Feb. 15: England 5, USA 4

The U.S. Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team fell in a wild 5-4 match in the first of two games against England at St. George’s Park. The teams will meet again on Feb. 18.

The young Americans conceded in just the eighth minute as Michelle Agyemang scored the first of her three goals, but 2022 U-17 Women’s World Cup veteran Onyeka Gamero equalized in the 14th minute

Forward Amalia Villarreal, who was also on the 2022 U-17 WWC Team, carried the ball up the left side of the field and sent in a cross to Gamero near the top of the penalty box. Gamero settled the ball and sent a rocket into the top left corner past the ‘keeper’s outstretched hands.

From there, England ran off three goals in quick succession, striking three times in 17 minutes to take a 4-1 lead into halftime.

The USA then mounted a comeback as 2022 U-17 Women’s World Cup veteran forward Emeri Adames scored in the 54th minute and forward Jaden Thomas tallied in the 74th.

Adames’ goal came after a shot from midfielder Melanie Barcenas from the top of the box was deflected off the post by the England goalkeeper. Adames was first to the rebound to slot it home. The goal from Thomas came after a good sequence of USA connections and she sent a curling shot from the top of the box into the top right corner. The England ‘keeper got her fingertips to the ball but couldn’t turn it out of the net.

With the USA on the cusp of pulling even, Mia Sorrentino scored for England to make it 5-3, but the USA wasn’t done yet.

U.S. midfielder Kendall Bodak scored in the 84th minute as midfielder Claire Hutton slipped a through ball to her at the top of the penalty box. Bodak maneuvered past two defenders in tight space before ultimately beating the ‘keeper, but and time ran out before the USA could produce a fifth goal.

This group of players, made up mostly of players born in 2006, is age-eligible for the 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup which has an age cutoff of players born on or after January 1, 2004.

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

Match: United States U-17 Women's National Team vs. England U-17 Women’s National Team
Date: February 15, 2023
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Field #9 – St. George’s Park, Burton-on-Trent, England
Weather: 50 degrees, cloudy
Attendance: 120

Scoring Summary:   1          2          F         
USA                            1          3          4
ENG                            4          1          5

ENG -- Michelle Agyemang                               8th minute
USA -- Onyeka Gamero (Amalia Villarreal)    14
ENG -- Michelle Agyemang                               20
ENG -- Ava Baker                                                22
ENG -- Michelle Agyemang                               37
USA -- Emeri Adames                                        54
USA -- Jaden Thomas                                        74
ENG -- Mia Sorrentino                                        78
USA -- Kendall Bodak (Claire Hutton)             84                

Lineups:

USA:1-Kealey Titmuss (12-Sonoma Kasica, 46); 3-Tabitha Sine (6-Aven Alvarez, 51), 15-Kamryn Winger (20-Tanna Schornstein, 46), 7-Jordyn Bugg, 17-Nikki Fraser (4-Carla Small, 46), 10-Eleanor Klinger (18-Claire Hutton, 46), 19-Avery Robinson (13-Grace Restovich, 31), 9-Melanie Barcenas (2-Kendall Bodak, 60), 8-Onyeka Gamero (11-Miri O’Donnell, 68), 16-Amalia Villarreal (Capt.) (14-Jaden Thomas, 60), 5-Emeri Adames

Feb 18: USA 3, England 1

The U.S. Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team defeated England, 3-1, at St. George’s Park to complete a two-game series as Kendall Bodak, Onyeka Gamero and Emeri Adames scored for the USA.

The victory gives the USA a split in the series after a 5-4 loss to England on Feb. 15. The USA opened the scoring in the 19th minute when Gamero carried the ball down the left side and sent a low cross in front of goal that met Bodak’s run at the far post. Bodak shot back across net into the lower left corner to give the USA the lead.

England equalized just before halftime, and the match stayed knotted at 1-1 until the first minute of second half stoppage time. With England playing with 10 women on the field due to an injury that occurred after it had used all its allowed substitutes, Gamero dribbled through several defenders inside the penalty area before slotting home the game-winner.

The USA wasn’t done yet, as three minutes later forward Amalia Villarreal brought the ball down the left side and crossed to Adames at the top of the box. Adames beat one defender before shooting past the goalkeeper, who was charging out of her goal. The shot deflected off the ‘keeper’s outstretched foot and rolled into the net.

Gamero, Villarreal and Adames were all members of the USA’s 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Team.

This group of players, made up mostly of players born in 2006, is age-eligible for the 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup which has an age cutoff of players born on or after January 1, 2004.

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

Match: United States U-17 Women's National Team vs. England U-17 Women’s National Team
Date: February 18, 2023
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Field #4 – St. George’s Park, Burton-on-Trent, England
Weather: 50 degrees, cloudy
Attendance: 180

Scoring Summary:   1          2          F         
USA                             1          2          3
ENG                             1          0          1

USA – Kendall Bodak (Onyeka Gamero)                   19th minute
ENG – Mia Sorrentino                                                  42
USA – Onyeka Gamero                                                 90+1
USA – Emeri Adames (Amalia Villarreal)                 90+4                     

Lineups:

USA:12-Sonoma Kasica (1-Kealey Titmuss, 46); 6-Aven Alvarez (3-Tabitha Sine, 53), 20-Tanna Schornstein (15-Kamryn Winger, 46), 7-Jordyn Bugg, 4-Carla Small (17-Nikki Fraser, 46); 18-Claire Hutton (Capt.), (10-Eleanor Klinger, 65), 13-Grace Restovich (19-Avery Robinson, 60); 2-Kendall Bodak (9-Melanie Barcenas, 46), 11-Miri O’Donnell (5-Emeri Adames, 46), 14-Jaden Thomas (16-Amalia Villarreal, 32), 8-Onyeka Gamero