SALÉ, Morocco (Oct. 21) -- The U.S Under-17 Women’s National Team moved into sole possession of first place in Group C with a convincing 5-2 win over China PR in the second group stage match for both teams. With the result of the other Group C match that saw Ecuador defeat Norway, 2-0, the USA has clinched one of the top two spots in the group and a berth to the Round of 16.
The USA will finish the first round against Norway on Friday, Oct. 24 at Mohammed VI Football Academy (Pitch 3) in Salé (9 a.m. ET; FS2) with a win or a tie clinching first place in the group.
The USA was powered by two goals each from forward Lauren Malsom and midfielder Nyanya Touray and a single score from forward Maddie DiMaria.
China PR, which was coming off a 5-0 win over Norway, and wasted little time testing the American defense. He Yuanqi got a shot off on target less than a minute into the match, but U.S. goalkeeper Evan O’Steen covered it up easily, but in the 12th minute, China opened the scoring. U.S. defender Sydney Schmidt headed a long goal kick toward the attacking area, but China’s Zhang Kecan latched onto the ball and sent a pass to Zhou Xinyi. Zhou received the ball at midfield and then dribbled into the attacking area before unleashing a left-footed blast from just outside of the 18-yard box that flew into the upper left corner to make it 1-0.
Midfielder Chloe Sadler nearly equalized with a highlight goal of her own in the 19th minute. After a Chinese defender failed to properly clear a U.S. corner, Sadler to a stop before firing a rocket just above the crossbar.
It wouldn’t take long for Lauren Malsom to notch her second goal of the tournament to tie the match. Defender Cali O’Neil forced a turnover at midfield and then slotted a pass to Malson down the right side of the pitch. Malsom dribbled the ball 40-plus yards into the box before cutting inside to her left, nutmegging her defender in the process, before beating the ‘keeper with a brilliant strike into the upper left corner to make it 1-1 in the 27th minute.
The USA then scored twice in four minutes to end the half with a bang. The U.S. made it 2-1 in the 44th minute with a buildup that started with Sydney Schmidt along the left side with a pass to DiMaria. The forward dribbled toward the box with the intention of passing to Touray, but the defender got in front of the pass only for the ball to bounce right back to DiMaria. She took advantage, dribbling her way through the defense and then beating the ‘keeper just inside the left post from the top of the box.
Four minutes later, the USA extended its lead. Defender Pearl Cecil broke the lines with a pass from midfield to Malsom who was about 30 yards from the box. The forward turned and slid a pass to Touray, who got in behind the defense and then slotted a clinical finish from the top of the box to make it 3-1 at the half.
In the 63rd minute, it was 4-1, as forward Micayla Johnson received the ball from O’Neil along the right flank. She promptly drove hard into the box on the dribble, splitting a pair of defenders, enroute to the endline. At the last moment, she fired the ball into the six-yard box where it deflected off the diving goalkeeper. The ball bounced to an open Touray, who calmly tapped it home to make it a three-goal lead.
Five minutes later, midfielder Riley Kennedy got the buildup going with a pass from the bottom of the midfield circle toward the left touchline for DiMaria. After a long dribbling into the attacking area, DiMaria slid a pass to an oncoming Malsom into the left side of the box and she calmly buried her left-footed shot to make it 5-1.
A handball late in the game gave China its second goal-scoring opportunity. Zeng took advantage by curling her shot into the upper far left corner from just outside penalty box to make it 5-2 in the 85th minute, but by that time, the game had been decided.
CHINA -- Zhou Xinyi (Zhang Kecan), 12th minute: A Sydney Schmidt header was intercepted by Zhang, who sent a pass to Zhou. From midfield, Zhou dribbled through the defense before curling a left-footed shot into the far upper left corner of the net. USA 0, CHN 1
USA -- Lauren Malsom (Cali O’Neil), 27th minute: O’Neill forced a turnover at midfield before passing the ball off to Malsom, who dribbled the ball 40+ yards into the box down the right side before cutting inside and nutmegging her defender before beating the ‘keeper hight into the upper left corner. USA 1, CHN 1
USA -- Maddie DiMaria, 44th minute: Defender Sydney Schmidt passed the ball to DiMaria who dribbled toward the box and tried to pass the ball off to Nyanya Touray, but the pass was deflected. Fortunately, it went to DiMaria who dribbled to the top of the box before taking a shot and that beat the goalkeeper just inside the left post. USA 2, CHN 1
USA -- Nyanya Touray (Lauren Malsom), 45+4th minute: Defender Pearl Cecil sent a pass from the midfield to Malsom, who turned and played a pass through the defense for Touray, who took dribbled to the top of the box and beat the ‘keeper with a right-footed shot. USA 3, CHN 1
USA -- Nyanya Touray, 62nd minute: Micayla Johnson dribbled into the box from the right side, splitting two defenders, before sending the ball into the six-yard box. After the ball took a deflection off the goalkeeper, it bounced to the feet of Touray, who finished from close range to up the lead to three goals. USA 4, CHN 1
USA -- Lauren Malsom (Maddie DiMaria), 68th minute: DiMaria took a pass from Riley Kennedy and dribbled up field. Just before reaching the top of the box, she slid a pass to her left for Malsom, who beat the ‘keeper with a left-footed shot. USA 5, CHN 1
CHN — Zeng Youjing, 85th minute: Following a handball called just outside of the box, Zeng curled a free kick above the wall and into the upper left corner. USA 5, CHN 2
Additional Notes
Match: United States Under-17 Women’s National Team vs. China PR
Date: Oct. 21, 2025
Competition: 2025 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup – Group C
Venue: Mohammed VI Football Academy; Salé, Morocco
Attendance: 800
Kickoff: 5 p.m. local (Noon ET)
Weather: 76 and sunny
| Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | F |
| USA | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| CHN | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| CHN – Zhou Xinyi (Zhang Kecan) | 12th minute |
| USA – Lauren Malsom (Cali O’Neill) | 27 |
| USA – Maddie DiMaria | 44 |
| Nyanya Touray (Lauren Malsom) | 45+4 |
| USA – Nyanya Touray | 62 |
| USA – Lauren Malsom (Maddie DiMaria) | 68 |
| CHN – Zeng Youjing | 85 |
Lineups:
USA: 1-Evan O’Steen; 2-Cali O’Neill 4-Pearl Cecil (Capt.), 5-Malia Brewer (14-Natalie Chudowsky, 64), 3-Sydney Schmidt; 8-Chloe Sadler, 15-Riley Kennedy (16-Anastasia Showler-Little, 78), 7-NyanyaTouray (10-Jaiden Rodriguez, 71), 17-Micayla Johnson (20-Elayna Kocher, 64), 9-Lauren Malsom (18-Mak Witham, 71), 11-Maddie DiMaria
Substitutes not used: 6-Scottie Antonucci, 12-Peyton Trayer, 13-Olivia Robinson, 19-KK Ream, 21-Ella McNeal
Head coach: Katie Schoepfer
CHN: 1- Niu Ziqi; 2-Chen Yuyinh, 3-He Yuanqi, 5-Song Yu (Capt.), 6-Chen Ruillin (12-Li Xinzhi, 71), 9-Huang Qinyi (19-Fang Zhenzhu, 46), 10-Zhou Xinyi, 11-Chen Junji (16-Xu Xiaotang, 46), 14-Zhou Yajie, 17-Zeng Youjing, 18-Zhang Kecan (7-Xu Yue)
Substitutes not used: 4-Yang Yuxuan, 7-Xu Yue, 8-Yu Tianzhen, 13-You Yaxin, 15-Cai Xinlin, 20- Song Lijuan, 21- Li Qixian
Head coach: Hongilang Wang
Stats Summary: USA / CHN
Shots: 16 / 4
Shots on Goal: 9 / 4
Saves: 2 / 4
Corner Kicks: 7 / 3
Fouls: 16 / 8
Offside: 3 / 1
| Misconduct Summary |
| USA – Pearl Cecil (Caution) | 59th minute |
Officials:
Referee: Charly Deretti (BRA)
AR1: Anne Gomes De Sa (BRA)
AR2: Fernanda Antunes (BRA)
Fourth Official: Milagros Arruela (PER)