The U.S. Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team has reached the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup semifinals for the second time, and for the first time since the inaugural tournament in 2008, thanks to a 2-0 win over Nigeria. A gritty, hard-fought quarterfinal at the Estadio Cibao FC tilted the USA’s way thanks to an air-tight defensive performance, a bit of creative problem-solving and a commanding one-goal, one-assist performance from midfielder Kennedy Fuller.

The victory reversed the result of the 2022 quarterfinal in India, where the Americans outshot Nigeria by a significant margin before falling in a shootout. It also propelled the USA to the Oct. 30 semifinal in Santiago de los Caballeros (7 p.m. ET) where it will face Asian champion Korea DPR, the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup winner in 2008 and 2016, or World Cup debutant Poland, which finished third at this year’s European championship.

This poised U.S. squad certainly has earned its way to the final four. It finished runner-up in a group that included both 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finalists (Spain and Colombia) as well as a former world champion in Korea Republic. The Americans gelled as the first round progressed and finished with a 5-0 rout of South Korea in the group finale. Then came Nigeria, the 2022 bronze medalist, in the quarters. The Flamingoes finished the group stage 3W-0L-0D and boasted the tournament’s leading scorer, Shakirat Moshood, who had scored four times coming into this match.

U.S. head coach Katie Schoefper made two changes to the lineup that kicked off against South Korea. Maddie Padelski, who scored the fifth goal, earned her first World Cup start against Nigeria and was deployed on the right side of a forward line that also featured striker Mary Long and left wing Melanie Barcenas. The other change was in defense, where Daya King started at right back for the first time since the tournament opener.

The match began as a cagey, somewhat physical and disjointed stalemate that was contested primarily in midfield. The USA didn't manage a shot until Long’s promising 29th-minute effort as Nigeria’s four midfielders created numerical advantages that slowed the American advance. The Flamingoes, meanwhile, were limited to a handful of speculative shots from long range.

The USA began to realize that playing over the Nigerian midfield, or around it toward the wings, was the answer and in the 39th, it was rewarded. A smart one-touch pass from midfielder Ainsley McCammon toward the left flank freed left back Jocelyn Travers to dribble behind the Flamingo defense. Travers was eventually caught, and then brought down, by a recovering Moshood. The referee awarded a penalty kick following a video review and Fuller, the Angel City FC rookie, confidently dispatched it for her third goal of the World Cup. It was also her remarkable 12th in 12 career U-17 games.

The ascendant Americans were unlucky not to double their lead in first-half stoppage time when midfielder Kimmi Ascanio slid a short-range shot toward goal only to see Nigeria’s Jumai Adebayo clear it off the line.

It was U.S. goalkeeper Evan O’Steen’s turn to commit a bit of robbery in the 64th minute. A rare turnover by center back Trinity Armstrong deep in the American half left Nigerian captain Taiwo Afolabi with a clear path toward goal. Her shot from 12 yards out was well hit, but O’Steen reacted brilliantly, dove to her right and knocked it away.

Although sustained attacking possession remained elusive, the U.S. created the better of the chances as the second half progressed, with Fuller, Barcenas and Long all getting looks. Ascanio, the San Diego Wave rookie, then sealed it in the 74th minute. During a play that started with a crunching midfield tackle by McCammon, Fuller hit a beautiful through pass that bypassed one Nigerian defender and split two more as it rolled toward the penalty arc. Ascanio raced onto it and poked her first-time shot underneath the charging goalie. It was Ascanio’s first of the World Cup on Fuller’s second assist.

Although it took the USA nearly half an hour to take its first shot, it wound up putting 10 on target to Nigeria’s three, while holding 57.5% possession. The Americans’ ability to maintain their composure and calmly find solutions to the problem posed by their opponent resulted in a deserved win. McCammon, the Seattle Reign rookie, was brilliant, winning a game-high four tackles and acting as a catalyst for both U.S. goals.

The U-17s’ only previous semifinal occurred 16 years ago in New Zealand where they defeated Germany, 2-1. The USA then lost the final to North Korea, 2-1, in extra time. Future USWNT stars Crystal Dunn, Morgan Gautrat and the Mewis sisters, Kristie and Sam, were part of that squad. The Americans now have a crack at a second U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup medal, and they’re guaranteed a sixth game in the Dominican Republic regardless of the semifinal result. Both the World Cup final and bronze medal matches will be played Nov. 3 back in the capital of Santo Domingo, where the USA opened the tournament.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN

USA -- Kennedy Fuller (Penalty Kick), 43rd minute: A strong dribbling run down the left and into the Nigerian penalty area by defender Jocelyn Travers led to a foul by Shakirat Moshood. Following a video review, Fuller struck a clean penalty kick to put the USA up 1-0. USA 1, NGA 0

USA -- Kimmi Ascanio (Kennedy Fuller), 74th minute: U.S. midfielder Ainsley McCammon won a tackle in midfield and substitute defender Katie Scott tracked down the loose ball before feeding Fuller. Her through ball was perfect, and Ascanio ran onto it and rolled a 16-yard shot under Nigerian goalie Christiana Uzoma. USA 2, NGA 0 FINAL

Additional Notes

• Kennedy Fuller and Melanie Barcenas are tied for the team lead in scoring with three goals each. Two of Fuller’s goals have come from the penalty spot.
• Kimmi Ascanio’s goal was her first of the World Cup and fifth of her U-17 career in 13 caps.
• The USA’s four professional players were once again in the starting lineup in Barcenas and Ascanio, Fuller and Ainsley McCammon, who captained the USA.
• This group of U.S. U-17s have lost just once during this World Cup cycle, that coming in the opening match of this tournament against Spain, and how has a record of 11W-1L-1D.
• University of Alabama forward Maddie Padelski got the start after coming off the bench in all three group games.
• Goalkeeper Evan O’Steen picked up her third shutout of the tournament in three starts. The USA has not allowed a goal since the opening game 3-1 loss to Spain.

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

Match: United States Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team vs. Nigeria
Date: Oct. 26, 2024
Competition: 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup – Quarterfinal
Venue: CFC Stadium; Santiago de Los Caballeros, Dominican Republic
Attendance: 1,022
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. local (3:30 p.m. ET)
Weather: 88 degrees, partly sunny

Lineups:
USA: 21-Evan O’Steen; 18-Daya King (15-Katie Scott, 65), 3-Trinity Armstrong, 5-Kiara Gilmore, 2-Jocelyn Travers; 6-Ainsley McCammon (Capt.), 10-Kennedy Fuller, 7-Kimmi Ascanio (8-Y-Lan Nguyen); 11-Maddie Padelski (17-Micayla Johnson, 65), 20-Mary Long (14-Leena Powell, 90+3), 13-Melanie Barcenas (19-Jaiden Rodriguez, 79)
Substitutes not used: 1-Moly Vapensky, 4-Jordyn Hardeman, 9-Anna Babcock, 12-Wicki Dunlap, 16-Scottie Antonucci
Head coach: Katie Schoepfer

NGA: 1-Christiana Uzoma; 3-Khadijat Adegoke, 4-Hannah Ibrahim, 5-Faridat Abdulwahab, 6-Jumai Adebayo; 8-Shakirat Moshood, 10-Taiwo Afolabi (Capt.); 9-Chidi Harmony, 11-Aishat Animashaun (7-Ramotalahi Kareem, 90+3), 13-Onyedikachi Ekezie (2-Anike Azeez, 43), 18-Blessing Ifitezue (15-Peace Effiong, 15)
Substitutes not used: 12-Asiata Isiaka, 14-Funke Arogundade, 16-Sylvia Echefu, 17-Prisca Nwachukwu, 19-Oghenemairo Obruthe, 20-Muinat Rotimi, 21-Elizabeth Boniface
Head coach: Bankole Olowookere

Stats Summary: USA / NGA
Shots: 16 / 17
Shots on Goal: 10 / 3
Saves: 3 / 7
Corner Kicks: 2 / 1
Fouls: 6 / 11
Offside: 4 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Kimmi Ascanio (Caution)57th minute

Officials:
Referee: Asaka Koizumi (JPN)
AR1: Amal Badhafari (UAE)
AR2: Riiohlang Dhar (IND)
Fourth Official: Olatz Rivera Olmedo (ESP)