U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team earns 2-2 draw vs Korea Republic
PAJU, Korea Republic (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team scored twice in the second half to erase a 2-0 deficit and draw the Korea Republic 2-2 in the second of two matches between the teams at the Korea Republic National Training Center.
The teams tied 4-4 on Aug. 18 in a wild back-and-forth match, but today the USA fell behind when the Koreans scored in the 37th minute and in the second minute of first half stoppage time.
“Overall, I’m really proud of how our team performed today and it was a great way to round out our trip,” said U.S. head coach Mark Carr. “We took a positive step forward from our first game vs. Korea. Our positive ideas, collective thinking and intent to do the right things in the right moments, with and without the ball, was evident. As young players, things don’t always come off the way we want it to, but our players tried their best. Being down 2-0 at the half was a surprise to us considering how well we had played and dominated the game, but it’s a reminder of how quickly you can get punished at the international level if you make mistakes.”
The USA roared back in the second half, eventually out-shooting Korea 15-7 in a physical match which saw the Koreans commit 24 fouls to the USA’s seven.
Sunshine Fontes pulled a goal back in the 62nd minute, scoring from the top of the penalty area after receiving a pass from Mia Fishel.
The goal for Fontes was her 20th at the U-17 level in her 26th cap, moving her past Summer Green into sole possession of second place on the USA’s U-17 WNT all-time scoring list. Ashley Sanchez tops that list with 21 U-17 goals.
Maya Doms equalized with her 11th international goal in the 78th minute off a free kick served in by Fontes and the USA leaves Korea with two draws, and more importantly, tremendous preparation for the World Cup the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup that will be held in Uruguay in November.
“I could not be prouder of our reaction after halftime,” said Carr. “We showed patience and a belief in our principles to get back into the game. Ultimately, it was our quality, intensity and fighting American spirit that lead to two excellent goals, from Sunshine and Maya, but everyone really contributed to the win. I honestly feel that if the game had gone on five minutes more, we would have come out on top.”
The USA will begin its World Cup on Nov. 14 against Cameroon and will face 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup champion Korea DPR on Nov. 17 before finishing group play against Germany on Nov. 21.
The USA’s first two games will be played at Estadio Alberto Suppici in Colonia del Sacramento and the Germany match will take place at Estadio Charrúa in the capital of Montevideo. The third tournament venue is Estadio Domingo Burgueño Miguel in Maldonado. All three venues are on the southwest coast of Uruguay.
“During this trip, we have learned so many important lessons and this whole experience has been invaluable as we continue on our development journey towards the U-17 World Cup,” Carr added. “We know there will be no easy games at the World Cup and every country will be fighting just like us to go deep in the competition. We know we have more work to do and that all our young players will leave this experience with a deeper hunger and desire to improve themselves once again. Our next camp is in September, so it will be about what our players do between now and then that will separate them.”
The cut-off date for players to be eligible for the U-17 Women’s World Cup are those born on or after Jan. 1, 2001. For this roster, Carr chose 17 players born in 2001 but also included five players born in 2002 and two 15-year-olds born in 2003.
The 16 teams that will participate in the sixth FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup are host Uruguay, Brazil and Colombia from South America, the USA, Mexico and Canada from Concacaf, Ghana, Cameroon and South Africa from Africa, Korea Republic, Korea DPR and Japan from Asia, Finland, Germany and Spain from Europe, and New Zealand from Oceania.
For the second game in a row, the match featured a substitution of twins. In the first match, a 73rd minute switch saw Samantha Agresti earn her first U-17 cap when she came on for her sister Michela. In today’s game, Samantha started and was replaced by Michela at halftime.
– U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team Match Report –
Match: U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team vs. Korea Republic U-17 WNT
Date: August 21, 2018
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Paju National Football Center; Paju, Korea Republic
Weather: 86 degrees, Sunny
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 0 2 2
KOR 2 0 2
KOR – Jang Yu-Bin 37th minute
KOR – Kim Bo-Min 45+2
USA – Sunshine Fontes (Mia Fishel) 62
USA – Maya Doms (Sunshine Fontes) 78
Lineups:
USA: 12-Halle Mackiewicz (1-Mia Justus, 77); 7-Smith Hunter, 21-Samantha Agresti (19-Michela Agresti, 46) 15-Natalia Staude (capt.), 4-Talia DellaPeruta (3-Samar Guidry, 89); 13-Sophia Jones, 5-Mia Fishel, 20-Emily Mathews (11-Maya Doms, 46); Payton Linnehan (Sunshine Fontes, 46), 10-Isabella D’Aquila, 24-Samantha Meza (9-Trinity Rodman, 75)
Subs not used: 1-Lindsey Romig; 23-Tori Hansen, 2-Makenna Morris; 16-Astrid Wheeler, 17-Alexis Missimo, 8-Trinity Byars, 18-Mia Fontana
Head Coach: Mark Carr
KOR: Jeon So-Eun (Cho A-Ra, 46; Jeong Su, 89); Choi Woo-Hyeon (Lee Ye-Sol, 46), Noh Hye-Yeon, Lee Soo-ln (Lee Ye-Jin, 76), Lee Jin; 8-Kang Ji-Eun (17-Cho Ye-Song, 50), Kim Bit-Na (Ko Mi-Jeong, 76), Hwang Hye-Min, Hwang A-Hyeon (Seo Hyun-Min, 71); Jang Yu-Bin (Kwak Ro-Young, 81), Kim Bo-Min (Cho Mi-Jin, 81)
Subs not used: Kang Ji-Yeon, Kim Min-Ji, Ko Min-Jeong, Kim Ji-Mi, Choen Ga-Ram, Kang Ji-Eun, Ahn Se-Bin, Cho Ha-Neul, Hyun Seul-Ki, Lee Seo-Yeon, Lee Se-Ran, Lee Eun-Yeong, Sea Hyun-Min
Stats Summary: USA / KOR
Shots: 15 / 7
Shots on Goal: 5 / 5
Saves: 3 / 3
Corner Kicks: 2 / 2
Fouls: 7 / 24
Offside: 2 / 2
Misconduct Summary:
KOR – Jang Yu Bin (caution) 49th minute
USA – Smith Hunter (caution) 66
