The U.S. Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team recovered from a rough start and gave Spain all it could handle for most of its 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup opener before falling, 3-1, to the two-time reigning champion.

Group B play will continue in Santo Domingo on Oct. 19 when the USA meets Colombia back at Félix Sánchez Stadium (7 p.m. ET; FS2, Universo and Telemundo digital platforms). Colombia finished runner-up to Brazil at the 2024 South American U-17 Women’s Championship in March and finished second at the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India.

La Roja looked like they might run away with this game after forging an early lead through a potentially demoralizing own goal in just the third minute, but the resilient Americans bounced back quickly and leveled the score on an exquisite 22nd-minute strike from San Diego Wave forward Melanie Barcenas. The match, played in hot and humid conditions, remained even until 20 minutes remained, but then Spain created the winner, scoring from a first-time volley after a shot bounced hard off the crossbar. Spain then notched an insurance goal in the 83rd.

The defeat was the first suffered by the USA in this cycle (its record is now 8W-1L-1D) and the first in a U-17 Women’s World Cup opener since the inaugural competition back in 2008. That team bounced back to reach the final in that tournament.

The eighth FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup is being contested by 16 nations drawn into four groups, with the top two finishers in each quartet advancing to the quarterfinals. The USA, which is looking to reach the knockout stage in consecutive tournaments for the first time, was afforded no favors by the Group B draw. The first two games are against the 2022 U-17 Women’s World Cup finalists and Spain, up first, showed its class.

This U.S. U-17 side was built to contend, however. It features professionals for the first time -- four of them -- as well as four current college players. Five of those eight started against Spain.

Meanwhile, Spain is the sport’s most decorated nation at the U-17 level, having won two World Cups and five World Cup medals (two gold, one silver, two bronze) -- two more than any other nation -- as well as five European titles in a record 11 final appearances. This edition of La Roja romped to another continental crown in May with five wins in five matches and a plus-18 goal differential.

The assignment was formidable, and quickly became more so when Spain took its third-minute lead through an own goal. Barcelona forward Celia Segura smashed a shot off the right post that then took a fortunate (for Spain) deflection off the leg of recovering U.S. defender Jocelyn Travers.

In many cases, a match can get out of hand following a bad bounce like that, but the Americans solidified and did well to keep Spain within range as the first half progressed. La Roja had more of the ball, as expected, but their possession usually came a decent distance from the U.S. goal. On occasion, the American press generated some activity in the attacking third. The USA was in the game and earned a deserved equalizer in the 22nd minute.

It began with a patient build-up out of the back and some quick passes through midfield that freed Ascanio to race at goal from the left. Her contested shot was saved, but Fuller fought hard for the rebound and, while falling, was able to knock it back toward the top of the penalty area. Barcenas was there and with her first touch, rocketed a high,16-yard shot over the helpless goalkeeper. It was Barcenas’ third goal in 15 career appearances with the U.S. U-17s.

The teams remained on equal footing through the end of the first half and the start of the second. Spain continued to possess the ball without much menace, while the U.S. defense held firm and continued to nullify La Roja’s leading scorer, Sevilla’s Alba Cerrato, who had seven goals at the UEFA championship but didn’t attempt a shot in Santo Domingo until the 56th minute. In the 63rd, the cramping Barcenas was replaced by forward Maddie Padelski.

With Spain struggling to find an attacking solution against a U.S. defense that clogged lanes, recovered intelligently and was excellent in the tackle all afternoon, Real Madrid playmaker Pau Comendador, the Spanish captain, tried something different and more hopeful. Rather than try to pass through the U.S., she went over the top, hitting a high, 30-yard shot that struck the top of the crossbar and bounced toward the right corner of the six-yard box. Barcelona forward Noa Ortega, who’d entered the match just five minutes earlier, was alone in front of the goal. She had time to pick the ball out of the air and bounce the rebound past recovering U.S. goalkeeper Molly Vapensky.

Spain finally pulled away in the 83rd. Cerrato wouldn’t be denied forever and after Ortega ran on to a through ball and held off defender Kiara Gilmore, Cerrato was there to curl her shot home from eight yards.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN

ESP -- Own Goal (Jocelyn Travers), 3rd minute: Keeping possession following a throw-in, Spain moved the ball from left to right through the U.S. penalty area before Celia Segura took a shot that crashed off the right post. The ball rebounded immediately off U.S. defender Jocelyn Travers and over the line. USA 0, ESP 1

USA -- Melanie Barcenas (Kennedy Fuller), 22nd minute: A couple of quick U.S. touches in midfield and an excellent through ball from midfielder Y-Lan Nguyen freed striker Kimmi Ascanio on the left. She rounded a Spanish defender inside the penalty area and hit a low shot from an acute angle that was saved but then rebounded into traffic. U.S. captain Kennedy Fuller won the ball and slipped a pass back toward the top of the penalty area as she fell. Barcenas was there and blasted a shot over goalkeeper Laia López from 16 yards. USA 1, ESP 1

ESP -- Noa Ortega, 70th minute: Pau Comendador’s lofted, 30-yard shot from the left struck the U.S. crossbar and bounced high and toward the right side of the frame. The only player there to meet it was Ortega, who volleyed the ball home from close range. USA 1, ESP 2

ESP -- Alba Cerrato (Noa Ortega), 83rd minute: A through ball from midfield split two U.S. defenders and as Ortega and Kiara Gilmore battled for the ball, it bounced back toward Cerrato. Spain’s leading scorer then curled a shot past U.S. ‘keeper Molly Vapensky from eight yards out. USA 1, ESP 3 FINAL

Additional Notes:

The USA’s four professional players in the starting lineup were forwards Melanie Barcenas and Kimmi Ascanio of the San Diego Wave, midfielder and captain Kennedy Fuller of Angel City FC and midfielder Ainsley McCammon from Seattle Reign.
The only current college player in the starting XI was University of North Carolina center back Trinity Armstrong, who’s already an established starter as a freshman for the Tar Heels.
University of Alabama forward Maddie Padelski and Duke University forward Mary Long came off the bench for the USA as head coach Katie Schoepfer made all five allowed subs, as did Spain.
Fuller captained the USA in what was the first-ever World Cup match for all the U.S. players.
Fuller’s assist on the Barcenas goal was her third at the U-17 level.

-U.S. UNDER-17 WOMEN’S YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-

Match: United States Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team vs. Spain

Date: Oct. 16, 2024

Competition: 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup – Group B

Venue: Felix Sanchez Stadium; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Attendance: 3,234

Kickoff: 4 p.m. local (4 p.m. ET)

Weather: 88 degrees, sunny

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F

USA 1 0 1

ESP 1 2 3

ESP – Own Goal (Jocelyn Travers) 3rd minute

USA – Melanie Barcenas (Kennedy Fuller) 22

ESP – Noa Ortega 70

ESP – Alba Cerrato (Noa Ortega) 83

Lineups:

USA: 1-Molly Vapensky; 18-Daya King (15-Katie Scott, 84), 3-Trinity Armstrong, 5-Kiara Gilmore, 2-Jocelyn Travers; 6-Ainsley McCammon, 8-Y-Lan Nguyen (19-Jaiden Rodriguez, 85), 10-Kennedy Fuller (Capt.); 14-Leena Powell (17-Micayla Johnson, 72), 7-Kimmi Ascanio (20-Mary Long, 72), 13-Melanie Barcenas (11-Maddie Padelski, 63)

Substitutes not used: 4-Jordyn Hardeman, 9-Anna Babcock, 12-Wicki Dunlap, 16-Scottie Antonucci, 21-Evan O'Steen

Head coach: Katie Schoepfer

ESP: 1-Laia Lopez; 2-Martina Gonzalez, 5-Amaya Garcia, 12-Aiara Agirrezabala, 15-Nerea Carmona (4-Claudia De La Cuerda, 65); 8-Ainoa Gomez (17-Emma Moreno, 72), 11-Irune Dorado (6-Lorena Cubo, 86), 16-Calara Serrajordi; 9-Celia Segura (7-Noa Ortega, 65), 10-Pau Comendador (Capt.) (18-Iris Ashley Santiago, 86), 19-Alba Cerrato

Substitutes not used: 3-Elena Vazquez, 13-Ziara Vega, 14-Celia Gomez, 20-Natalia Escot, 21-Amor Leigh Martin

Head coach: Kenio Gonzalo