U.S. U-20 WNT falls to Brazil 3-2 in first of two friendlies

PORTLAND, Oregon (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team fell to Brazil, 3-2, in the first of two games between the teams during the USA’s final training camp before the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

The teams will meet once more during the camp, after which U.S.head coach Jitka Klimkova will choose a 21-player roster for the World Cup in France.

Brazil’s Victoria opened the scoring in the 9^th minute and it remained the game’s only goal until the teams combined to score four times in the final 13 minutes plus stoppage time.

The USA tied the game in the 77^th minute when forward Erin Gilroy fired a shot that deflected off a defender and into a good spot for Sophia Smith to finish with her left foot.

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It was Smith’s 20^th career international goal at the U-20 level and her team-leading 12^th of 2018. It also moved her out of a tie with Mallory Pugh and into sole possession of fourth place on the USA’s all-time U-20 WNT scoring list behind Sydney Leroux (29), Kelley O’Hara (24) and Lindsey Horan (24).

Smith’s goal also marked the eighth consecutive international match in which she has scored, a record for the U.S. Youth Women’s National Teams. Michelle Akers scored in nine straight matches for the full WNT in 1991.

Brazil took the lead back just a minute after Smith’s goal as Victoria notched her second of the game in the 78^th minute. Valèria gave Brazil a two-goal cushion in the 82^nd. Although U.S. forward Penelope Hocking pulled a goal back two minutes into second-half stoppage time on a breakaway, the USA did not have time to create an equalizer despite out-shooting Brazil 13-8. It was Hocking’s third international goal and third in her last three games.

The loss was the first for the USA this year, and first since December, when this same Brazil team beat the USA 2-0 at the 2017 Nike Friendlies in Bradenton, Fla.

The U.S. U-20 WNT has gone 10-1-3 this year in international matches with 12 different players having scored.

The USA was drawn into Group C at the upcoming World Cup in France and opens the tournament on Monday, Aug. 6 against Japan (1:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. local), faces Paraguay on Thursday, Aug. 9 (1:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. local) and finishes the group against Spain on Monday, Aug. 13 (7:30 a.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. local). The USA will play its first two group games at Stade Guy-Piriou in Concarneau and its third group game at Stade du Clos Gastel in Dinan/Léhon.

The 16-team field for the tournament is a strong one, featuring Mexico, the USA, Haiti, host France, England, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Ghana, Nigeria, Brazil, Paraguay, China PR, Japan, Korea PRK and New Zealand. The USA has won the tournament three times (2002, 2008, 2012), as has Germany (2004, 2010, 2014), while Korea DPR has won it twice, in 2006 and most recently in 2016.

– U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team Match Report –

Match: U.S. Under-20 WNT vs. Brazil U-20 WNT
Date: June 30, 2018
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Catlin Gabel School; Portland, Oregon
Weather: 77 degrees; Sunny

Scoring Summary:    1          2          F
USA                             0          2          2
BRA                             1          2          3

BRA – Victòria                                                9th minute
USA – Sophia Smith                                       77
BRA – Victòria                                                78
BRA – Valèria                                                 82
USA – Penelope Hocking (Sophia Smith)      90+3

USA: 1-Laurel Ivory; 2-Kiara Pickett, 23-Naomi Girma, 15-Samantha Hiatt (capt.), 20-Tara McKeown (16-Isabel Rodriguez, 46), 4-Savannah DeMelo (21-Abigail Kim, 62), 9-Sophia Smith, 10-Viviana Villacorta, 6-Jaelin Howell, 24-Ashley Sanchez (14-Erin Gilroy, 62), 8-Brianna Pinto (19-Penelope Hocking, 81)
Subs Not Used: Taryn Torres, Alexa Spaanstra, Karina Rodriguez, Taylor Mitchell, Zoe Morse, Amanda McGlynn, Hillary Beall
Head Coach: Jitka Klimkova

BRA: 1-Nicole Ramos; 2-Monalisa (14-Isabella, 46) (15-Juliana, 84), 3-Thais Regina, 6-Katrine, 7-Angelina (capt.), 8-Karla, 9-Geyse (21-Valèria 73), 10-Victòria, 13-Tainara, 19-Mariã (17-Kerolin Nicoli, 46), 20-Ariadina (18-Ana Vitoria, 46)

Stats Summary: USA / BRA
Shots: 13 / 8
Shots on Goal: 6 / 5
Saves: 2 / 4
Corner Kicks: 4 / 3
Fouls: 6 / 4
Offside: 2 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Abigail Kim (caution)                                       85^th minute
USA – Penelope Hocking (caution)                            92

Officials:
Referee: Mike Hohnholz (USA)
Assistant Referee: Stephanie Tercero (USA)
Assistant Referee: Ryan Jung (USA)
Fourth Official: Eric Krueger (USA)