SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (Oct. 19, 2024) – Needing at least a point to remain in FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup contention, the U.S. Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team earned that and more with a dominant 2-0 win over Colombia in the second Group B match for both teams.
Forward Micayla Johnson and midfielder Kennedy Fuller scored late in the first half and early in the second, respectively, as the Americans bounced back beautifully from their tournament-opening loss to Spain, putting themselves in position to play for a quarterfinal berth.
The Group B schedule will conclude Oct. 22 as the USA (1W-1L-0D, 3 pts.) faces Korea Republic (0W-1L-1D, 1 pt.) in Santiago de los Caballeros, about 95 miles north of the Dominican capital (4 p.m. ET, FS2 & Telemundo Digital channels).
The two Group B finales will be played simultaneously on Oct. 22 and the USA will enter the final day alone in second place, two points ahead of both Korea Republic and Colombia. Goal difference is the first tiebreaker. If Spain beats Colombia, a draw or a win for the USA against the Koreans would send the Americans through to the quarterfinals.
The top two finishers in each of the four-team groups move on, and the USA was handed a daunting draw: its first two opponents were both of the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup finalists. The 3-1, Oct. 16 loss to Spain (2W-0L-0D, 6 pts) and reigning champs’ 5-0 win over South Korea earlier Saturday meant the Americans needed a result at the Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez to stay alive.
To that end, U.S. coach Katie Schoepfer made five changes to the starting XI that went toe-to-toe with Spain for more than an hour in the opener. It began in goal, where Evan O’Steen made her third career U-17 appearance behind a back line featuring two new starters, center back Jordyn Hardeman and right back Katie Scott. Up front, Johnson (playing on the right) and striker Mary Long got the nod.
This U.S. U-17 squad includes pros for the first time and each earned their second straight World Cup start. Captain Ainsley McCammon (Seattle Reign), Kimmi Ascanio (San Diego Wave) and Fuller (Angel City FC) comprised the midfield while San Diego Wave FC attacker Melanie Barcenas, who scored the first-half equalizer against Spain, remained at left wing.
The refreshed lineup started brightly, pinning back the Colombians, and almost scored on a long, bouncing shot from Barcenas in the fifth minute and then a sixth-minute bid from center back Trinity Armstrong that hit the right post. Barcenas forced a leaping save from Colombia goalkeeper Luisa Agudelo with an arcing shot from distance in the 16th. And about six minutes later, Barcenas, who was everywhere early, nearly set up Long with a dangerous curling pass behind Las Cafeteras’ back line. Agudelo, who played a fine match while making seven total saves, bravely snuffed out the chance.
Much quicker and more confident on the ball then they had been against Spain, the assertive Americans were buzzing in the attack and a goal seemed inevitable. It finally came in the 43rd minute — on the 10th shot of the half — and on a play engineered by the two newly inserted forwards. Long fed a wide-open Johnson on the right, and she beat Colombia’s Laura Acevedo on a dribble inside before whipping in a left-footed shot from about eight yards.
The USA didn’t let up after halftime and deservedly doubled its lead in the 58th. Long was pulled down in the Colombian penalty area on the Americans’ eighth corner kick of the game, and while the play necessitated a “challenge” from the USA via Video Support System, the spot kick was correctly given and Fuller then notched her first of the World Cup. Fuller, who has two goals in all competitions this season for Angel City, now has an impressive 10 goals in 10 career games with the U-17s.
The scoreboard told only part of the one-sided story. Colombia didn’t take a shot until the 90th minute. The U.S. finished with a 17-3 margin on shots, nine corner kicks to one and a 78.5%-21.5% advantage in possession. It was a comprehensive performance against the 2022 World Cup runner-up and a side that finished second at the South American championship tournament in March.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
USA – Micayla Johnson (Mary Long), 43rd minute: As the U.S. advanced through the middle, Long did well to switch the point of attack and find Johnson wide open on the right. Johnson did the rest, cutting the ball back centrally to bypass a Colombian defender and create space to shoot. She then ripped an eight-yard, left-footed effort that ‘keeper Luisa Agudelo got a hand on but couldn’t keep out. USA 1, COL 0
USA – Kennedy Fuller (Penalty Kick), 58th minute: Striker Mary Long was pulled down in the penalty area on a U.S. corner kick, and the referee awarded a penalty kick following a video review. Fuller sent an unstoppable penalty high and inside the left post. USA 2, COL 0 FINAL
Additional Notes:
- Micayla Johnson’s goal was her second in her fourth career appearance with the U-17s.
- Mary Long’s assist was her first for the U.S. U-17s.
- Goalkeeper Evan O’Steen picked up her first World Cup shutout in goal but had a quiet night and was not forced to make a save due to the USA’s dominance on the ball.
- The USA’s four professional players were once again in the starting lineup in forward Melanie Barcenas and midfielders Kimmi Ascanio, Kennedy Fuller and Ainsley McCammon, who captained the USA.
- The two current college players in the starting XI were University of North Carolina center back Trinity Armstrong and Penn State’s Katie Scott.
- University of Alabama forward Maddie Padelski came off the bench for the second straight game.
- Midfielder Scottie Antonucci saw her first action of the World Cup, replacing Kimmi Ascanio in the 73rd
- Should the Americans advance, it will mark the third time they reach the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup knockout stage in the six tournaments for which they have qualified. The U.S. won silver at the inaugural event in 2008 and fell in the quarterfinals two years ago in India.
