Making The Case: U.S. Deaf WNT Wins Third-Straight World Cup, Presented by Bud Light
The U.S. Women’s Deaf National Team won the 2023 World Deaf Football Championship with a 3-0 victory against Turkey on October 6 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was the USDWNT’s third-straight Deaf World Championship and moved the team’s all-time record to 38-0-1 in 39 all-time matches since 2005.
The USA found its stride immediately, building on its momentum coming out of a 10-1 semifinal win over England as its attacking mentality was on display from the jump. The USA created chance after chance before finding the opener in the ninth minute as Holly Hunter fought to get the ball into the goal following a scramble after a corner kick from the left side.
U.S. Deaf WNT 3, Turkey 0
The Americans continued to apply pressure, dominating possession and keeping most of the game in the Turkey’s defensive half. The USA was unfortunate not to find the back of the net multiple times but its efforts paid off in the 37th minute as a breakaway sequence that led to a couple of blocked shots ended with Sophie Post getting the ball near the top of the box and firing a powerful shot on goal. The ‘keeper initially seemed to make the save, but the ball rolled between her legs and across the goal line to double the lead.
The USA came out strong in the second half. It only took two minutes before midfielder Mia White played a ball over the top for Emily Spreeman, who did well to settle it and finish with a left-footed shot from just inside the penalty box. With the goal, Spreeman impressively recorded a goal in every match of the tournament, finishing with 13 goals on the way to her Golden Boot award.
Turkey did well in the second half to string together a few chances, but a stellar five-save performance by Frandsen in goal, which included an impressive double save off a Turkey set piece early in the second half, helped ensure the shutout for the USA to claim the title.
- U.S. WOMEN’S DEAF NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT -
Match: USA Women’s Deaf National Team vs. Turkey
Date: October 6, 2023
Competition: 2023 DIFA Women’s Deaf World Championships - Final
Venue: Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kickoff: 8:30 a.m. ET (8:30 p.m. local)
Weather: 82 degrees, mostly cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 2 1 3
TUR 0 0 0
USA – Holly Hunter (Gracie Fitzgerald) 9th minute
USA – Sophie Post 38
USA – Emily Spreeman (Mia White) 47
Lineups:
USA: 1-Taegan Frandsen, 2-Kate Ward (Capt.) (4-McCall Madriago, 89), 3-Paige Beaudry, 5-Gracie Fitzgerald, 9-Ani Khachadourian, 10-Emily Spreeman, 11-Sydney Andrews (Capt.), 12-Sophie Post (8-Erin Cembrale, 63), 14-Paris Price (18-Faith Wylie, 75), 17-Mia White, 24-Holly Hunter (16-Emma Neff, 89)
Subs not used: 21-Payton DeGraw, 6-Mia McMurry, 7-Sabina Shysh, 13-Ashley Derrington, 15-Beth Barbiers, 22-Nikki Koehn,
Not dressed: 23-Casey King
Head Coach: Amy Griffin
TUR: 1-Zeynep Erdogan, 4-Merve Orucu, 5-Aysenur Cankaya, 6-Havane Dilbe (16-Sumeyra Yildiz, 80), 7-Berfin Demir, 8-Irem Kara (9-Raziye Yesilyurt, 84), 10-Oziem Aktas (2-Berna Cekic, 90), 14-Kardelen Duran (Capt.), 15-Busra Dogruyol, 17-Ecrin Kose, 18-Elif Omur
Subs not used: 12-Muslume Develi, 3-Bahar Cevikalp, 11-Sevdenur Semiz, 19-Seydanur Kuzu, 20-Esra Salehein,
Head Coach: Gokhan Berat
Stats Summary: USA / TUR
Shots: 17 / 8
SOG: 8 / 5
Saves: 5 / 5
Corner Kicks: 8 / 1
Fouls: 10 / 10
Offside: 7 / 0
Misconduct Summary:
TUR – Berfin Demir 26th minute
USA – Erin Cembrale 71
Officials:
Referee: Nurul Ain Izaty Zainal
Assistant Referee 1: Nur Akyal Anuar
Assistant Referee 2: Munirah Ha ali
Fourth Official: Nurul Hafizah binti Nuraddin