U.S. Under-23 Women’s Youth National Team Defeats Sweden 3-0 On Goals From Alyssa Thompson, Ava Cook And Kerry Abello
USA Sweeps Both Games in Sweden in First Internationals for U-23s Since the Fall of 2019
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VITTSJO, Sweden (June 28, 2022) – The U.S. Under-23 Women’s Youth National Team put together an excellent 90-minute performance to down host Sweden, 3-0, in the second of two matches at the Women’s U-23 Three-Nations Tournament.
The USA also defeated India, 4-1, on June 25. These were the first international matches for the U.S. Under-23 WYNT since the fall of 2019 due to the pause in programing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The match almost went into the break scoreless, but the Americans tallied in the final minute of the first half. The goal came off a counterattack following a Sweden corner kick with forward Alyssa Thompson winning the loose ball at midfield and accelerating past a defender. She dribbled to the top of the penalty area and unleashed a shot that was knocked down by ‘keeper, but Thompson was first to the rebound and finished the loose ball with a tap-in.
The USA doubled its lead in the 57th minute after midfielder Croix Bethune slipped in forward Ava Cook behind the defense and she finished while sliding to beat the goalkeeper.
The USA clinched the match in the 77th minute on a lightning transition goal as the Americans released pressure in the midfield with a quick series of passes. That sprung midfielder Samantha Meza, who deftly touched the ball around a defender and sprinted down the right side. She then crossed a perfect pass to the top of the penalty box for Kerry Abello, who cut back inside to her weaker right foot and curled a shot beautifully into the top right corner.
The goals were the first at the U-23 international level for Thompson and Abello, and second for Cook, who also scored against India.
The U.S. roster for this trip consisted of eight current National Women’s Soccer League players, 12 collegiate players and one youth club player in Thompson, who plays for a Total Futbol Academy boys’ team in Los Angeles.
The U-23s were coached by Jené Baclawski, the former long-time Technical Director of the South Texas Youth Soccer Association and current U.S. Soccer Coach Educator who also heads U.S. Soccer’s Visa SheBelieves Cup MVP selection committee.
-U.S. Under-23 Women’s Youth National Team Match Report-
Match: United States U-23 Women’s Youth National Team vs. Sweden U-23 Women’s National Team
Date: June 28, 2022
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Vittsjo IP; Vittsjo, Sweden
Weather: 75 degrees, Clear Skies
Attendance: 824
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 1 2 3
SWE 0 0 0
USA – Alyssa Thompson 45th Minute
USA – Ava Cook (Croix Bethune) 57
USA – Kerry Abello (Samantha Meza) 77
Lineups:
USA: 22-Shelby Hogan; 2-Emily Madril, 4-Taryn Torres (6-Sierra Enge, 61), 5-Megan Bornkamp, 3-Kerry Abello, 8-Brianna Pinto (Capt.), 16-Mikayla Cluff (18-Hannah Bebar, 61), 10-Croix Bethune (20-Jenna Nighswonger, 75), 21-Alyssa Thompson (14-Samantha Meza, 75), 11-anna Heilferty (13-Kate Wiesner, 75), 9-Ava Cook (19-Messiah Bright, 61)
Subs not used: 1-Ruthie Jones, 7-Alexa Spaanstra, 17-Brianna Martinez
Head Coach: Jene Baclawski
SWE: 1-Emma Lind; 2-Hanna Lundkvist (17-Molly Johansson, 76), 3-Josefine Rybrink, 4-Josefin Harrysson, 5-Ebba Hed (23-Emma Ostlund, 76), 20-Linn Vickius (14-Nellie Lilja, 40), 6-Freja Olofsson, 8-Marika Bergman Lundin (15-Alva Selerud, 68), 7-Cornelia Kapocs, 9-Emilia Larsson (11-Paulina Nystrom, 68), 18-Beatrice Persson (16-Beata Olsson, 46)
Subs not used: 10-Loreta Kullashi, 12-Angel Mukasa, 13-Felicia Saving, 19-Wilma Carlsson, 21-Somea Polozen, 22-Zara Jonsson.
Head Coach: Martin Moller
Stats Summary: USA / SWE
Shots: 13 / 7
Shots on Goal: 8 / 1
Saves: 1 / 5
Corner Kicks: 3 / 1
Fouls: 5 / 6
Offside: 1 / 2
Misconduct Summary:
SWE – Nellie Lilja (Caution) 68th Minute
Officials:
Referee: Minka Vekkeli (Finland)
Assistant Referee 1: Laura Koskinen (Finland)
Assistant Referee 2: Alisa Levelampi (Finland)
Fourth Official: Sofie Borck Janeheim (Finland)