25Apr
Goals from helfrich, travers and townes pace the usa to second-straight win; usa will play for top spot in group b on tuesday against canada.
TOLUCA, Mexico (Feb. 4, 2024) – The U.S. U-17 Women’s Youth National Team earned a hard-fought 3-1 win against Puerto Rico on Matchday Two at the 2024 Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship.
Goals from forward Carrie Helfrich, defender Jocelyn Travers and forward Mya Townes paced the USA to its second-straight victory and put the team in position to claim top spot in Group B when it faces Canada in Tuesday’s group-stage finale. The USA can officially advance to the semifinals with a Canada win or draw against Panama in Sunday’s other Group B match.
U.S. head coach Katie Schoepfer made nine changes to the lineup that started the 13-0 win against Panama on Friday, and while the USA dominated possession, Puerto Rico’s defensive posture throughout the entire 90 minutes ensured a more difficult challenge than in tournament opener. Playing with all 11 players underneath the center circle, Puerto Rico got high marks for its defensive bunker and intensity to win the ball, but rarely threatened the USA’s back line.
The Americans ended up out-shooting Puerto Rico 24-2 and allowed just one shot on goal, which unfortunately went in.
The USA got two good looks inside the first quarter hour. In the fourth minute after winning a free kick from about 25 yards out, midfielder Kimmi Ascanio swerved her service around the wall, but Puerto Rico goalkeeper Kailey Carlen got down to her left to keep out the initial danger.
In the 15th minute, a good U.S. build-up down the right led to a centering pass for Ascanio, who laid off the ball on the left for Travers. The outside back cut inside and sent a right footed effort towards the lower right post, but again Carlen was equal to the challenge.
After continual pressure, the U.S. scored two goals in quick succession as Ascanio’s free kick from the left picked out midfielder Riley Cross, whose header across the goal mouth was settled and then slammed home by Helfrich in the 28th minute.
Two minutes later, winger Leena Thompson drove into the box before being chopped down and earn a penalty kick for the second straight match. Travers stepped up and sent Carlen the wrong way as she powered home her first goal of the tournament in the 31st minute.
The USA dominated possession again in the second half and created numerous decent scoring chances. Immediately after entering the match, substitute midfielder Melanie Barcenas’ used her first few touches to collect and find space at midfield before cracking a left-footed shot from 30 yards that just flew over the bar.
In the 64th minute, forward Rylee McLanahan won a loose ball in the box before pushing her close-range effort just past the left post.
Those two close chances finally led to the next U.S. goal as substitute forward Mya Townes was the beneficiary of some good build-up work through the middle from Barcenas and midfielder Y-Lan Nguyen to make it 3-1 in the 67th minute.
Townes nearly bagged a fourth in the game’s dying moments when she pounced on a loose ball in the box and saw her quick-right footed effort turned away by Carlen in the 85th minute.
Stats Summary:
USA / PUR
Shots: 24 / 2
Shots on Goal: 11 / 1
Saves: 0 / 8
Corner Kicks: 5 / 2
Fouls: 5 / 6
Offside: 3 / 1
Officials:
Referee: Neressa Gordon (JAM)
1st Assistant Referee: Mojollee Gayle (JAM).
2nd Assistant Referee: Shirleen Alleyen (JAM).
4th Official: Shandor Wilkinson (SKN).
