USA qualifies for 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after beating Canada 3-0

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – The U.S. U-17 Women’s Youth National Team clinched its berth to the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and advanced to the final of the Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship after defeating Canada 3-0 with a dominating effort that saw the young Americans pile up a 29-3 shot margin.

A brace from forward Melina Rebimbas and a goal from forward Onyeka Gamero highlighted a classy and attractive display of rhythmical, attacking soccer and pressuring defense.

With the win, the USA will now face Mexico in the Championship Game at Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez on Sunday, May 8 at 5 p.m. ET (Fox Soccer Plus / ViX). Mexico rolled past Puerto Rico, 5-0, in the other semifinal to earn its World Cup spot and a place in the final. Puerto Rico and Canada will play in the Third-Place Match on May 8 at 2 p.m. ET (Fox Soccer Plus / ViX) for Concacaf’s third and final berth to the upcoming FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India.

The USA took control of the match immediately, knocking the ball around with speed and skill. The USA sent waves of attacks at the Canadians, particularly on the right flank as defender Gisele Thompson and Gamero combined to terrorize the defense. In the 18^th minute, the USA’s work paid off with an opening goal after Rebimbas received a pass from Nicollette Kiorpes on the left side of the penalty box. She turned toward goal and buried a left-footed strike from seven yards out into the lower right corner.

Despite a first half in which the USA held 80 percent of possession and outshot Canada 11-3, the bunkered down Canadian defense managed to limit the USA to a lone goal before the break.

The USA came out for the second half in similar fashion, limiting the Canadians’ time on the ball with excellent team defending while playing most of the game in its attacking half. Rebimbas doubled the lead in the 58^th minute, combining with midfielder Lauren Martinho deep inside the penalty box on the left side before finishing between the Canadian goalkeeper and the left post.

Twenty minutes later, Gamero added her name to the score sheet – and put the game to bed — after combining with substitute Amalia Villarreal to bury a powerful left-footed strike from about 12 yards out that skidded into lower left corner of the net.

When all was said and done, the USA put 14 shots on target to zero for Canada, retained 79 percent of possession overall and had a 16-0 margin in corner kicks. Canada goalkeeper Coralie Lallier did play an excellent match, making 11 total saves.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:

USA – Melina Rebimbas (Nicollette Kiorpes), 18th minute – Kiorpes found Rebimbas’ feet with her back to goal near the left corner of the six-yard box. She then turned and fired a powerful left-footed strike into the opposite side netting from seven yards out to open the scoring. USA 1, CAN 0

USA – Melina Rebimbas (Lauren Martinho), 58th minute – After controlled attacking play from the USA inside the box, Rebimbas collected the ball near the left side and played a wall pass with Martinho. Rebimbas received the return pass inside the six-yard box and slotted the ball into the net just inside near post with her left foot to score her second of the night. USA 2, CAN 0

USA – Onyeka Gamero (Amalia Villarreal), 78th minute – Villarreal laid the ball off to Gamero inside the box on the right side. She took a touch inside and fired a left-footed strike from a tough angle between a defender’s legs and just inside the left post from about 12 yards out. USA 3, CAN 0

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• Forward Melina Rebimbas’ brace marked her sixth and seventh goals of the tournament in six matches played. She is second on the team in scoring behind Amalia Villarreal’s eight goals.

• Midfielder Lauren Martinho recorded her second assist of the tournament when she set up Rebimbas’ second goal.

• Forward Onyeka Gamero’s goal marked her fifth goal of the tournament.

• Forward Amalia Villarreal tallied her fifth assist of the competition as she set up Gamero’s goal.

• This is the fifth FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup to which the USA has qualified and this will be the fifth Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship title game that the Americans have contested.

• Midfielder Riley Jackson once again captained the USA.

• U.S. goalkeeper Victoria Safradin picked up her third shutout of the tournament.

-U.S. UNDER-17 WOMEN’S YOUTH NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-

Match: United States Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team vs. Canada
Date: May 6, 2022
Competition: Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship – Semifinal
Venue: Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Attendance: 50
Kickoff: 7 p.m. ET
Weather: 81 degrees, partly cloudy

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

USA – Melina Rebimbas (Nicollette Kiorpes)            18^th minute
USA – Melina Rebimbas (Lauren Martinho)              58
USA – Onyeka Gamero (Amalia Villarreal)                78

Lineups:

USA; 12-Victoria Safradin; 20-Gisele Thompson (6-Mia Oliaro, 73), 17-Alyssa Gonzalez, 4-Cameron Roller, 3-Savannah King (2-Nicola Fraser, 74); 7-Riley Jackson (Capt.), 19-Lauren Martinho, 8-Charlotte Kohler (10-Mia Bhuta, 85); 18-Onyeka Gamero, 14-Melina Rebimbas (16-Amalia Villarreal, 62), 11-Nicollette Kiorpes (9-Taylor Suarez, 63)

Substitutes Not Used: 1-Abigail Gundry, 5-Keegan Schmeiser, 13-Claire Hutton, 15-Shae Harvey

Head Coach: Natalia Astrain 

CAN: 1-Coralie Lallier; 2-Mya Archibald, 5-Zoe Markesini (Capt.), 6-Clare Logan, 3-Ella Ottey (16-Ashley Roberts, 73); 4-Isabel Monck, 10-Jeneva Hernandez Gray (8-Felicia Roy, 59), 13-Anna Hauer; 7-Amanda Allen (19-Renee Watson, 59), 14-Jade Bordeleau (9-Nyah Rose, 46), 11-Rosa Maalouf (20-Jaime Perrault, 46)
Substitutes not used: 18-Noelle Henning, 12-Janet Okeke, 15-Cami Colpitts, 17-Ireoluwa Omotayo

Head coach: Emma Humphries

Stats Summary: USA / CAN
Shots: 29 / 3
Shots on Goal: 14 / 0
Saves: 0 / 11
Corner Kicks: 16 / 0
Fouls: 9 / 4
Offside: 0 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
None

Officials:
Referee: Sandra Benitez (SLVC)
1^st Assistant Referee: Lourdes Noriega (HON)
2^nd Assistant Referee: Ivett Santiago (CUB)
4^th Official: Mayary Cartegena (GUA)