U.S. U-16 Women’s Youth National Team downs Botswana 15-0 at UEFA Friendship Tournament

RIVA, Turkey – The U.S. Under-16 Women’s Youth National Team scored five goals in the first half and 10 in the second to rout Botswana, 15-0, in the first ever meeting between a U.S. Women’s National Team and the southern African nation.

The win gave the USA the full nine points in Group A play at the UEFA Women’s U-16 Friendship Tournament, and earned the young Americans a spot in the championship game on April 18 against Group B winner Paraguay.

The USA opened the scoring in the 12^th minute with the first of forward Micayla Johnson’s three goals and then averaged a goal every five minutes the rest of the way. Forward Ashlyn Anderson also scored three times and forward Jordan Hill scored four of the USA’s last seven goals.

Midfielder Jaiden Rodriguez scored twice while forward Peyton Marinos, midfielder Charlee Siria and midfielder Reese Canada had one goal each.

The USA’s 25 goals were far and away the most in group play of any country in the eight-team tournament. Turkey scored the next most at 10 while Paraguay and China PR had nine each.

The USA defeated Turkey, 2-0, and Vietnam, 8-0, in its other Group A matches. Paraguay made its way to the final with a 7-0 win over Uganda, a 2-1 win over China PR and a 0-0 draw with Wales in which it got two points after winning the penalty kick shootout, 4-3.

Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2008, are age-eligible for this U-16 WYNT cycle. For this tournament, U.S. head coach Patchy Toledo selected all 2008-birth year players. All players in the U-16 WYNT pool are age-eligible for this year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, set for October/November in the Dominican Republic.

Host Turkey will face China PR for third-place, Vietnam will take on Wales for fifth place and Botswana and Uganda will meet in an all-African seventh-place match. All the placement matches take place on April 18.

-U.S. UNDER-16 WOMEN’S YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-

Match: United States Under-16 Women’s Youth National Team vs. Botswana
Date: April 16, 2024
Competition: UEFA Women’s U-16 Friendship Tournament
Venue: 1 Nolu Saha; Riva, Turkey
Weather: 84 degrees, sunny

Scoring Summary:   1          2          F
USA                            5          10        15
BOT                            0          0          0

USA – Micayla Johnson (Jaiden Rodriguez)                     12^th minute
USA – Micayla Johnson                                                         14
USA – Peyton Marinos                                                           26
USA – Jaiden Rodriguez (Sydney Schmidt)                      32
USA – Charlee Siria (Jaiden Rodriguez)                             34
USA – Reese Canada                                                              46
USA – Jaiden Rodriguez                                                        48
USA – Micayla Johnson (Charlee Siria)                              50
USA – Jordan Hill (Scottie Antonucci)                               75
USA – Ashlyn Anderson                                                         78
USA – Ashlyn Anderson (Scottie Antonucci)                     82
USA – Jordan Hill (Scottie Antonucci)                                83
USA – Jordan Hill (Ashlyn Anderson)                                   86
USA – Ashlyn Anderson (Charlee Siria)                               89
USA – Jordan Hill (Scottie Antonucci)                                 90

Lineups:
USA: 12-Josie Biehl (1-Evan O’Steen, 46), 2-Sydney Schmidt (3-Sierra Dupre, 46), 4-Pearl Cecil (5-London Young, 52), 15-Vienna Whipple (14-Marlee Raymond,71), 13-Cali O’Neill (6-Rylie Morse, 52); 16-Reese Canada, 20-Charlee Siria, 10-Jaiden Rodriguez (Capt.) (8-Scottie Antonucci, 52); 7-Ella Kral (18-Addison Feldman, 46), 9-Peyton Marinos (19-Ashlyn Anderson, 52), 11-Micayla Johnson (17-Jordan Hill, 52)

Substitutes Not Used: None
Head Coach: Patchy Toledo

BOT: 23-Charmain Thato Bingham (16-Amantle Lattiffah Hambira, 46), 15-Lillian Venencia Mathumo, 18-One Gura (3-Agreement Moraka), 5-Priscillah Tlotlo Moseki (22-Olesego Mack-Mbulawa), 2-Sarah Papatso, 12-Seabe Thelo (11-Keotshepile Junior Keserse, 46), 6-Khutsafalo Molelelametsi, 20-Fiona Olebile Hetu, 19-Shirley Temo Tokonyane, 7-Princess Katso Moilwa (4-Masego Botshelo), 9-Mmabatho Serokane (10-Amogelang Samantha Sebotho, 37)

Substitutes not used: None
Head coach: Jacqueline Gaobinelwe

Stats Summary: USA / BOT
Shots: 28 / 2
Shots on Goal: 14 / 2
Saves: 2 / 2
Corner Kicks: 6 / 0
Fouls: 5 / 2
Offsides: 3 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
N/A

Officials:
Referee: Uğurcan Şanli
1^st Assistant Referee: Eray Görgün
2^nd Assistant Referee: Sabri Eren Tofan
4^th Official: Mert Kunt