U.S. U-17s Draw With France At World Cup

The United States opened the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup with a scoreless draw against France on Sept. 22 in the Group B opener for both teams at Lankaran Stadium in Azerbaijan.

U.S. goalkeeper Jane Campbell had 12 saves as the defense withstood France’s attack to share second place in the group stage. Korea DPR took the early Group B lead with an 11-0 victory against Gambia earlier in the day.

The U.S. next faces Gambia at 8 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Sept. 25, at Dalga Arena in Baku.

The U.S. was outshot by France, 23-3. Toni Payne had the only shot on goal for the U.S. in the first half and it came stoppage time. Summer Green guided a perfect pass behind France’s defense and Payne converged, taking a shot at the goal as France goalkeeper Romaine Bruneau rushed outside of the goal box and batted it away.

Campbell regularly came through with some big saves throughout the second half. She turned away three separate shots from France’s Diani, including two diving stops to her right. Campbell also saved a Lea Declercq free kick at close range that eluded the USA wall.

Green, who had a record 12 goals during CONCACAF qualifying, was held in check by France’s back line. The France defense maintained a high line as Green was ruled offside four times. The fourth infraction in the 86th minute resulted in a yellow card as she kicked the ball into the net well after the whistle had been blown.

Additional Notes:

• Saturday’s match was the first for the USA in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup since the World Cup Final in 2008 in New Zealand.
The 13th-minute substitution of Lizzy Raben for Mandy Freeman is the earliest in U-17 World Cup history. The previous record was the 19th minute when Brazil’s Juliana replaced Beatriz on Oct. 30, 2008, in a match against England.

• The scoreless draw is the U.S. U-17′s second of 2012. The team played China’s U-20 team to a 0-0 tie on April 9 in Chula Vista, Calif.

– U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team Match Report –

Match: U-17 Women’s National Team vs. France
Date: Sept. 22, 2012
Competition: 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup; Group B
Venue: Lankaran Stadium; Lankaran, Azerbaijan
Kickoff: 6 a.m. ET (3 p.m. local)
Attendance: 8,100
Weather: 83 degrees, sunny, hot

Scoring Summary: 1 2 F

USA 0 0 0
FRA 0 0 0

Lineups:

USA: 1-Jane Campbell; 3-Brittany Basinger, 5-Maddie Bauer, 12-Mandy Freeman (13-Lizzy Raben, 13), 7-Gabbi Miranda; 10-Morgan Andrews (capt.), 17-Andi Sullivan, 11-Toni Payne; 19-Margaret Purce (2-Emily Bruder, 63), 6-Summer Green, 21-Darian Jenkins
Subs not used: 4-Joanna Boyles, 8-Amber Munerlyn, 9-Lauren Kaskie, 14-Morgan Reid, 15-Claire Wagner, 16-Morgan Stanton, 18-Cassie Miller, 20-Morgan Stearns
Head Coach: Albertin Montoya

FRA: 1-Romaine Bruneau; 5-Griedge Mbock Bathy, 13-Marion Romanelli, 15-Noemie Carage; 4-Aissatou Tounkara, 10-Sandie Toletti (capt.), 14-Ghoutia Karchouni, 19-Juliane Gathrat (6-Candice Gherbi, 90+3), 20-Delphine Cascarino (8-Laura Blanchard, 85), 7-Lea Declercq (17-Alexandra Atamaniuk, 68), 9-Kadidiatou Diani
Subs not used: 2-Amandine Blanc, 3-Ophelie Gahery, 11-Pauline Cousin, 12-Laurie Saulnier, 16-Claire Jacob, 18-Onema Geyoro, 21-Cindy Perrault
Head Coach: Guy Ferrier

Stats Summary: USA / FRA

Shots: 3 / 23
Shots on Goal: 1 / 12
Saves: 12 / 1
Corner Kicks: 6 / 8
Fouls: 9 / 13
Offside: 4 / 2

ussoccer.com Woman of the Match:
Jane Campbell