USA clinches semifinal spot in CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship with 3-0 win over Jamaica

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands – The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team qualified for the semifinal stage of the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship with a 3-0 victory against Jamaica at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex.

Savannah Jordan scored in her second straight match, Andi Sullivan netted a penalty kick in the first half and substitute McKenzie Meehan tallied her first U-20 goal late in the game. The U.S. moved to 2-0-0 (6 points) in the tournament and Jamaica fell to 0-1-1 (1 point).

The U.S. has one remaining Group A match against Guatemala on Monday, Jan. 13, at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex. The game will be broadcast live on FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Soccer 2GO (Click here for details on how to access FOX Soccer 2GO matches for free). Fans can also follow the U-20s throughout the tournament on Twitter @ussoccer_ynt.

Jamaica will face Costa Rica on Jan. 13 in the earlier match for the other Group A berth to the semifinals. Costa Rica needs a draw while Jamaica needs a victory.

The USA’s berth to the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup could come with a semifinal victory. The two finalists and third-place game winner of the CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship book spots to Canada later this summer.

Earlier on Saturday in Group A play, Costa Rica (1-1-0, 3 points) eliminated Guatemala (0-1-1, 1 point) with a 5-1 victory.

A physical Jamaica side bunkered on defense to open the match and limited the USA’s scoring chances in the first 30 minutes. The U.S. kept attacking and found some rhythm – and two goals – in the final 15 minutes of the first half.

The opening goal came in the 31st minute off an assist from Morgan Andrews, who, for the second match in a row, hit a perfect looping pass over the opponent’s defense. This one found Jordan, who brought the ball down off her chest in the left side of the penalty area and smashed her half-volley into the upper left corner at the near post past Jamaica goalkeeper Chris-Ann Chambers.

Jamaica flirted with danger on several occasions as its players threw some late tackles during the opening 45 minutes. In the 33rd minute, Horan was taken down in the box by Jamaica defender Konya Plummer, but got no call. Several minutes later Horan was tackled near the end line as she chased a rebound on the left side and this time referee Marie-Soleil Beaudoin pointed to the spot.

Sullivan, who captained the USA on the night, took the subsequent penalty kick, slotting her attempt into the right side of the net in the 40th minute as Chambers didn’t move.

Two U.S. players making their tournament debuts created the USA’s third goal in the 82nd minute. Margaret “Midge” Purce sped past Jamaica’s defense down the left side and turned the corner at the end line before dishing to Meehan at the edge of the six-yard box. Meehan lunged with her right foot to toe-poke her shot past Chambers for her first international goal at the U-20 level in just her fourth cap.

U.S. goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland earned her second straight clean sheet, making two saves – one in each half.

Additional notes:

• The USA is now 27-2-1 all-time in the CONCACAF U-19/U-20 Championship and holds a 12-game winning streak dating back to the opener of the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship in Guatemala.
• The U.S. improves to 3-0-0 against Jamaica in this tournament, improving its scoring edge to 13-1 in those matches.
• The USA will play the remainder of this tournament without forward Makenzy Doniak. She suffered a broken right hand during the opening game against Costa Rica and will need surgery after she returns to the States.
• Summer Green, who replaced Doniak after she was injured in the first match, earned the start against Jamaica.
• U.S. right back Andi Sullivan wore the captain’s armband alongside center-backs Cari Roccaro and Katie Naughton and left back Brittany Basinger. Roccaro started the first game against Costa Rica in the midfield and then dropped to the back line later in that match.
• Rachel Hill earned her first start of the tournament in the midfield after coming on as a sub in the first game. Morgan Andrews and Basinger got the start for second for the straight game.
• The starting front line featured Green, Lindsey Horan and Savannah Jordan up front in the 4-3-3 formation.
• Roccaro, the USA’s most-capped player at this level among this group, has now played in 24 games with the U-20s as she is in the midst of her second cycle with this age level.
• Stephanie Amack subbed for Andrews to start the second half.
• Margaret “Midge” Purce made her first appearance of the tournament when she replaced Green in the 59th minute.
• McKenzie Meehan also saw her first tournament time when she subbed for Jordan in the 72nd minute.
• Sullivan’s goal was her second at the U-20 level in nine caps.

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

Match: U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team vs. Jamaica
Date: Jan. 11, 2014
Competition: CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship – Group A
Venue: Truman Bodden Sports Complex; George Town, Cayman Islands
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Attendance: 2,500
Weather: 80 degrees, humid

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 2 1 3
JAM 0 0 0

USA – Savannah Jordan (Morgan Andrews) 31st minute
USA – Andi Sullivan (penalty kick) 40
USA – McKenzie Meehan (Margaret Purce) 82

Lineups:
USA: 1-Katelyn Rowland; 19-Andi Sullivan (capt.), 3-Cari Roccaro, 20-Katie Naughton, 4-Brittany Basinger; 7-Morgan Andrews (16-Stephanie Amack, 46), 14-Rachel Hill, 17-Rose Lavelle; 5-Summer Green (15-Margaret Purce, 59), 9-Lindsey Horan, 13-Savannah Jordan (11-McKenzie Meehan, 72)
Subs Not Used: 2-Maddie Bauer, 8-Lauren Kaskie, 10-Laura Liedle, 12-Mallory Weber, 18-Jane Campbell
Head Coach: Michelle French

JAM: 13-Chris-Ann Chambers; 4-Cachet Lue, 5-Konya Plummer, 10-Marlo Sweatman (capt.), 9-Trudi Carter, 15-Myjnairii Perkins, 17-Simone Wark (18-Kayla Gray, 52), 19-Jorja Hughes, 20-Alika Keene, 6-Oshay Nelson Lawes (11-Khadija Shaw, 75), 14-Alexa Allen (12-Keona Simmonds, 58)
Subs Not Used: 1-Taylor Grant, 2-Toriana Patterson, 3-Mackenzie Marsh, 8-Courtney Douglas, 16-Nicole Harris, 21-Imanie Richards
Head Coach: Vin Blaine

Stats Summary: USA / JAM
Shots: 24 / 7
Shots on Goal: 11 / 2
Saves: 2 / 7
Corner Kicks: 7 / 0
Fouls: 9 / 10
Offside: 2 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
JAM – Myjnairii Perkins (caution) 74th minute

Officials:
Referee: Marie-Soleil Beaudoin (CAN)
Assistant Referee 1: Marie-Josee Charbonneau (CAN)
Assistant Referee 2: Wendy Fisher (CAY)
Fourth Official: Carol Anne Chenard (CAN)

ussoccer.com Woman of the Match: Rose Lavelle