U.S. U-17 Women’s Youth National Team defeats Brazil 3-1 in strong group effort

KENNESAW, Ga. – The U.S. U-17 Women’s Youth National Team downed fellow 2024 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier Brazil 3-1 in the first of two matches between the teams during a training camp outside of Atlanta.

The USA opened the scoring in the 28th minute as Kennedy Fuller, a rookie for Angel City FC in the NWSL, dribbled into the penalty box from the left side and was chopped down. Team captain Ainsley McCammon stepped up to cooly convert and make it 1-0. It was her first international goal for the U-17s.

Brazil equalized right after the halftime restart but forward Micayla Johnson put the USA ahead in the 88th minute as San Diego Wave FC midfielder Kimmi Ascanio was played into the penalty box and fired a shot that was well-saved on the parry by goalkeeper Ana Moganti. Johnson was first to the rebound and finished into the open net for her first goal at the U-17 international level in her first U-17 cap.

The USA added an insurance goal in the 90th minute as two substitutes combined. Right back Katie Scott raced down the flank and played a perfect cross on the ground which was buried into the net by the crashing Mel Barcenas, who also plays for the Wave. It was the second U-17 international goal for Barcenas.

On June 22, the USA learned its World Cup path and will face Spain, Colombia and Korea Republic in Group B at the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, taking place at two stadiums in the Dominican Republic from October 16-November 3. The USA opens against reigning champion Spain on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at Félix Sánchez Stadium in Santo Domingo. The USA will then face 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup runners-up Colombia at Félix Sánchez Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 19 and finish group play against Korea Republic on Tuesday, Oct. 22 at Cibao University Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros.

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

Match: U.S. Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team vs. Brazil U-17 WNT
Date: July 12, 2024
Competition: International Friendly Match
Venue: Fifth Third Stadium at Kennesaw State University; Kennesaw, Ga.
Weather: 90degrees, and sunny
Attendance: 150

Lineups:
USA: 1-Molly Vapensky (21-Evan O’Steen, 46), 2-Daya King (13-Katie Scott, 60), 3-Jocelyn Travers (5-Anna Babcock, 70), 4-Kiara Gilmore (20-Edra Bello, 46), 6-Ainsley McCammon (8-Riley Cross, 82), 9- Mary Long (7-Kimmi Ascanio, 46), 10-Kennedy Fuller (17-Scottie Antonucci, 60), 14-Jordyn Hardeman, 18-Maddie Padelski (23-Micalya Johnson, 46), 19-Avya Jordan (22-Leena Powell, 46), 24-Jaiden Rodriguez (11-Mel Barcenas, 46)
Subs not used: 12-Wicki Dunlap, 15-Kylie Maxwell, 16-Y-Lan Nguyen
Head Coach: Katie Schoepfer\

BRA: 1-Ana Moganti, 2-Mariane Antonia Fuitem Martins, 3-Sofia Chaves Couto, 7-Ana Clara Alves Regio (5-Lais Teixeira Santos, 83), 8-Larissa Pinto Forte (15-Pedot, Sara, 62), 9-Julianna Melo Harris, (19-Stephanie Montenegro, 83), 10-Kaylane Cristina Vieira, 11-Giovana Waksman Costa, 17-Kalena Bellini, (6- Maria Clara Forner, 62), 20-Yasmin Normanha Cardozo (16-Vivia Goncalves, 83)
Subs not used: 12-Josiane Rafaela Bencke, 13-Allyne Vithorya de Oliveira Sales Braga, 14-Larissa Emile Horn, 18- Manuella Borba da Silveira
Head Coach: Simone Jatoba

Stats Summary: USA / BRA
Shots: 5 / 1
Shots on Goal: 4 / 1
Saves: 1 / 1
Corner Kicks: 6 / 2
Fouls: 5 / 6
Offside: 0 / 0

Officials:
Referee: Chayla Park (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Sarah Fraser (USA)|
Assistant Referee 2: Megan Richardson (USA)
Fourth Official: Rigoberto Perez (USA)