U.S. U-17s Over England
The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team scored three times in each half to rout their counterparts from England 6-0 in the first of two matches between the teams. The USA went ahead just three minutes into the game when Madison Haley slipped a pass behind the England defense to Mallory Pugh (Highlands Ranch, Co.) who rolled her left-footed shot across the face of the goal and just inside the right post.
Taylor Racioppi doubled the lead in the 12th minute after some tough defense from Haley at the top of the England penalty area forced a turnover. Racioppi picked up the loose ball, took a touch into the middle, and struck a 23-yard shot on the ground into the lower right corner past diving England ‘keeper Kristie Levell. Pugh got her second goal to put the USA ahead 3-0 inside of 23 minutes after Racioppi threaded a pass through the England defense. The U.S. striker ran onto the pass and buried her shot into the roof of the net from 16 yards out.
The USA’s youngest player, 14-year-old Frankie Tagliaferri, who is also a member of the USA’s Under-15 Girls’ National Team player pool, scored the sixth U.S. goal.
The USA is preparing for qualifying for the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Players born on or after Jan. 1, 1997, are age-eligible for that tournament.
Japan Sweeps U.S. U20s
The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team fell to Japan 3-0 in the second match in four days between the two countries at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center. Japan got two goals from team captain Ayaka Michigami sandwiched around a score by Miku Kojima.Both teams are in preparations for qualifying for the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup to be held in Canada. Players born on or after Jan. 1, 1994, are age-eligible for that tournament.
The roster Japan brought to the USA featured five players who were members of the team that finished third at the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup which they hosted, with one of those being Michigami. The USA has just one hold-over from its team that won that World Cup in team captain Cari Roccaro.
The U.S. lost 3-2 in the first game against Japan with Andi Sullivan and Mandy Freeman scoring to tie the game at 2-2 before giving up a late game-winning goal.
Who Is That Player?
When U.S. WNT coach Tom Sermanni released his roster for the Sept. 3 international friendly against Mexico, there was an unfamiliar name on the list. Lauren Holiday?
The name may be new, but the player is a veteran. She would be Lauren Cheney, who lit up the NWSL for 12 goals this summer while playing for FC Kansas City.
She also got married this summer. She and NBA point guard Jrue Holliday were married in California on July 7. Holliday plays for the New Orleans Pelicans.
The Mexico game will be the first for the U.S. midfielder to play under her married name.
Players On The Move
Clint Dempsey’s move from the English Premier League and the Tottenham Hotspur to the Seattle Sounders was only one of several moves by members of the U.S. Men’s National Team. It was a move worth $5 million over a period of several seasons. Former captain Carlos Bocanegra returned to the U.S. and signed with Chivas USA of Major League Soccer, while central defender Clarence Goodson signed with the San Jose Earthquakes.
For a U.S. record $17 million transfer fee Jozy Altidore moved from Holland to Sunderland of the EPL. Alejandro Bedoya moved from Sweden to FC Nantes in France’s Ligue 1.