Hat Trick From Karlie Lema Leads U.S. U-17 WNT To 3-1 Win Against Belgium And Title of UEFA Development Tournament In Czech Republic

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (May 25, 2019) – The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team won the UEFA Women’s Development Tournament in the Czech Republic after a 3-1 victory against Belgium. Karlie Lema scored all three goals for the USA, giving her five for the tournament and scores in each of the USA’s three victories that clinched the competition.

The USA also beat Czech Republic 3-0 on May 21 and the Republic of Ireland 4-0 on May 23.

The U.S. team was playing with an entirely different roster than the squad that swept three games at a similar UEFA Women’s Development Tournament the week before in Portugal.

For the third game in a row the USA scored early, this time in the 10^th minute as Lema ran onto a through ball from Giovana Costa into the right side of the penalty area and finished to make it 1-0.

Lema cleaned up a loose ball in the penalty box in the 24^th to make it 2-0 and then pounded home a rebound after a free kick hit the crossbar in the 38^th.  She was first the bouncing ball before smashing a right-footed volley to complete her hat trick.

Belgium scored in the 59^th minute to deny the USA a third shutout in as many games, but the young Americans had the match well in hand by then.

U.S. head coach Tracey Kevins brought a 20-player roster with all the players born in 2003, which is the birth cut off year for the 2020 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

To underline the development nature of the tournaments, each player must play at least 80 minutes across the three matches and UEFA recommends that each player should play no more than 120 minutes over two consecutive games.

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

Match: United States U-16 Girl's National Team vs. Belgium U-16 Girl’s National Team

Date: May 25, 20019

Competition: UEFA Development Tournament

Venue: Stadium Přátelství; Prague, Czech Republic

Weather: 70 degrees, sunny

 

Scoring Summary:   1          2          F         

USA                            3          0          3

BEL                             0          1          1

 

USA – Karlie Lema (Giovana Costa)             10^th minute

USA – Karlie Lema                                        24

USA – Karlie Lema                                        38

BEL – Hannah Eurlings                                 59                       

Lineups:

USA: 12-Haley Craig, 3-Carolyn Calzada, 14-Layne St. George (2-Macy Blackburn, 41), 4-Madeline Mooney, 5-Aidan McConnell (capt.) (16-Phoenix-Dawn Miranda, 61), 10-Riley Gleason (24-Summer Denigan, 52), 9-Giovana Costa, 17-Emily Colton (8-Sophia Fisher, 52), 18-Karlie Lema (7- Simisola Awujo, 41), 21-Carina Lageyre (19-Bella Sember, 41), 11-Makhiya McDonald (15-Josephine Master, 41)

Subs not used: 1-Jordyn Gunnarson, 6-Korbin Albert

Head Coach: Tracey Kevins

BEL: 1-Mirthe Claes, 2-Gaelle Nierynck (16-Lindsey Van Belle, 52), 3-Heike Maelfait, 5-Lisa Vanhentenrijk, 6-Fleur Pauwelsleur, 7-Jill Janssens, 8-Janne Huysmans (capt.) (17-Zoe Dejardin, 52), 9-Hannah Eurlings, 10-Tess Lameir, 11-Imani Prez, 20-Zoe Van De Cloot

Subs not used: 4-Fleur Bienkens, 12-Maren Van Wijngaarden, 13-Luna Vanzeir, 14-Fleur Van Daele, 15-Lauren Meyers, 18-Nelle Van Parijs, 19-Jorien Voets

Head Coach: Tamara Cassimon 

Stats Summary: USA / BEL                        

Shots: 12 / 12

Shots on Goal: 8 / 8

Saves: 7 / 5

Corner Kicks: 5 / 5

Fouls: 7 / 9

Offside: 1 / 6 

Misconduct Summary:

None