U.S. U-17 Women’s Youth National Team closes European trip with 1-0 win over Germany

MADRID – The U.S. Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team defeated Germany, 1-0, in its last of three matches in Europe. The trip served as the final event for the U-17s before the roster for the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup is chosen.

In the first two games of the trip, the USA defeated Spain 2-0 on Aug. 23 and then drew with Spain, 1-1, on Aug. 25. Germany and Spain clinched berths to the 2022 U-17 WWC by finishing first and second at the 2022 UEFA Women’s U-17 Championship as Germany topped Spain in penalties to claim the European title. Spain is the reigning U-17 World Cup champion after winning the 2018 FIFA U-17 WWC in Uruguay.

The tightly contested match featured five shots from the USA and six from Germany, but the U.S. was the team that put away one of its chances, coming in the 31^st minute via forward Emri Adames, who also scored the USA’s lone goal in the team’s draw with Spain.

The goal was sparked when midfielder Lauren Martinho played a give-and-go with Adames, who ran onto a through ball with space in front of her and finished across the goalkeeper and into the corner. It was Adames’ second international goal at the U-17 level.

U.S. U-17 WYNT head coach Natalia Astrain called up 24 players for this event, including 17 who helped the USA qualify for the World Cup on the way to winning the Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship last spring. Players born on or after Jan. 1, 2005, are age-eligible for this U-17 Women’s World Cup. Astrain selected 18 players born in 2005, five born in 2006 and one born in 2007 for this roster.

Seven players who did not participate in the USA’s World Cup qualifying campaign traveled to Spain: goalkeeper Valentina Amaral, defender Ella Emri, midfielders Ella Sanchez, Eleanor Klinger and Audrey Lam and forwards Adames and Melanie Barcenas.

Three goalkeepers split the shoutout with Victoria Safradin playing the first half and Abigail Gundry and Amaral splitting the second.

The three games served as excellent preparation for a U.S. team that is readying itself for the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India, which will be contested from Oct. 11-30.

The U.S. opens the World Cup on Tuesday, Oct. 11 against host India in a match that is sure to be a sell-out at the 19,000-seat Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. This will be the first meeting between the USA and India in a Women’s World Cup at any level. The U-17s will then face Brazil on Friday, Oct. 14, also at Kaling Stadium, before traveling to Goa to finish group play against Morocco on Monday, Oct. 17. It will be the first meeting between the USA and Morocco at any level of women’s soccer.

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

Match: United States U-17 Women’s National Team vs. Germany U-17 Women’s National Team
Date: August 31, 2022
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: CD Leganes Training Facility; Madrid, Spain
Weather: 92 degrees, sunny

Scoring Summary:   1          2          F         
USA                            1          0          1
GER                           0          0          0
USA – Emeri Adames                                    31^st minute

Lineups:

USA: 1-Victoria Safradin (12-Abigail Gundry, 46, 22-Valentina Amaral, 76); 21-Savannah King (17-Nicola Fraser, 46); 5-Ella Emri, 16-Cameron Roller (21-Savannah King, 89), 9-Mia Oliaro (4-Gisele Thompson, 46); 14-Mia Bhuta (Capt.)( 8-Riley Jackson, 46); 2-Ella Sanchez (3-Charlotte Kohler, 46); 24-Eleanor Klinger (23-Lauren Martinho, 35); 11-Emri Adames (20-Onyeka Gamero, 46); 10-Amalia Villarreal (13-Melanie Rebimbas, 46); 15-Nicollette Kiorpes (18-Taylor Suarez, 46, 19-Melanie Barcenas, 82)

Subs not used: 6-Alyssa Gonzalez, 7-Audrey Lam

Head Coach: Natalia Astrain

GER: 1-Eve Boettcher (12-Lina Altenburg, 46); 3-Laura Gloning (22-Laila Portella, 76); 5-Jella Veit, 6-Mathilde Janzen (16-Lilith Schmidt, 76); 7-Mara Alber; 8-Paulina Platner; 9-Marie Steiner (11-Loreen Bender, 62); 10-Alara Sehitler (15-Antonia Dehm, 76); 14-Emily Wallrabenstein (2-Carlotta Schwoerer, 46, 13-Sandra Walbech, 66); 18-Svea Stoldt (19-Melina Reuter, 62); 20-Melina Kruger (17-Paulina Bartz, 46)

Subs not used:  21-Hannah Etzold, 23-Marlene Deyb

Head Coach: Friederike Kromp

Stats Summary: USA / GER
Shots: 5 / 6
Shots on Goal: 2 / 3
Saves: 2 / 1
Corner Kicks: 4 / 4
Fouls: 10 / 10
Offside: 3 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
GER – Loreen Bender (Caution)                    77^th minute

Officials:
Referee: Daniela Elena Postolache
Asst. Referee 1: Miriam Martín Casillas
Asst. Referee 2: Misty Kovari Mohammad
4th Official: Paula Porcuna