MEXICO CITY, Mexico (July 29, 2025) – The U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team defeated Costa Rica, 3-1, in the second match for both teams at the 4 Nations Tournament. Attacking midfielder Nyanya Touray scored twice while forwards Ella Kral and Addison Feldman forced a late own goal from the Central Americans for the final margin. The USA will now face host Mexico for the tournament title on Aug. 1 (11:15 am MT / 1:15 pm ET live on Telemundo Deportes’ YouTube and Facebook accounts) for the tournament title.
In the other match, Canada and Mexico tied 0-0. Tournament regulations call for each team to earn one point for a draw, followed by a penalty kick shootout, with the winner earning an additional point. Canada downed Mexico, 4-3 in the shootout.
| TEAM | GP | W | L | D | PK WIN = +1 PT |
GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| USA | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 5 |
| Mexico | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Canada | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Costa Rica | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | -2 | 1 |
The United States currently sits atop the tournament standings with five points from one win over Costa Rica (worth three points) and one penalty kick win (worth two points) after tying Canada, 1-1 on the first match day of the tournament. Canada has three points from a penalty kick loss to the USA (worth one point) and a penalty kick win over Mexico (worth two points). Mexico also has three points from a penalty kick over Costa Rica (worth two points) and a penalty kick loss to Canada (worth one point). Costa Rica has just one point after a penalty kick loss to Mexico and a loss to the USA.
This all means that a win for the USA over Mexico on Aug. 1 would give the USA eight points and the tournament title. If the Americans were to draw against Mexico, a penalty kick shootout win would give the Americans seven points and the tournament title. A U.S. draw against Mexico and a penalty kick loss would open the door for Canada, which could then tie the USA on points with six each with a win over Costa Rica in a match that will take place before the USA battles Mexico. Then Canada would have to win the first tiebreaker, which is goal difference. The USA currently has a plus-two goal difference while Mexico and Canada are both even at zero, so Canada would need a three-goal win paired with a U.S. loss to Mexico in regulation or a U.S. loss to Mexico in penalty kicks. A U.S. loss to Mexico would give the tournament title to the hosts or Canada — if the Canadians defeat Costa Rica — pending on who wins the tiebreakers between those two teams.
U.S. head coach Katie Schoepfer made nine changes to starting XI that faced Canada on July 26, a 1-1 draw in which the USA won the penalty kick shootout. Only defenders Sydney Schmidt and Pearl Cecil made second starts, while all eight players who came on as subs in the first match started this game. In addition, goalkeeper Josie Biehl started over Peyton Trayer, who got the nod after Peyton Trayer and played 90 in the first match.
The USA started quickly, earning two shots and two corner kicks while drawing two fouls before three minutes had elapsed, and could have gone up a goal early only for Touray to misfire in front of the net. She would make up for the miss — and more.
The young Americans kept the pressure on Costa Rica, which played in a very low and compact defensive formation, but speedy winger Elayna Kocher broke through the back line in the 34th minute and was hauled down in the penalty area.
U.S. captain Pearl Cecil stepped up to the spot and hit her penalty kick well, but Costa Rica goalkeeper Valeria Fernandez made a brilliant save on a fully extended dive to keep the game scoreless.
The USA outshot Costa Rica 11-1 in the first 45 minutes but couldn’t find the net until late in the half. The USA finally got on the scoreboard after midfielder Scottie Antonucci earned a free kick with a dynamic dribbling run up the middle before being cut down with a hard foul about 23 yards from the goal. She took the free kick herself, and although it went straight into the four-woman defensive wall, the ball slipped through the Costa Rican defenders to the crashing Touray, who smashed a shot through the goalkeepers’ legs from eight yards out from straight away.
Forward Anastasia Showler-Little almost made it 2-0 a minute later as her shot from just outside the penalty area on the left side had to be pushed away by the flying Fernandez.
As the second half started, the USA wasted no time doubling the lead, scoring less than four minutes after the break. A nice combination of passes up the middle led to halftime substitute midfielder Chloe Sadler making an immediate impact, as she slipped a ball through to Touray inside the penalty area. Touray calmly finished her one-on-one chance by slotting the ball past the goalkeeper from 12 yards out.
With their tournament title chances fading away, Costa Rica picked up its attacking pace and earned a free kick just outside the U.S. penalty area in the 69th minute. Midfielder Lucia Paniagua stepped up to take it and hit a laser beam, left-footed shot past the wall and just inside the left post. U.S. goalkeeper Josie Biehl got a hand on the ball with a full-stretch dive but couldn’t turn it away. It was Costa Rica’s first shot on goal of the match, and one of just two overall. The other came in stoppage time as Biehl gobbled up a long free service that was headed on frame.
While Costa Rica picked up its intensity to score an equalizer, so did the U.S. team to end the Las Ticas hopes of sending the game to penalty kicks.
In the 84th minute, late substitute midfielder Jaiden Rodriguez hit the left post with a hard strike, and forward Ella Kral’s follow-up chance off the rebound flew over the goal.
The USA put the match away a minute later, working the ball around the Costa Rica defensive press to spring Kral down the left wing. She raced past her defender down to the near post and tried to cross. The ball bounced off the goalkeeper, back off Kral, and then right in front of the goal, where Feldman pressured the Costa Rican defender, and the ball bounced off her and into the net for an own goal.
The tournament serves as important World Cup preparation for all teams as each will be competing in the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup later this fall in Morocco. The scheduling of the international matches is a part of the continuing focus on the U.S. Way which emphasizes increased programming for Youth National Teams to create more opportunities for young players to advance through the pathway to the full U.S. Women’s National Team with the goal of representing their country at a world championship.
Additional Notes:
Match: United States U-17 Women's National Team vs. Costa Rica U-17 Women’s National Team
Date: July 29, 2025
Competition: 4 Nations Tournament
Venue: Centro de Alto Rendimiento-CAR, Field 1: Mexico City, Mexico
Attendance: 50
Weather: 60 degrees, clear, warm
| Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | F |
| USA | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| CRC | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| USA – Nyanya Touray | 40th minute |
| USA – Nyanya Touray (Chloe Sadler) | 49 |
| CRC – Lucia Paniagua | 69 |
| USA – Own Goal (Alisha Marisse Lindo) | 85 |
Lineups:
USA: 12-Joise Biehl; 3-Sydney Schmidt (2-Ryana Dill, 57), 4-Melia Brewer, 5-Pearl Cecil (Capt.) (15-Lauren Hemann, 46), 13-Alex Strickler; 8-Scottie Antonucci (6-Chloe Sadler, 46), 16-Loradana Paletta (20-Charlee Siria, 57), 18-Nyanya Touray (10-Jaiden Rodriguez, 77); 14-Anastasia Showler-Little (17-Addison Feldman, 57), 19-Lauren Malsom (7-Ashlyn Anderson, 66), 11-Elayna Kocher (9-Ella Kral, 66)
Subs not used: 1-Peyton Trayer
Head Coach: Katie Schoepfer
CRC: 1-Valeria Fernandez; 12-Karol Mariana Molina (13-Rouss Tatiana Marenco, 82), 3-Tiara Ruiz, 5-Fabiana Maria Alfaro, 17-Naidelyn Paola Barquero; 8-Daniela Ocampo (Capt.), 20-Mileidy Raquel Recio, 6-Isska Chaverri (9-Veronica Solano, 77); 10-Lucia Paniagua, 19-Nubia Medina 14-Valentina Vargas, 77), 21-Naima Anali Monge (16-Alisha Marisse Lindo, 46)
Subs not used: 18-Ashley Quesada, 2-Brithany Daniela Arronis, 4-Cameron Daniela Mora, 7-Emma Azofeifa, 11-Maria Celeste Gonzalez, 15-Thelma Salguera
Head Coach: Edgar Rodriguez
Stats Summary: USA / CRC
Shots: 22 / 4
Shots on Goal: 9 / 2
Saves: 1 / 6
Corner Kicks: 8 / 1
Fouls: 8 / 10
Offside: 0 / 0
| Misconduct Summary |
| CRC – Karol Mariana Molina (Caution) | 14th minute |
| USA – Sydney Schmidt (Caution) | 20 |
| USA – Charlee Siria (Caution) | 74 |
Officials:
Referee: Brenda Cristina Ramirez Valdovinos (MEX)
Assistant Referee 1: Karla Sobeida González Arroyo (MEX)
Assistant Referee 2: Lizbeth Ibarra Gonzalez (MEX)
Fourth Official: Zaida Zuniga Ayala (MEX)