U.S. U-20 WNT storms past Finland 10-1 in Nike Friendlies

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Florida (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team scored early and often, powering home eight goals in the first half on the way to an impressive 10-1 win against Finland in its second match of the 2017 Women’s Nike International Friendlies.

U.S. head coach Jitka Klimkova made seven changes from the starting lineup that tied England 3-3 on Dec. 7 and this combination of players came out on fire. The USA took a few minutes to find its rhythm, but then scored four goals in a seven-minute span and were up 5-0 before the 25th minute. The USA out-shot Finland 18-2 in the first 45 minutes and 29-3 for the match.

Almost all the U.S. goals were of the spectacular sort as forward Civana Kuhlmann bagged four in the first half, midfielder Savannah DeMelo scored twice and forward Taryn Torres, midfielder Samantha Coffey and midfielder Viviana Villacorta each added single scores. Finland also scored an own goal. Kuhlmann’s final three goals came in the final six minutes of the first half. She was substituted in the 63rd minute.

For Torres, Coffey and Villacorta (who scored the USA’s final goal in the 67th minute), the goals were their first at the U-20 international level. For Torres, her score came in her first U-20 cap and she also got her first career assist.

With the win, the USA sits in first place in the tournament with four points and a plus-9 goal difference. England is second with four points and a plus-1 goal difference. Brazil is in third with 3 points and a plus-3 goal difference while Finland sits in fourth place with zero points and a minus-13 goal difference.

That means the USA will win the tournament with a victory against Brazil if it maintains its edge over England in goal difference. The USA could also win the tournament with a tie, if England ties Finland.

The USA will face Brazil in its tournament finale on Monday, Dec. 11, with a 6:30 p.m. ET kickoff. England and Finland meet at 3:30 p.m. ET Fans can watch both games on ussoccer.com, U.S. Soccer Facebook and on YouTube.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Taryn Torres (Abigail Kim), 13th minute: The USA scored its first goal from the right flank as Abigail Kim raced into the right side of the penalty box, rode the tackle of a defender and struck a short, but powerful cross to the top of the six-yard box that was brilliantly redirected into the net by Taryn Torres on a blistering left-footed full volley. USA 1, FIN 0.

USA – Savannah DeMelo (Samantha Coffey) 15th minute: The USA’s second goal came from the left flank, and this time it was team captain Samantha Coffey who crossed on the ground to the near post where a cutting Savannah DeMelo deftly hit a spinning shot from nine years out just inside the near post. USA 2, FIN 0.

USA – Civanna Kuhlmann (Isabel Rodriguez), 17th minute: The USA’s third goal came from the left flank as left back Isabel Rodriguez lofted a cross that fell to Civana Kuhlmann near the top of the penalty area. Finland goalkeeper Sonja Rajatalo made a bad decision and came for the cross, allowing Kuhlmann’s high looping header to bounce in front of the goal line and then into the roof of the net. USA 3, FIN 0.

USA – Samantha Coffey (Taryn Torres), 20th minute: A nice build-up down the right side led the USA’s fourth goal as Abigail Kim once again beat a defender down the right flank. Her cross on the ground was poorly cleared and Civana Kuhlmann won the ball, played it quickly to Taryn Torres in the middle of penalty area and she laid the ball back to Samantha Coffey at the top of the box. Coffey wasted no time in smacking a low, left-footed drive into the right corner past the unsighted Rajatalo. USA 4, FIN 0.

FIN – Tessa Rinkinen, 24th minute: Finland pulled a goal back after the USA failed to clear a cross from the left flank despite several whacks at the ball. Tessa Rinkinen dug the ball out of a scrum and forced it over the goal line from close range to break the shutout. USA 4, FIN 1.

USA – Savannah DeMelo (Viviana Villacorta), 37th minute: DeMelo bagged her second on a shot from distance after receiving a shot pass from Viviana Villacorta in the center of the field. She spun towards goal and launched a shot from 33 yards out that grazed the post at the upper left corner before settling into the net. It was her fourth goal at the U-20 level in 22 caps. USA 5, FIN 1.

USA – Civana Kuhlmann (Taryn Torres), 40th minute: Kuhlmann got her second of the game after Taryn Torres sent a perfect chip from just outside the left edge of the penalty box to the far post. The crashing Kuhlmann bravely powered a diving header into the left side of the net to start her three-goals in six minutes run. USA 6, FIN 1.

USA – Civana Kuhlmann (Savannah DeMelo), 43rd minute: The seventh goal was a work of art as Savannah DeMelo scooped a pass over two defenders to the streaking Civana Kuhlmann who brought the ball down in stride on her chest at the top of the penalty area, took a few strides and then hit a blistering half-volley that hit off the goalkeeper’s hands, flew over her and bounced into the net. USA 7, FIN 1.

USA – Civana Kuhlmann (Isabel Rodriguez), 45th minute: Kuhlmann bagged her fourth on another stunning finish. Isabel Rodriguez crossed from deep on the left flank and the ball skidding all the way across to the right side of the penalty area. Kuhlmann settled with her first touch and then hit a scorching half-volley from 20 yards out that skipped off the wet grass in front of the net and stuck into the lower left corner. USA 8, FIN 1.

USA – Juulia Gronlund (Own Goal), 64th minute: Finland was holding on well to start the second half before defender Juulia Gronlund tried to make a simple pass back to her goalkeeper, but instead pushed it past her and it rolled into the open net. USA 9, FIN 1.

USA – Viviana Villacorta (Abigail Kim), 67th minute:  The USA took a free kick short on the left wing. The ball was then crossed into the middle where Abigail Kim headed the ball down to an unmarked Viviana Villacorta who hit a crisp half-volley into the net from six-yards out. USA 10, FIN 1.

Additional Notes:

• Civana Kuhlman, who scored a hat trick against Paraguay in the opening game of the 2017 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, became the first female U.S. U-20 player to score four goals in an international game, although several players accomplished the feat when this age group played at the Under-19 level. Kuhlmann, a freshman at Stanford, also won an NCAA Championship with the Cardinal last Sunday.
• In CONCACAF qualifying for the 2002 U-19 Women’s World Cup, Kelly Wilson and Lindsey Tarpley both scored four against Suriname, and Wilson also scored four against Costa Rica. In 2003, Bristyn Davis scored four in a friendly against Canada. Kia McNeil scored four goals against the Dominican Republic in 2004 CONCACAF Qualifying.
• Abigail Kim, Isabel Rodriguez and Taryn Torres each had two assists in the match. The assists for the first for Rodriguez and Torres at the U-20 level.
• Defender Sydney Dawson, who was a halftime substitute, saw her first minutes of the tournament.
• S. head coach Jitka Klimkova used all six substitutes, also giving second half minutes to Brewster, Howell, Pinto and Harr, all starters in the first game against England. In addition, midfielder Kornieck came on at halftime with Dawson.
• Samantha Coffey, who captained the USA for the first time, picked up her second assist of the tournament.
• The age cutoff to be eligible for the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is players born on or after January 1, 1998. For this event, Klimkova called up nine players born in 1998, 11 born in 1999 and four born in 2000, making them also age-eligible for the 2020 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
• Sophia Smith, who was rested for this match, has eight international goals this year, but Kuhlmann pulled even with her after tonight’s performance.
• Smith has earned the rare distinction of scoring for three different age group National Teams this year. In February, she scored for the U-18 WNT against England and Norway. For the U-20 WNT, she has scored against Norway (twice), Germany (twice), France, Japan and England (twice). For the U-23 WNT, she scored against Norway as well as the game-winner against the Portland Thorns.
• Midfielder Savannah DeMelo earned her 22nd cap, which is tops on the roster, and had her first brace for the U-20 WNT.

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

Match: U.S. U-20 WNT vs. Finland U-20 WNT
Date: December 9, 2017
Competition: 2017 Women’s Nike International Friendlies
Venue: Premier Sports Complex Stadium; Lakewood Ranch, Fla.
Weather: 54 degrees, clear
Attendance: 650

Scoring Summary:         1          2          F
USA                                  8          2          10
FIN                                    1          0          1

USA – Taryn Torres (Abigail Kim)                                   13th minute
USA – Savannah DeMelo (Samantha Coffey)                15
USA – Civana Kuhlmann (Isabel Rodriguez)                   17
USA – Samantha Coffey (Taryn Torres)                          20
FIN – Katriina Kuoksa                                                      24
USA – Savannah DeMelo (Viviana Villacorta)                 37
USA – Civana Kuhlmann (Taryn Torres)                          40
USA – Civana Kuhlmann (Savannah DeMelo)                42
USA – Civana Kuhlmann (Isabel Rodriguez)                   45
USA – Juulia Grönlund (Own Goal)                                 64
USA – Viviana Villacorta (Abigail Kim)                            67

Lineups:
USA: 12-Claudia Dickey; 25-Tara McKeown (3-Jordan Brewster, 62), 5-Zoe Morse (14-Sydney Dawson, 46) 15-Karina Rodriguez, 19-Isabel Rodriguez; 16-Viviana Villacorta (6-Jaelin Howell, 76), 13-Samantha Coffey (capt.) (8-Brianna Pinto, 76), 10-Savannah DeMelo (24-Taylor Kornieck, 46); 7-Abigail Kim, 20-Civana Kuhlmann (11-Jordan Harr, 63), 17-Taryn Torres
Subs Not Used: 4-Naomi Girma, 9-Sophia Smith, 22-Laurel Ivory
Head Coach: Jitka Klimkova

FIN: 12-Sonja Tajatalo; 8-Selina Mustajoki, 18-Julie Forss, 4-Alina Schrey, 16-Juulia Grönlund; 14-Teesa Rinkinen (17-Alina Kosunen, 46), 13-Katriina Kuoksa (3-Maaria Roth, 76), 9-Ida Raustola (6-Emma Santamäki, 46), 11-Tiia Savolainen (2-Nea Lehtola, 46), 7-Aada Törrönen (19-Anni Miettunen, 59), 15-Emilia Ukkonen
Subs Not Used: 1-Henriikka Mäkelä, 5-Roosa Toivanen, 10-Onna Ketola
Head Coach: Rosa Lappi-Seppala

Stats Summary: USA / FIN
Shots: 29 / 3
Shots on Goal: 15 / 1
Saves: 0 / 6
Corner Kicks: 3 / 1
Fouls: 2 / 4
Offside: 3 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
None

Officials:
Referee: Jamie Padilla (USA)
Assistant Referee: Jennifer Politz (USA)
Assistant Referee: Kaili Terry (USA)
Fourth Official: Natalie Simon (USA)