U.S. U-20 WNT defeats Atletico Madrid women’s squad 3-0

MADRID, Spain (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team defeated the Atletico Madrid women’s team by a 3-0 score as Marley Canales, Ella Stevens and Mallory Pugh scored second half goals.

The USA struggled attacking in the first half but exploded for three goals after the break. The first came in the 57^th minute as the ball was tackled away from Pugh but deflected right to Canales who took one touch from the top of the penalty area and struck it low and hard past the diving goalkeeper to make it 1-0.

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In the 60^th minute, Stevens scored a magical goal that can be described as Messi-esque. She received the ball under high pressure a few yards about the penalty box on the right side, pulled the ball with the sole of her foot to beat one defender, beat another two with spin move while rolling the ball with the soles of her feet again, then slalomed past another defenders with a shifty dribble at the top of the penalty box before driving her shot into the net.

Pugh finished the scoring in the 75^th minute with a far post header off a perfect cross from Canales.

U.S. head coach Michelle French brought 21 players to this event as the team continues preparations for the 2015 CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship that will send three teams to the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea.

As the women’s college season is well underway, the roster in Spain is made up almost entirely of pre-college youth club players from five different birth years ranging from 1996-2000. The age cut-off for this group is players born on or after Jan. 1, 1996. French did call up two college goalkeepers in Rose Chandler – who got the shutout — and Samantha Leshnak, who are currently back-ups at Penn State and North Carolina, respectively.

Match Report

Match: United States U-20 Women’s National Team vs. Atlético Madrid Féminas
Date: October 23, 2015
Competition: Friendly Match
Venue: Cuidad Del Futbol – Madrid, Spain

Scoring Summary:       1          2          F
USA                                  0          3          3
Atlético Madrid             0          0          0

USA — Marley Canales                                       57^th minute
USA — Ella Stevens                                            60
USA — Mallory Pugh (Marley Canales)            75

Lineups:

USA: 24-Rose Chandler, 4-Kiara Pickett, 11-Zoe Morse (15-Samantha Hiatt, 15), 14-Taylor Otto, 22-Emily Fox (4-Julie Doyle, 79), 7-Jordan Harr (2-Marissa Bosco, 67), 8-Ella Stevens (16-Brianna Pinto, 61), 6-Savannah DeMelo (20-Taryn Torres, 82), 3-Marley Canales, 9-Mallory Pugh, 13-Ashley Sanchez (16-Alexa Spaanstra, 70)
Subs not used: 1-Brooke Heinsohn, 17-Zoe Redei, 18-Samantha Leshnak, 21-Alissa Gorzak

Atlético Madrid Féminas: 1-Dolores Gallardo, 3-Rita Goncalves (2-K. Robles, 57), 5-Vaitiare Robles Salas (14-Noella Tudela, 61), 21-Vanessa Garcia (4-Rocio Galvez, 61), 18-Beatriz Beltran (20-Pilar Cebrian, 57), 7-Angela Sosa, 23-M. Coronel, 6-Nagore Calderon, 19-M. Rodriguez (16-Maria Leon, 57), 9-Esther Gonzelez, 17-Deborah Garcia.
Subs not used: n/a

Stats Summary: USA / AMF
Shots: 9 / 12
Shots on Goal: 7 / 6
Saves: 6 / 3
Corner Kicks: 4 / 12
Fouls: 7 / 3
Offside:  4 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
None