KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (Sept. 29, 2023) – The U.S. Women’s Deaf National Team used braces from Emily Spreeman and Holly Hunter to earn a 4-0 win against England in its third match at the 2023 DIFA Women’s World Deaf Football Championships at Kompleks Sukan on Friday. With the win, the undefeated USWDNT remains at the top of the table heading into Sunday’s group finale against Poland which will determine the top seed in the group.
A comprehensive team performance throughout the match led to two goals on either side of the half. Hunter got things started in the ninth minute when she latched on to a nice ball from Faith Wylie out of the midfield. Emily Spreeman followed it up, finding the back of the net for the third straight match off a feed from Hunter in the 20th.
In the second frame, halftime substitute Paris Price played provider for Spreeman’s tournament-leading ninth goal in the 58th minute and five minutes later Hunter bagged her brace when she alertly intercepted a pass out of the back and buried her chance.
A perfect 3-0-0 through three matches, the USDWNT has scored 21 goals while conceding none and are now guaranteed a top-two finish in the group.
NEXT UP: Amy Griffin’s side will round out the group stage against Poland on Sunday, Oct. 1, in a rematch of the 2022 Deaflympics Final which the USA won on penalty kicks. Following their 8-1 win against Japan on Friday, Poland also heads into the group finale with a perfect 3-0-0 record.
Kickoff of USA-Poland is set for 4:30 a.m. ET (4:30 p.m. local) from UPNM Stadium, and is expected to be streamed live via the Malaysia Deaf Sports Association’s YouTube Channel.
USA – Holly Hunter (Faith Wylie), 9th minute: The USA got on the board inside 10 minutes as Faith Wylie cut inside from the right and played a line-breaking pass into the path of Hunter who beat the last defender and slotted past England goalkeeper Natasha Hamm for her second of the tournament. USA 1, ENG 0
USA – Emily Spreeman (Holly Hunter), 20th minute: After scoring the first, Hunter played provide on the second when she received a pass from Sophie Post on the right and then picked out an unmarked Spreeman as she darted into the penalty area and one-timed her effort inside the six-yar box. USA 2, ENG 0
USA – Emily Spreeman (Paris Price), 58th minute: A replacement at halftime, Paris Price helped life the USA in the second half when she intercepted a throw-in and immediately sent a penetrating pass through the midfield to Spreeman. The striker made a nifty move around an England defender and drove past another on the left before finishing into the lower right corner. USA 3, ENG 0
USA – Holly Hunter, 63rd minute: Hunter bagged her second of the match when she picked off a pass out of the back. The striker immediately drove to goal and finished into an empty net. USA 4, ENG 0 FINAL.
Match: USA Women’s Deaf National Team vs. England
Date: September 29, 2023
Competition: 2023 DIFA Women’s Deaf World Championships
Venue: Kompleks Sukan PKNS; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kickoff: 4:30 a.m. ET (4:30 p.m. local)
Weather: 88 degrees, sunny
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 2 2 4
ENG 0 0 0
USA – Holly Hunter (Faith Wylie) 9th minute
USA – Emily Spreeman (Holly Hunter) 20
USA – Emily Spreeman (Paris Price) 58
USA – Holly Hunter 63
Lineups:
USA: 21-Payton DeGraw, 2-Kate Ward (capt.) (14-Paris Price, 46) 3-Paige Beaudry, 5-Gracie Fitzgerald, 6-Mia McMurry (17-Mia White, 17), 9-Ani Khachadourian (13-Ashley Derrington, 78), 10-Emily Spreeman, 11-Sydney Andrews (capt.), 12-Sophie Post, 18-Faith Wylie, (22-Nikki Kohen, 46) 24-Holly Hunter (7-Sabina Shysh, 72)
Subs not used: 21-Payton DeGraw, 4-McCall Madriago, 8-Erin Cembrale, 15-Beth Barbiers, 16-Emma Neff, 23-Casey King
Head Coach: Amy Griffin
ENG: 1-Natasha Hamm, 2-Jennifer Evans, 4-April Malin, 5-Claire, Stancliffe (capt.) (9-Clodagh Farrell, 46), 6-Debbie Hibbett, (3-Georgia Jones, 33), 8-Asnath Losala, 10-Kate Bowers, 11-Genevieve O’Hara (12-Lucy Ann Scholes, 46), 15-Alexandra Bush (14-Ceara Toal, 46) 16-Keira How (7-Macie White, 85), 18-Megan Stow
Subs not used: 13-Hollie Gascoyne, 17-Dawn Perry-Lewis, 19-Naomi Myrie, 21-Gemma Newson
Head Coach: Georgia Dye
Stats Summary: USA / ENG
Shots: 21 / 3
SOG: 16 / 2
Saves: 2 / 12
Corner Kicks: 8 / 1
Fouls: 4 / 4
Offside: 5 / 0
Misconduct Summary:
none
Officials:
N/A