The U.S. Under-21 Women's National Team completed a highly impressive tour of China by winning all three matches while not allowing a goal, including a pair of 2-0 victories over both the Chinese Youth National Team and the senior Chinese National Team. The two shutout victories came after a 4-0 victory over Shanghai SVA, one of China's top women's clubs.
University of Hawaii forward Natasha Kai had a breakout performance on the tour, scoring in all three matches, as Joanna Lohman, Sarah Huffman and Carli Lloyd also found the net against Shanghai on March 21.
Against the Chinese Youth National Team on March 25, the USA got goals from Kai and Heather O'Reilly in a match that saw the USA outshot the young Chinese, 18-1.
On March 28 against the full Chinese National Team, in one of the more impressive wins in U-21 history, the USA got goals from Carli Lloyd and Kai just two minutes part in the first half to defeat the world's 5th-ranked team in front of a crowd of almost 10,000 in Jiangsu. Jenni Branam picked up the shutout for the USA. Nicole Barnhart logged the shutout vs. the Chinese youth National Team and the two shared the shutout vs. Shanghai.
The U-21s have won all four matches they have played this year as head coach Chris Petrucelli continues to mold his team in preparation for the 2004 Nordic Cup this summer in Iceland. Six members of the USA's 2002 FIFA U-19 World Championship Team played against China last Sunday in Huffman, O'Reilly, Kelly Wilson, Manya Makoski, Keeley Dowling and Jill Oakes. The U-21s will get together next for a training camp in mid-April at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, Calif.
- U-21 Women's National Team Game Report -
Participants: U.S. Under-21 Women’s National Team vs. Shanghai SVA
Location: Shanghai University; Shanghai, China
Date: March 21, 2004
Weather: Low 50’s with light rain
Scoring Summary: 1st 2nd Final
SVA 0 0 0
USA 3 1 4
USA – Natasha Kai 3rd minute
USA – Joanna Lohman 16th
USA – Sarah Huffman 24th
USA – Carli Lloyd (Nandi Pryce) 58th
Lineups:
USA: Jenni Branam (Nicole Barnhart, 46); Keeley Dowling, Hayley Hunt (Jenny Farenbaugh, 46), Nandi Pryce; Sarah Huffman (Jill Oakes, 71), Carli Lloyd (Ali Andrzejewski, 79), Joanna Lohman, Kacey White (Nikki Thaden, 63); Natasha Kai (Manya Makoski, 60), Heather O’Reilly, Kelly Wilson (Lindsey Huie, 46)
SVA: n/a
Statistical Summary: SVA USA
Shots 1 13
Saves 7 1
Corner Kick 4 11
Fouls 3 11
Offside 4 0
Misconduct Summary:
none
- U-21 Women's National Team Game Report -
Participants: U.S. Under-21 Women’s National Team vs. China Women’s Youth NT
Location: Jiangsu Huaian Sports Stadium; Jiangsu, China
Date: March 25, 2004
Weather: Low 60’s with hazy sun
Scoring Summary: 1st 2nd Final
CHI 0 0 0
USA 0 2 2
USA – Natasha Kai 60th minute
USA – Heather O’Reilly (Sarah Huffman) 67th
Lineups:
USA: Nicole Barnhart; Keeley Dowling, Jenny Farenbaugh (Hayley Hunt, 81), Nandi Pryce; Sarah Huffman, Joanna Lohman, Jill Oakes, Kacey White, Lindsey Huie (Nikki Thaden, 66); Natasha Kai (Manya Makoski, 73), Heather O’Reilly (Ali Andrzejewski, 87), Kelly Wilson (Kacey White, 77)
CHI: n/a
Statistical Summary: CHI USA
Shots 1 18
Saves 10 1
Corner Kick 2 14
Fouls 5 7
Offside 2 6
Misconduct Summary:
none
- U-21 Women's National Team Game Report -
Participants: U.S. Under-21 Women’s National Team vs. China Women’s National Team
Location: Jiangsu Huaian Sports Stadium; Jiangsu, China
Date: March 28, 2004
Weather: Upper 60’s with hazy sun
Scoring Summary: 1st 2nd Final
CHI 0 0 0
USA 2 0 2
USA – Carli Lloyd (Natasha Kai) 18th minute
USA – Natasha Kai (Carli Lloyd) 20th
Lineups:
USA: 1-Jenni Branam; 23-Keeley Dowling, 10-Jenny Farenbaugh, 12-Nandi Pryce; 9-Sarah Huffman, 3-Joanna Lohman, 20-Jill Oakes, 16-Carli Lloyd (Lindsey Huie, 61), 6-Natasha Kai (Manya Makoski, 89), 13-Heather O’Reilly (Kacey White, 87), 7-Kelly Wilson.
CHI: n/a
Statistical Summary: CHI USA
Shots 4 12
Saves 6 2
Corner Kick 6 5
Fouls 8 14
Offside 1 3
Misconduct Summary:
USA – Natasha Kai (caution) 55th minute
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