U.S. U-20 WNT plays Sweden U-23 WNT to 1-1 draw

LA MANGA, Spain (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team drew 1-1 with the Sweden U-23 WNT in its first match of a six-team event that aside from the USA features U-23 squads from England, Germany, Sweden, Japan and Norway.

The USA scored just before halftime as forward Kelcie Hedge beat a defender inside the box on the right side, dribbled to the end line played it back into the middle for Mikaela Harvey to finish first time. Sweden drew even six minutes into the second half and neither team could produce a game-winner.

The USA will face England on March 4 and finish with Norway on March 6.

+Read: U.S. U-17 WNT kicks off CONCACAF Championship vs. Jamaica on Friday

This competition is serving as preparation for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea. The USA earned its berth to the World Cup by winning its semifinal match of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament against host Honduras last December and then defeated Canada 1-0 for the regional title. The eighth FIFA Women’s World Cup for this age level (the first two were held as U-19 events) will take place from Nov. 13-Dec. 3.

The 16-team field for the tournament is set and it’s a strong one, featuring Canada, Mexico, the USA, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Japan, Korea DPR, Korea Republic, Ghana, Nigeria, Brazil, Venezuela, France, Germany, Spain, and Sweden.

+Read: U.S. U-23 WNT defeats Slovenia 3-0 in Istria Cup

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

Match: United States U-20 WNT vs. Sweden U-23 WNT
Date: March 2, 2016
Competition: Women’s U-23 Six Nations Tournament
Venue: Field B; La Manga, Spain
Weather: Low 80s, sunny

Scoring Summary:                  1          2          F
USA                                         1     0        1
SWE                                        0          1            1

USA – Mikaela Harvey (Kelcie Hedge)                       44th minute
SWE – Maja Göthberg                                            51

Lineups:
USA: 1-Rose Chandler; 3-Madeline Elliston, 25-Alana Cook, 22-Kaleigh Riehl (capt.), 2-Ellie Jean (16-Emily Fox, 61); 10-Emily Ogle, 6-Savannah Demelo (7-Parker Roberts, 46), 12-Mikaela Harvey; 17-Kelcie Hedge (19-MiMi Asom, 70), 11-Taylor Racioppi (4-Alleandra Watt, 61), 15-Jessie Scarpa (23-Michelle Xiao, 46)
Subs not used: 5-Natalie Jacobs, 8-Jordan Dibiasi, 9-Tegan McGrady, 14-Taylor Otto, 18-Casey Murphey, 21-Courtney Peterson
Head Coach: Michelle French

SWE: 1-Zecira Musovic; 2-Ronja Aronsson, 3-Julia Ekholm (23-Marie Johansson, 46), 4-Nathalie Björn, 6-Ellen Löfkvist, 8-Michelle De Jong (22-Alice Nilsson, 61), 11-Tove Almkvist (13-Emelie Andersson, 77), 14-Anna Oskarsson (16-Fanny Andersson, 61), 15-Maja Göthberg, 17-Emma Jansson (19-Felicia Karlsson, 70), 24-Adelisa Grabus (20-Olivia Welin, 46)
Subs not used: 7-Moa Hedell, 9-Mimmi Larsson, 10-Irma Helin, 12-Matilda Haglund, 18-Julia Karlenäs,
Head Coach: Calle Barrling

Stats Summary: USA / SWE
Shots: 8 / 4
Shots on Goal: 5 / 2
Saves: 1 / 4
Corner Kicks: 6 / 4
Fouls: 8 / 9

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Michelle Xiao (caution)                     90+3rd minute

Officials:
Referee: Cathrine Eide
Assistant Referee 1: Ann-Marie Sjøvika
Assistant Referee 2: Linda Andresen