The U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team will continue play at the 2017 Nike International Friendlies on Saturday, Dec. 9 (6:30 p.m. ET) at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. when the Americans take on Finland. Here are five things you should know about the USA’s second matchup of the tournament.
U.S. Gets Point in First Match
The U.S. U-20 WNT comes into the match after an exhilarating 3-3 draw vs. England on Dec. 7 in its first game of the 2017 Women’s Nike International Friendlies. The USA took the lead on three occasions only for England to come back and equalize each time, including the game-tying score in the final seconds of regulation.
In the 90th minute, England cancelled out what looked to be an 87th minute game-winner from Sophia Smith as forward Alessia Russo, who plays at the University of North Carolina, headed a corner kick off the hand of U.S. goalkeeper Laurel Ivory and off the underside of the crossbar. As the ball fell, Ivory batted it away from the goal, but the assistant referee ruled that the ball had crossed the line.
Previously for Finland…
Finland will come into the match after a less than ideal start vs. Brazil in the opening game of the 2017 Women’s Nike Friendlies on Thursday afternoon. Brazil scored twice in each half to defeat Finland, 4-0, with a brace from forward Kerolina and a goal each from Mona and Valeria.
2017 Women’s Nike International Friendlies Standings
|
Team |
GP |
W |
L |
D |
Pts. |
GF |
GA |
GD |
|
Brazil |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
0 |
+4 |
|
USA |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
|
England |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
0 |
|
Finland |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
-4 |
Nike Friendlies Continues World Cup Qualifying Prep for USA
The U-20 U.S. WNT has used 36 players in nine international matches this year in preparation for World Cup qualifying, taking on Norway, Germany, France, Japan and England while compiling a record of 5-3-2. Outside back Jordan Brewster earned her first U-20 WNT cap against England in the first game of the Friendlies on Dec. 7, playing all 90 minutes in an impressive first outing.
Sophia Smith scored a brace vs. England. She got an assist from club and country teammate Jaelin Howell on her first one.
Sophia Smith of Real Colorado leads the team with eight international goals this year after scoring twice against England on Dec. 7, while Stanford freshman Civana Kuhlmann has four and UC Berkeley freshman Abigail Kim has two. Twenty-one of the 24 players on the roster have U-20 caps, led by Savannah DeMelo, a member of the last U-20 WNT cycle, who has 21 caps.
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 roster, 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.
U.S. U-20 WNT Roster – 2017 Nike International Friendlies (Club, Hometown)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Claudia Dickey (Charlotte Soccer Academy; Charlotte, NC), Laurel Ivory (Virginia; Surfside,Fla.), Amanda McGlynn (Virginia Tech; Jacksonville, Fla.)
DEFENDERS (9): Nicole Albrecht (Minnesota, Cedarburg, Wisc.), Julia Bingham (USC; Ontario, Calif.), Jordan Brewster (Internationals SC; North Canton, Ohio), Sydney Dawson (Internationals SC; North Canton, Ohio), Naomi Girma (California Thorns FC; San Jose, Calif.), Tara McKeown (USC; Newbury Park, Calif.), Zoe Morse (Virginia; East Lansing; Mich.), Isabel Rodriguez (Ohio State; Canton, Mich.), Karina Rodriguez (UCLA; Torrance, Calif.)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Samantha Coffey (Boston College; Sleepy Hollow, NY), Savannah DeMelo (USC; Bellflower, Calif.), Jaelin Howell (Real Colorado; Windsor, Colo.), Taylor Kornieck (Colorado; Henderson, Nev.), Brianna Pinto (NTH Tophat; Durham, NC), Viviana Villacorta (UCLA; Lawndale, Calif.)
FORWARDS (6): Jordan Harr (Texas Tech; Sachse, Texas), Abigail Kim (California; Vashon, Wash.), Civana Kuhlmann (Stanford; Littleton. Colo.), Sophia Smith (Real Colorado; Windsor, Colo.), Taryn Torres (Virginia; Frisco, Texas), Kelsey Turnbow (Santa Clara, Scottsdale, Ariz.)
More About Finland U-20 WNT
Finland has brought a slightly older team to the tournament as its 20-player roster features eight players born in 1997 and 12 born in 1998. Like all three of the visiting teams, Finland has several players playing college soccer in the USA in 5-foot-10 goalkeeper Henriikka Mäkelä who plays at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif., and midfielder Katriina Kuoksa who plays for former U.S. WNT player Tiffany Roberts Sahaydak at Central Florida.
Finland U-20 WNT Roster – 2017 Nike International Friendlies (Club)
GOALKEEPERS (2): 1-Henriikka Mäkelä (Univ. of the Pacific, USA), 12-Sonja Tajatalo (ONS)
DEFENDERS (8): 2-Nea Lehtola (Ilves), 3-Maaria Roth (Ilves), 4-Alina Schrey (TPS), 5-Roosa Toivanen (PK-35 Vantaa), 6-Emma Santamäki (TPS), 8-Selina Mustajoki (PK-35 Vantaa), 16-Juulia Grönlund (HJK), 18-Julie Forss (Ilves)
MIDFIELDERS (7): 7-Aada Törrönen (ONS), 9-Ida Raustola (PK-35 Vantaa), 11-Tiia Savolainen (Pallokissat), 13-Katriina Kuoksa (Central Florida, USA), 14-Teesa Rinkinen (HJK), 17-Alina Kosunen (PK-35 Vantaa), 19-Anni Miettunen (FC Honka)
FORWARDS (3): 10-Onna Ketola (ONS), 15-Emilia Ukkonen (HJK), 20-Aino Kröger (Pallokissat)
How To Watch
The tournament continues Dec. 9 at 3:30 p.m. ET with England facing Brazil, followed by the USA vs. Finland at 6:30 p.m. ET. Both matches will be streamed live on ussoccer.com, U.S. Soccer’s Facebook Page and U.S. Soccer’s YouTube Page from the Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch, Fla. with Mike Pepper calling the action.
The matches are not geo-blocked, meaning fans in Brazil, England and Finland, as well as others around the world, can watch the games. Fans can follow all the matches of the U.S. U-20s on Twitter @ussoccer_ynt. For full coverage, visit the Women’s Nike International Friendlies tournament page on ussoccer.com.