U.S. U-23 WNT defeats France 2-0 to win Istria Cup

UMAG, Croatia (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team defeated the France National “B” Team 2-0 on goals from Shea Groom and Christina Gibbons to win the Istria Cup.

The U.S. U-23s had beaten the full Slovenia WNT 3-0 on March 2 and tied the Poland U-19 team on March 4 to compile seven points and win the eight-team competition.

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

Against France, Groom scored her second goal of the competition, running behind the defense to get on the end of a chipped pass from Caprice Dydasco. Groom had a one-on-one with the goalkeeper and slotted into the left side of the net to put the USA up 1-0.

Gibbons sealed the match in the 78^th minute after Samantha Witteman beat her defender down the right side, drew the goalkeeper to the near post and passed back to Gibbons for an easy tap in with her left foot. The goals were the third U-23 international scores for both FC Kansas City’s Groom and Duke’s Gibbons.

Eleven of the players on the roster will now look to the new NWSL which begins on April 16.

+Read: U.S. U-17 WNT tops Mexico 1-0 in CONCACAF Championship group play

— U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team Match Report —

Match: U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team v. France “B” Women’s National Team
Date: March 7, 2016
Competition: 2016 Istria Cup
Venue: Dajla Stadium; Umag, Croatia
Weather: 55 and cloudy

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

USA – Shea Groom (Caprice Dydasco)                                31^st minute
USA – Christina Gibbons (Samantha Witteman)                   78

Lineups:
USA: 1-Jane Campbell; 6-Abby Dahlkemper, 4-Erica Skroski, 2-Caprice Dydasco, 10-Kayla Mills (capt.) (20-Samantha Witteman, 67), 8-Andi Sullivan, 13-Christina Gibbons (16-Mandy Freeman, 86), 9-Toni Payne (21-Tyler Lussi, 82), 11-Taylor Smith (23-Makenzy Doniak, 67), 17-Shea Groom (19-Havana Solaun, 86), 3-Rose Lavelle
Subs Not Used: 7-Michaela Hahn, 12-Katelyn Rowland, 15-Christen Westphal, 18-Katie Naughton
Head Coach: Janet Rayfield 

FRA: 1-Karima Benameur; 5-Laura Agaro, 6-Ines Jaurena, 7-Rose Lavaud, 8-Laura Bourgoin (9-Pauline Crammer, 66), 10-Lea Rubio (capt.) (21-Mylene Tarrieu, 54), 13-Charlotte Logere, 14-Oceane Olliver, 15-Eve Perisset, 18-Lea Le Garrec (17-Aminata Diallo, 66), 20-Ouleymata Sarr (19-Julie Peruzzeto, 82)
Subs Not Used: 2-Juliane Gathart, 3-Fanny Hoarau, 4-Marine Haupais, 11-Sarah Palacin, 16-Claire Jacob
Head Coach: Jeff Niemezcki 

Stats Summary: USA / FRA
Shots: 9 / 11
Shots on Goal: 4 / 6
Saves: 5 / 2
Corner Kicks: 4 / 3
Fouls: 4 / 6
Offside: 0 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
None

Officials:
Referee: Otte Lous (CRO)
Assistant Referee 1: Bilic Svetlana (CRO)
Assistant Referee 2: Makar Silvija (CRO)
4^th Official: Martincic Ivana (CRO)