Following are player ratings from the U17 Women’s National Team’s 0-0 draw vs. France Saturday at the FIFA U17 World Cup in Azerbaijan.

(On a scale of 1-10, 10 being perfect, 6 being average)

Goalkeeper: Jane Campbell, 8 – Player of the Match for the USA. Plays her angles very well. Made an important diving deflection to keep an early cross away from the French forward Diani in front of goal. Also held a couple of long shots and came off her line to deal with a mix up in the defense. Made a fantastic reflex save at around 60 minutes after a poor header from the defense

Defender: Brittany Basinger, 7 – Forward almost as much as she was back in the early going, the Virginian was eager to make an impact down the right wing. Defended resolutely as well, including in the air on set pieces.

Defender: Madeline Bauer, 6 – Marked and covered competently, helping the U.S. keep the clean sheet.

Defender: Miranda Freeman NR – Subbed out after 13 minutes, apparently due to injury.

Defender: Gabrielle Miranda, 7 – Didn’t get forward as much from her left back position, but was especially effective at closing down the French efforts to serve crosses in from her side of the field.

Midfielder: Andi Sullivan, 6 – Had some trouble with her passing in the opening half. Relatively quiet game as the U.S. struggled for possession in the second half.

Midfielder: Morgan Andrews, 6 – Worked hard to win possession in the opening half. Faded a bit in the second half and picked up a yellow card which she will have to watch going forward.

Midfielder: Toni Payne, 6 – A quiet opening half except for being on the receiving end of the best U.S. scoring chance, but her shot was saved from close range.

Forward: DarianJenkins, 6 – Very quiet game until nearly stealing a win with a turn and shot in the closing minutes.

Forward: Margaret Purce, 6 – A quiet opening half save for a strong run up the right that created a scoring chance.Was subbed in the 63rd minute.

Forward: Summer Green, 6 – The farther she kept dropping back into midfield to try and see some of the ball, the more trouble you felt the U.S. team was in. Created the best U.S. chance of the opening half, when she won a midfield battle and played a great through pass for Toni Payne. Saw little of the ball in the second half. Picked up a yellow card for shooting into the goal after being whistled for offside (incorrectly, the replay showed, but play had stopped by the time of her cautioned effort)

Substitutes

Defender: Elizabeth Raben, 6 – Subbed on very early for Freeman in central defense. Made a key block on the goal line during a first half flurry that may have saved a goal.

Forward: Emily Bruder, 6 – Subbed on for Purce in the 63rd minute.

Some general match observations:  Almost surely the toughest group stage opponent so no great tragedy to have drawn this match. I would be more concerned at the inability to attack in a creative fashion or create many chances until very late and a relative inability to keep the ball in the second half.

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