U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team defeats Venezuela 5-1

CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team defeated the Venezuela U-20 WNT 5-1 in the second of two matches between the teams during a training camp in Florida. The USA triumphed 6-2 on Oct. 8 in a match that was moved back one day due to Hurricane Matthew.

Like in the first match, the USA scored early as midfielder Courtney Petersen got her second goal in as many games. Midfielder Parker Roberts sent a pass into the penalty area for Petersen, who took a touch to the inside and then blasted her shot into the left corner for her second career international goal.

Just four minutes later, midfielder Emily Ogle scored her first international goal, finishing a rebound off the goalkeeper to make it 2-0. The USA held the two-goal lead until the 54^th minute when Venezuela pulled a goal back through Alexyar Canas, but as she did in the first game, U.S. captain Mallory Pugh almost immediately answered an opponent’s score, finding the net off an assist from Jessie Scarpa for her 17^th goal at the U-20 level.

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Midfielder Kelcie Hedge scored her fourth international goal in the 64^th minute off a corner kick. The ball deflected off several players before falling to Hedge’s feet and she roofed her shot into the net. Central defender Natalie Jacobs scored her first international in the 85^th minute for the final margin. That goal also came off a set play as midfielder Katie Cousins played a long free kick that was misplayed by the goalkeeper. It fell to Jacobs, who brought it down, shielded off a defender and finished into the empty net.

This was the final international match for the U.S. team before it departs at the end of the month for the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Papua New Guinea.

In PNG, the USA is in Group C with France, New Zealand and Ghana while Venezuela are in Group D with Germany, Mexico and the Korea Republic.

The U.S. begins its World Cup on Monday, Nov. 14, against France in one of the marquee opening matches. The USA and France met in group play at the 2006 U-20 Women’s World Cup in Russia, with the USA winning 1-0, and in the opening game of the 2008 U-20 Women’s World Cup, with the USA winning 3-0. The Americans face New Zealand for the first time in a U-20 WWC on Thursday, Nov. 17, and finish the group against Ghana on Monday, Nov. 21. The USA played Ghana in group play in two consecutive U-20 Women’s World Cup tournaments, drawing 1-1 in Germany in 2010 and winning 4-0 in Japan in 2012. The USA will play its first two group games at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium and its third group game at National Football Stadium. Both stadiums are located in Port Moresby, the capital city of Papua New Guinea.

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-U.S. Under-20 WNT Match Report-

Match: United States U-20 Women’s National Team vs. Venezuela U-20 Women’s National Team
Date: Monday, October 10, 2016
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Omni Hotel & Resort at ChampionsGate
Weather:  75 degrees, overcast

Scoring Summary:    1          2          F
USA                            2          3          5
VEN                            0          1          1

USA – Courtney Petersen (Parker Roberts)              7^th minute
USA – Emily Ogle                                                       11
VEN – Alexyar Canas                                                 54
USA – Mallory Pugh (Jessie Scarpa)                         56
USA – Kelcie Hedge                                                   64
USA – Natalie Jacobs (Katie Cousins)                       85

Lineups:
USA:  1-Casey Murphy (22-Rose Chandler, 46); 14-Ellie Jean, 3-Kaleigh Riehl, 25-Taylor Otto (19-Natalie Jacobs, 46), 4-Sabrina Flores (2-Maddie Elliston, 46) 8-Courtney Petersen ,16-Emily Fox (17-Kelcie Hedge, 46), 24-Parker Roberts (13-Marley Canales, 24) 9-Mallory Pugh (capt.) (7-Savannah DeMelo, 76), 10-Emily Ogle (20-Katie Cousins, 65), 15-Jessie Scarpa (11-Ally Watt, 65)
Subs Not Used:12-Brooke Heinsohn
Head Coach: Michelle French

VEN: 1- Oriana Palacio; 6- Michelle Romero (14-Yorgelis Monterroz, 82), 4-Neily Carrasquera, 2-Rafanny Mendoza, 3-Alexyar Canas, 17-Hilaris Villasana, 5-Yenifer Gimenz, 10-Lourdes Moreno, 9-Idalys Perez, 11-Gabriela Garcia, 7-Yonesidy Zambrano (15-Gerardine Olivio, 65)
Subs Not Used: 12-Rodriguez Franyeli, 16-Tonny Pereira, 19-Manuela Cano
Head Coach: Jose Catoya

Stats Summary: USA / VEN
Shots: 13 / 3
Shots on Goal: 10 / 2
Saves: 1 / 6
Corner Kicks: 3 / 1
Fouls: 11 / 15
Offside: 2 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
VEN – Rafany Medonza (caution)                  25^th minute
USA – Marely Canales (caution)                    37
VEN – Neily Carrasquer (caution)                  72
USA – Ally Watt (caution)                               74
VEN – Yenifer Gimenez (caution)                  83