U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team opens 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup with 4-0 victory over Ghana

The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team opened play at the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup with a 4-0 victory against Ghana at the Hiroshima Big Arch Stadium to take control of Group D.

Maya Hayes scored three goals in the second half to increase her international total to 15, and the U.S. benefited from an own goal in the first half to take the early lead in the group stage. Hayes recorded the 10th hat trick for a U.S. player in a FIFA World Cup at all levels.

Next up for the USA is a Group D match against China PR at 5:50 a.m. ET on Thursday, Aug. 23. The match will be broadcast live on ESPNU and ESPN3.

During the majority of the match, the U.S. dominated, but in the early minutes it was Ghana’s Florance Dadson who posed the regular scoring threat. Dadson posted the game’s first two shots, including a shot on goal in the fourth minute and a near breakaway two minutes later. U.S. captain Julie Johnston was able to scramble back and disrupt Dadson who was looking for a foul as Johnston had tugged on her shirt.

The USA’s first legitimate scoring threat came on a set piece with Vanessa DiBernardo’s corner kick from the left side. She found Morgan Brian, but her header hit the crossbar. The ball deflected into the goal box, bounced off the leg of Ghana defender Linda Addai and ended up in the net.

Ghana goalkeeper Patricia Mantey made some clutch saves in the first half to keep things tight, including diving to her right to put a glove on a Morgan Brian volley in the 28th minute, and then parrying away a solid Chioma Ubogagu strike to her left in the 36th minute.

The USA’s confidence continued to grow early in the second half as Hayes gave the team a 2-0 lead with a header goal in the 50th minute. Kealia Ohai brought the ball in from the right just inside the penalty area and crossed in to Hayes, who got in front of Ghana defender Rosemary Ampem and clinically directed the ball past Mantey.

Hayes scored her second goal of the match off of an assist from second-half sub Samantha Mewis for a 3-0 lead in the 74th minute. Mewis headed the ball from the left side and Ghana’s defense could not clear the ball as it bounced once on the pitch. Hayes took advantage of the opportunity and drove it calmly into the back of the net.

For good measure, Hayes notched her third goal of the match in the second minute of stoppage time as Mewis played a through ball and Hayes chipped the ball over Mantey, who went low to the ground to try and disrupt the attack.

U.S. goalkeeper Bryane Heaberlin made three saves for the USA, with most of Ghana’s shots coming from long distance.

Additional Notes:

• The U.S. U-20 WNT improved its international record to 13-1-0 in 2012.
• The USA posted its 11th shutout victory of the year.
• On Monday, the U.S. benefited from an own goal for the first time this year in international play. The USA offense generated 51 tallies heading into Monday’s match against Ghana.
• Following Thursday’s game against China PR, the USA wraps up Group D play against Germany on Monday, Aug. 27, at 2:50 a.m. ET at Miyagi Stadium in Rifu, Japan. The match will be broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPN3.
• Ghana’s group stage continues against Germany on Thursday and China PR on Aug. 27.

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

Match: United States U-20 Women’s National Team vs. Ghana
Date: Aug. 20, 2012
Competition: 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup; Group D
Venue: Hiroshima Big Arch Stadium; Hiroshima, Japan
Kickoff: 3 a.m. ET (4 p.m. local)
Attendance: TBD
Weather: 82 degrees, partly cloudy

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA                        1 3 4
GHA                        0 0 0

USA – Own goal (Linda Addai)             20th minute
USA – Maya Hayes (Kealia Ohai)           50
USA – Maya Hayes (Samantha Mewis)   74
USA – Maya Hayes (Samantha Mewis)   90+2

Lineups:
USA: 1-Bryane Heaberlin; 4-Crystal Dunn, 15-Kassey Kallman, 8-Julie Johnston (capt.), 2-Mollie Pathman; 16-Sarah Killion (13-Samantha Mewis, 72), 10-Vanessa DiBernardo, 6-Morgan Brian (14-Mandy Laddish, 81); 7-Kealia Ohai, 5-Maya Hayes, 9-Chioma Ubogagu (12-Katie Stengel, 61)
Subs not used: 3-Cari Roccaro, 11-Becca Wann, 17-Taylor Schram, 18-Abby Smith, 19-Stephanie Amack, 20-Kelly Cobb, 21-Jami Kranich
Head Coach: Steve Swanson

GHA: 1-Patricia Mantey; 3-Grace Adams, 4-Cynthia Yiadom (14-Faustina Ampah, 90), 5-Rosemary Ampem, 7-Linda Addai, 6-Mercy Myles (capt.), 8-Elizabeth Addo, 10-Priscilla Saahene (13-Jennifer Cudjoe, 70), 9-Alice Danso (19-Candice Osei-Agyemang, 70), 18-Beatrice Sesu, 20-Florance Dadson
Subs not used: 2-Rebecca Asante, 11-Deborah Afriyie, 12-Janet Egyir, 15-Mary Essiful, 16-Nana Asantewaa, 17-Veronica Appiah, 21-Margaret Otoo
Head Coach: Robert Sackey

Stats Summary: USA / GHA
Shots: 13 / 13
Shots on Goal: 7 / 3
Saves: 3 / 4
Corner Kicks: 8 / 3
Fouls: 4 / 2
Offside: 1 / 3

Misconduct Summary:
GHA – Linda Addai (caution)      60th minute

Officials:
Referee: Teodora Albon (ROU)
Assistant Referee 1: Petruta Iugulescu (ROU)
Assistant Referee 2: Angela Kyriakou (CYP)
Fourth Official: Fusako Kajiyama (JPN)

ussoccer.com Woman of the Match:
Maya Hayes