U.S. U-20 WNT defeats Rayo Vallecano women’s side 4-1

MADRID, Spain (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team defeated the Rayo Vallecano women’s team 4-1 score as Ashley Sanchez scored all four goals after coming on as a substitute in the 68^th minute.

Sanchez wasted no time making an impact, entering the game on a Raya Vallecano throw-in. The ball was thrown back to defender, who played it back the goalkeeper. Sanchez pressured the ‘keeper, forcing her to cough it up and then finished the loose ball into the net to make it 1-0.

In the 75^th minute, Mallory Pugh penetrated into the penalty box to the end line and then played a ball back into the feet of Sanchez. She eluded two defenders inside the six-yard box and then scooped the ball over the goalkeeper to make it 2-0.

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Sanchez completed her true hat trick three minutes later as she beat the goalkeeper to a bouncing ball and headed it over her and into the goal.

The Spaniards pulled a goal back two minutes later as Savannah DeMelo brought down a Rayo player in the box for a penalty kick that was converted by Patri, but Sanchez was not done.

Sanchez, who is age-eligible for the U.S. U-17 WNT, has been playing with the U-20s for the last several camps. She restored the three-goal lead in the 82^nd minute, once again off an assist from Pugh.

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 in December 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 was 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.

Match Report

Match: United States U-20 Women’s National Team vs Rayo Vallecano
Date: October 27, 2015
Competition: Friendly Match
Venue: Cuidad Deportiva Rayo Vallecano; Madrid, Spain
Weather: 55 degrees and raining

Scoring Summary:       1          2          F
USA                                0         4          4
Rayo Vallecano            0          1          1

USA – Ashley Sanchez                                       68^th minute
USA – Ashley Sanchez (Mallory Pugh)            75
USA – Ashley Sanchez                                       78
RV – Patri (penalty kick)                                   80
USA – Ashley Sanchez (Mallory Pugh)            82

Lineups:
USA: 24-Rose Chandler, 4-Julie Doyle (4-Kiara Pickett, 46), 15-Samantha Hiatt (11-Zoe Morse, 46), 14-Taylor Otto, 22-Emily Fox, 21-Alissa Gorzak (7-Jordan Harr, 46), 2-Marissa Bosco, 16-Brianna Pinto (8-Ella Stevens, 46), 20-Taryn Torres (6-Savannah DeMelo, 46), 17-Zoe Redei (13-Ashley Sanchez, 68), 16-Alexa Spaanstra (9-Mallory Pugh, 46)
Subs not used: 1-Brooke Heinsohn, 3-Marley Canales, 18-Samantha Leshnak

Rayo Vallecano: 13-Ana, 3-Anama, 19-Costa, 16-Ale, 2-Jenni, 17-Codo, 8-Sarray, 14-Estela, 9-Silvi, 10-Marian, 18-Nicole
Subs: 1-Ali, 4-Lore, 5-Mendi, 6-Sole, 7-Patri, 11-Noe, 15-Mari, 20-Yaiza  

Stats Summary: USA / RV
Shots: 17 / 8
Shots on Goal: 9 / 4
Saves: 5 / 3
Corner Kicks: 0 / 5
Fouls: 11 / 3
Offside:  7 / 4

Misconduct Summary:
None