U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team routs England 6-0 as Mallory Pugh scores twice
HINCKLEY, England – The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team scored three times in each half to rout their counterparts from England 6-0 in the first of two matches between the teams.
The USA went ahead just three minutes into the game when Madison Haley slipped a pass behind the England defense to Mallory Pugh who rolled her left-footed shot across the face of the goal and just inside the right post from 12 yards out.
Taylor Racioppi doubled the lead in the 12th minute after some tough defense from Haley at the top of the England penalty area forced a turnover. Racioppi picked up the loose ball, took a touch into the middle, and struck a 23-yard shot on the ground into the lower right corner past diving England ‘keeper Kristie Levell.
Pugh got her brace and put the USA ahead 3-0 inside of 23 minutes after Racioppi threaded a pass through the England defense. The U.S. striker ran onto the pass and buried her shot into the roof of the net from 16 yards out.
With the match very much in hand (the USA would end up out-shooting England 18-2), substitute Michelle Xiao put the USA up 4-0 just three minutes into the second half on a nice individual effort. After a corner kick from the right side was half-cleared, Natalie Jacobs ran the ball down and touched it to Xiao on the right wing. Xiao then took off on a powerful and elusive dribble, riding a tackle to get around her defender to the end line, cut back inside the corner of the six-yard box and rifled a left-footed shot into the net at the near post.
Dorian Bailey put the USA up 5-0 in the 69th minute after a fantastic cross from Xiao, who had gotten end line after beating a defender down the left wing. Bailey crashed the far post the blast her volley into the roof of the net from close range.
The USA’s youngest player tallied the final goal just three minutes later as 14-year-old Frankie Tagliaferri, who is also a member of the USA’s Under-15 Girls’ National Team player pool, picked off a pass about 10 years into the England half and dribbled all the way to the top of the penalty area. Her first shot was blocked, but she was first to the deflection and smacked a left-footed shot on the ground into the lower right corner from 17 yards out for the final margin.
The two teams will meet again on Aug. 28.
The USA is preparing for qualifying for the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Players born on or after Jan. 1, 1997, are age-eligible for that tournament.
-U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team Match Report-
Match: U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team vs. England
Date: August 25, 2013
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Hinckley United Stadium — Hinckley, England
Weather: 65 degrees, cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 3 3 6
ENG 0 0 0
USA – Mallory Pugh (Madison Haley) 3rd minute
USA – Taylor Racioppi 12
USA – Mallory Pugh (Taylor Racioppi) 23
USA – Michelle Xiao (Natalie Jacobs) 48
USA – Dorian Bailey (Michelle Xiao) 69
USA – Frankie Tagliaferri 72
Lineups:
USA: 18-Lauren Rood; 14-Tegan McGrady (19-Madison Schultz, 56), 11-Natalie Jacobs (6-Alana Cook, 67), 10-Taylor Otto (8-Zoe Morse, 41), 7-Mia Gyau; 5-Marley Canales, 4-Dorian Bailey, 17-Mallory Pugh (20-Frankie Tagliaferri, 67); 22-Taylor Racioppi (8-Kelcie Hedge, 41), 9-Madison Haley, 25-Anika Rodriguez (15-Michelle Xiao, 41)
Substitutions Not Used: 12-Ellie Jean, 1-Sabrina Macias
Head coach: BJ Snow
ENG: 1-Kristie Levell; 3-Ashleigh Plumptre, 6-Gabrielle George, 5-Leah Williamson, 2- Alice Hassall (Jemma Purfield, 56); 11-Rianna Dean (Atlanta Primus, 48), 4-Heira Wals, 10-Sarah Mayling, 7-Lorrie Doze; 8-Mollie Rouse (Lucy Porter, 56), 9-Chloe Kelly
Substitutions Not Used: 13-Sian Rogers, 12-Olivia Woodward, 15-Ella Williams, 16-Rebecca Lloyd, 19-Ella Hartley, 20-Evie Clarke.
Head coach: Lois Fidler
Stats Summary: USA / ENG
Shots: 18 / 2
Shots on Goal: 10 / 2
Saves: 4 / 2
Corner Kicks: 8 /1
Fouls: 2 / 5
Offside: 5 / 1
Officials:
Referee: Rob Ellis (ENG)
Assistant Referee 1: James Oldham (ENG)
Assistant Referee 2: Paul Cooper (ENG)
