U.S. U-20 WNT tops Haiti 6-0, advances to CONCACAF Championship semis

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team downed Haiti 6-0 in the last match of group play at the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championship to claim top spot in Group B.

The U.S. (2-0-1, 7 pts) moves on to the tournament semifinals where it will play Honduras (1-1-1, 4 pts) on Thursday, Dec. 11 (6 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 2). Mexico, also with a 2-0-1 record and seven points after group play, finished second to the U.S. in Group B based on an inferior goal difference and will face Canada (3-0-0, 9 pts), which finished atop Group A, in Thursday’s second semifinal (9 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 2).

The semifinal winners will earn automatic berths to the 2016 FIFA Women’s World Cup, as will the winner of the tournament’s third place match on Dec. 13 (6 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 2). The 2015 CONCACAF Women’s Championship final is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 13 at 9 p.m. ET and will be broadcast on FOX Sports 2.

+Read: Canada places first in Group A of CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championship

The game opened on even footing as both teams tried to claim the early advantage, but it was the USA that grabbed the first goal. In the 16th minute, defender Tierna Davidson sent a high volley up the field, setting up a race between Savannah DeMelo and Haiti goalkeeper, Joni Gabriel. DeMelo was able to tap the ball forward, out of reach of a diving Gabriel, to send the ball into the back of the net.

The U.S. doubled its lead in the 35th minute when forward Jessie Scarpa received the ball midfield and sent a great through ball toward a sprinting Mallory Pugh. Once again, Gabriel stepped off her line to try to receive the ball first, but was unable to beat Pugh’s speed. Pugh controlled the ball, dribbling around Gabriel for an easy touch into goal.

Pugh struck again in the 44th minute. Ashley Sanchez chipped the ball over two defenders and in front of Pugh, who sent a one-timer into the net for her second goal of the match.

Three minutes into the second half, Sanchez sent the ball toward Scarpa, who was just outside the 18-yard box. After taking a touch to control, Scarpa turned with the ball to see Gabriel off her line and drilled a shot into the left hand upper 90.

+Read: Thirty-six players called to U.S. U-15 Boys National Team camp

In the 50th minute, Scarpa collected the ball and dribbled toward the Haiti endline on the left side where she sent the ball across the face of goal to Davidson on the back post, and the defensive sub easily tapped the ball home from one yard out.

The USA closed the scoring fouor minutes later. Ella Stevens made a run past the central defenders just as DeMelo crossed a bouncing ball from the right channel to the back post. Stevens deftly caught the ball on the bounce to send a one-touch chip just over Gabriel into the goal. From there, the U.S. closed out the game by absorbing pressure and stringing together long spells of possession.

Additional Notes:

• The USA improves to 2-0-0 against Haiti all time in tournament play.
• With her two goals, Mallory Pugh now leads the tournament Golden Boot race with five goals. Teammate Jessie Scarpa is just behind her with four.
• The U.S. is tied with Canada for most goalscorers in the competition as each nation boasts seven players with a goal.
• U.S. goalkeeper Rose Chandler needed to make only one save to earn her first clean sheet of the competition.
• In the eighth minute of the match, defender Sabrina Flores took a hit to the knee in a battle for the ball and had to leave the match. Tierna Davidson subbed in for Flores in the 14th minute.

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

Match: U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team vs Haiti
Date: Dec.9, 2015
Competition: 2015 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship – Group B
Venue: Escuela Internacional Sampedran; San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Weather: 84 degrees; partly cloudy

Scoring Summary:       1          2          F
USA                               3         3           6
HAI                                0         0          0

USA – Savannah DeMelo (Tierna Davidson)         16th minute
USA – Mallory Pugh (Jessie Scarpa)                     35
USA – Mallory Pugh (Ashley Sanchez)                  44
USA – Jessie Scarpa (Ashley Sanchez)                 49
USA – Tierna Davidson (Jessie Scarpa)                50
USA – Ella Stevens (Savannah DeMelo)                54

Lineups:
USA: 1-Rose Chandler; 2-Natalie Jacobs, 4-Sabrina Flores (5-Tierna Davidson, 14), 14-Taylor Otto, 16-Emily Fox; 3-Mikaela Harvey, 6-Savannah DeMelo, 17-Parker Roberts (9-Jordan Harr, 65), 13-Ashley Sanchez; 10-Mallory Pugh (8-Ella Stevens, 46), 15-Jessie Scarpa
Subs not used: 7-Marley Canals, 11-Kelcie Hedge, 12-Kiara Pickett, 18-Brooke Heinsohn, 19-Shannon Horgan, 20-Zoe Redei
Head coach: Michelle French

HAI: 1-Joni Gabriel; 2-Soveline Beaubrun, 3-Jennyfer Limage, 4-Verlene Estime, 7-Catrina Lamour; 17-Magdala Macean, 18-Kensia Destinvil (11-Melissa Dacius, 32), 5-Sabine Chandler (6-Mikerline Saint Felix, 69), 9-Nerilia Mondesir; 15-Isnada Lebrun, 8-Nelourde Nicolas (14-Emeline Charles, 71)
Subs not used: 10-Batcheba Louid, 12-Kerly Theus, 13-Zila Lafleur, 16-Lovelie Pierre, 19-Johane Laforte, 20-Phiseline Michel
Head coach: Leszek Borkowski

Stats Summary: USA / HAI
Shots: 25 / 2
Shots on Goal: 12 / 1
Saves: 1 / 6
Corner Kicks: 4 / 0
Fouls: 16 / 19
Offside: 3 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
HAI –     Nelourde Nicolas (caution)          60th minute
USA –    Jordan Harr (caution)                    72

Officials:
Referee: Cecile Hinds (TRI)
Asst. Referee 1: Nereida Diaz Martinez (CUB)
Asst. Referee 2: Stephanie Yee Sing (JAM)
4th Official: Tatiana Guzman (NCA)