-yard line.
Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2006, are age-eligible for the 2026 FIFA Women’s U-20 World Cup in Poland, meaning all 20 players in this camp (16 players were born in 2007 and four in 2008) were training and playing for a shot at that tournament. The U.S. U-19 WNT is unbeaten so far this year with a 4W-0L-1D record.
These matches were a part of the Federation’s continued focus on the U.S. Way philosophy, which emphasizes increased programming for Youth National Teams to create more opportunities for young players to advance through the pathway to the senior National Team with the goal of representing their country at a world championship.
-U.S. UNDER-19 WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-
Match: United States U-19 Women’s National Team vs. Argentina U-20 Women’s National Team
Date: April 17, 2026
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Predio Deportivo Lionel Andres Messi; Buenos Aires, Argentina
Weather: Sunny – 75 degrees
| Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | F |
| USA | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| ARG | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| ARG – Annika Paz | 4th minute |
| USA – Micayla Johnson (Penalty Kick) | 29 |
| USA – Micayla Johnson (Melanie Barcenas) | 49 |
| USA – Kylie Maxwell (Riley Cross) | 71 |
Lineups:
USA: 12-Evan O’Steen; 2-Sealey Strawn (Capt.), 20-Jaida McGrew (3-Bella Devey, 60), 4-Kiara Gilmore, 14-Madeline Herniter (5-Pearl Cecil, 60); 16-Jordyn Hardeman (6-Keira Kemmerley, 46), 10-Mia Lopez (7-Melanie Barcenas, 46), 18-Adia Symmonds (8-Riley Cross, 60); 19-Lauren Malsom (9-Mya Townes, 72), 11-Micayla Johnson (17-Kylie Maxwell, 60), 15-Olivia Stafford (13-Anna Babcock, 46)
Subs not used: 1-Elizabeth Thornton
Head Coach: Carrie Kveton
ARG: 1-Paulina Aprile, 2-Rocio Lueje, 3-Carolina Ceniza (16-Milagros Fernandez, 75) 14-Sofia Quiroga (Capt.) (13-Luisana Araya, 75), 5-Valentina Tesio (17-Zoe Gomez, 46), 6-Luzmila Ramirez, 7-Delfina Lombardi (20-Alexia Mendoza, 68), 8-Julieta Martinez, 19-Annika Paz (9-Valentina Giannineto, 46), 10-Brisa Jara (18-Jazmin Alcetegaray, 68), 11-Micaela Bulacio (22-Pia Alvarez, 75)
Subs not used: 12-Priscila Siben, 4-Juana Cangaro, 15-Oriana Lopez, 21-Oriana Villa, 23-Araceli Saleme
Head Coach: Meloni Christian
Stats Summary: USA / ARG
Shots: 11 / 3
Shots on Goal: 6 / 3
Saves: 4 / 7
Corner Kicks: 8 / 1
Fouls: 10 / 6
Offside: 0 / 1
| Misconduct Summary | |
| USA – Kiara Gilmore (Caution) | 57th minute |