U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team defeats Venezuela 4-0

TAMPA, Florida (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team defeated the Venezuela U-17 WNT 4-0 in the first of two games between countries that will both be participating in the upcoming 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

The match was delayed for about two hours due to rain and lightning, but when it started, the USA got on the board within seconds of the opening whistle on an own goal from Venezuela.

The Americans followed that with two goals in a three-minute span in the middle of the first half as Alexa Spaanstra scored her fifth international goal in the 24^th minute and Ashley Sanchez followed that with her 19^th career U-17 score (in just 17 caps) in the 26^th.

+Read: U.S. U-19 Men’s National Team roster named for Serbia tournament

Midfielder Jaelin Howell capped the scoring with her second international goal in the 38^th minute to make it 4-0, which would be the final margin.

Venezuela kept the USA off the board for the entire second half despite playing with 10 players after Nohelis Coronel was sent off in first-half stoppage time for an off-the-ball incident.

The teams will meet again on Friday, Sept. 2 at the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, with a 7 p.m. ET kickoff. Admission is free.

It will be the last international match for the USA before the squad leaves later in September for the U-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan.

The U.S. plays its first Group D match against Paraguay on Oct. 1 at Prince Mohammed International Stadium in Al Zarqa (7 p.m. local / Noon a.m. ET) before facing Ghana on Oct. 4 at King Abdullah II International Stadium in Amman (4 p.m. local / 9 a.m. ET). The USA will finish group play on Oct. 8 against Japan at Amman International Stadium (7 p.m. local / Noon ET).

U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team Match Report

Match: U.S. Under-17 WNT vs. Venezuela Under-17 WNT
Date: August 30, 2016 
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Tampa Bay United Soccer Complex; Tampa, Fla.
Weather: 80 degrees, rain 

Scoring Summary:    1          2          F
USA                            4          0          4
VEN                            0          0          0 

USA – Venezuela (Own Goal)                                   1st minute
USA – Alexa Spaanstra                                              24
USA – Civana Kuhlmann (Ashley Sanchez)              26
USA – Jaelin Howell                                                   38

Lineups:
USA: 12-Laurel Ivory; 7-Kiara Pickett, 6-Karina Rodriguez, 9-Naomi Girma, 4-Izzy Rodriguez (23-Kennedy Wesley, 63); 3-Brianna Pinto, 15-Jaelin Howell (18-Adrienne Richardson, 75), 16-Frankie Tagliaferri, 11-Alexa Spaanstra (8-Sophia Smith, 81); 5-Civana Kuhlmann (2-Lia Godfrey, 63), 21-Ashley Sanchez (capt.) (24-Jordan Canniff, 75)
Subs not used: 1-Hillary Beall, 14-Sydney Zandi, 17-Kate Wiesner, 20-Emily Smith, 22-Meagan McClelland
Head Coach: B.J. Snow 

VEN: 12-Nayluisa Caceres; 14-Gladysmar Rojas (18-Nalyerlyn Ropero, 75), 4-Hilary Vergara, 3-Sandra Luzardo, 2-Veronica Herrera; 5-Iceis Briceno, 8-Maria Garcia (15-Heliamar Alvarado, 28), 19-Nohelis Coronel, 16-Olimar Castillo; 10-Yerliane Moreno, 6-Nikol Gonzalez (capt.).
Subs not used: 1-Alexa Castro, 20- Javiela Liendo
Head Coach: Kenneth Zseremeta

Statistical Summary: USA / VEN
Shots: 14 / 2
Shots on Goal: 10 / 0
Saves: 0 / 6
Corner Kicks: 6 / 0
Fouls: 10 / 8
Offside: 5 / 0 

Misconduct Summary:
VEN – Nohelis Coronel (ejection)      46th minute
USA – Alex Spaanstra (caution)        81

Officials:
Referee: Janessa Gunn (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Natalie Simon (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Jamie Willis (USA)
4th Official: Jason Kopakin (USA)