U-17 U.S. Women’s Team Falls to Spain in World Cup Opener


The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team faced a tough challenge in their opening game of the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, losing 3-1 to defending champions Spain. Despite a strong effort to recover from an early setback, the U.S. couldn’t overcome the experienced Spanish side.

U-17 U.S.
U-17 U.S.

Key Moments in the Match

  • Early Setback: The U.S. conceded an own goal in the third minute after a shot from Spain’s Celia Segura hit the post and rebounded off American defender Jocelyn Travers into the net.
  • U.S. Equalizer: The Americans responded well, with forward Melanie Barcenas scoring a brilliant goal in the 22nd minute, making it 1-1. The goal came after Kennedy Fuller fought to keep the ball alive, setting up Barcenas for a powerful shot.
  • Late Goals by Spain: Spain regained the lead in the 70th minute when Noa Ortega volleyed the ball into the net after a shot hit the crossbar. They extended their advantage in the 83rd minute with a goal from Alba Cerrato, sealing the win.

Match Overview

  • Date and Location: October 16, 2024, at Felix Sanchez Stadium, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
  • Attendance: 3,234 spectators.
  • Weather Conditions: Sunny and hot, around 88°F.

Scoring Summary

TeamGoalMinute
ESPOwn Goal (Jocelyn Travers)3rd
USAMelanie Barcenas (Kennedy Fuller)22nd
ESPNoa Ortega70th
ESPAlba Cerrato (Noa Ortega)83rd

Game Stats

  • Shots: USA – 5, Spain – 11
  • Shots on Goal: USA – 3, Spain – 5
  • Saves: USA – 3, Spain – 2
  • Corner Kicks: USA – 2, Spain – 2
  • Fouls: USA – 10, Spain – 4
  • Offside: USA – 6, Spain – 5

Analysis: U.S. Performance

  • Resilience: The U.S. showed resilience by quickly equalizing after the own goal. Despite facing a team with a strong record at this level, they managed to keep the game even for a long time.
  • Defense: The U.S. defense held up well for much of the game, limiting Spain’s opportunities. Key player Alba Cerrato was kept quiet until the 56th minute, with no attempts on goal.
  • Missed Opportunities: The team struggled to create clear scoring chances. Barcenas’ substitution in the 63rd minute due to cramping weakened their attacking threat.
  • Spanish Pressure: Spain’s experience showed as they found a way to break through in the second half with two late goals. The team’s ability to adapt their strategy, with Pau Comendador attempting a long-range shot that set up Ortega’s goal, demonstrated their tactical flexibility.

Spain’s Dominance in U-17 Women’s Soccer

  • World Cup Success: Spain is the most successful team in the U-17 Women’s World Cup history, with two titles and five medals overall.
  • European Achievements: The Spanish team also boasts five European championships and reached the final a record 11 times.
  • 2024 European Win: Earlier this year, they claimed another European title, winning all five of their matches and finishing with an impressive goal difference of +18.

What’s Next for the U.S.?

  • Upcoming Match: The U.S. will face Colombia on October 19, 2024, in another Group B match at Felix Sanchez Stadium. Colombia recently finished as runner-up in the South American U-17 Women’s Championship.
  • Challenges Ahead: The U.S. aims to reach the knockout stages for the first time in consecutive tournaments but will need to perform strongly against Colombia to stay in contention.

Additional Notes

  • Professional and College Players: The U.S. starting lineup featured four professional players and one college player.
  • Substitutions: Head coach Katie Schoepfer used all five allowed substitutions, bringing on fresh legs to maintain the intensity.

Sources

The U.S. team will look to bounce back and improve their chances of advancing in the tournament.


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