US U-17 women top Canada, advance to semis

Zoe Redei and Mallory Pugh scored for the United States U-17 women’s national team in a 2-0 win over Canada, clinching first in Group B of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. Canada settles for second in the group, but still advances to play host Jamaica in the semifinal round on Thursday. The U.S. will play Mexico, with the winner of each semifinal advancing to next year’s U-17 World Cup along with host Costa Rica.

Redei opened the scoring in the 36th minute with a right-footed tap-in and Pugh sealed the victory with a 62nd minute tap-in off a pass from Redei.

Defender Mika Richards left the pitch on a stretcher in the 85th minute after conceding a penalty kick. Canada goalkeeper Rylee Foster came up huge, though, stopping Marley Canales’ PK and then on the follow-up to keep the match at 2-0. It would end that way, with the U.S. women winning Group B and each team advancing to the semifinals.

The U.S. and Canada have a rich recent history in U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifying, with Canada eliminating the Americans in 2010 and keeping them out of the World Cup on penalty kicks. It was the first Women’s World Cup the U.S. missed at any age level, and they missed it despite outscoring opponents 38-0 in qualifying. The U.S. U-17s haven’t conceded a goal in qualifying since 2008, a span of 1,188 minutes.

In 2012, the U.S. avenged that loss from two years earlier by beating Canada in the final of qualifying, but the Americans didn’t get out of the group at the World Cup last year due to goal differential.

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

Match: U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team vs. Canada
Date: Nov. 4, 2013
Competition: CONCACAF U-17 Women’s Championship – Group B
Venue: Montego Bay Sports Complex; Montego Bay, Jamaica
Kickoff: 6 p.m. CT
Attendance: 1,500
Weather: 82 degrees, humid

Scoring Summary:    1    2    F
USA                             1    1    2
CAN                             0    0    0

USA – Zoe Redei (Ellie Jean)                          36^th minute
USA – Mallory Pugh (Zoe Redei)                    62

Lineups:
USA: 1-Lauren Rood; 10-Ellie Jean (capt.), 9-Zoe Morse, 6-Natalie Jacobs, 12-Tegan McGrady; 4-Marley Canales, 2-Dorian Bailey, 19-Anika Rodriguez (14-Taylor Racioppi, 60); 8-Kelcie Hedge, 15-Zoe Redei (7-Mia Gyau, 78), 17-Mallory Pugh (22-Maddy Schultz, 90+5)
Substitutions Not Used: 3-Madison Haley, 5-Gabriella Carreiro, 11-Civana Kuhlmann, 13-Taylor Otto, 18-Kat Hess, 25-Frankie Tagliaferri
Head coach: B.J. Snow

CAN: 1-Rylee Foster; 2-Simmrin Dhaliwal, 3-Rachel Jones, 5-Mika Richards, 6-Bianca St-Georges; 4-Karima Lemire (14-Jenna Baxter, 80), 8-Jessie Fleming, 10-Sarah Kinzner (16-Sarah Stratigakis, 65), 7-Marie Levasseur; 9-Emily Borgmann (19-Jessica Lisi, 69), 11-Marie-Mychèle Mètivief
Substitutions not used: 12-Easther Mayi Kith, 13-Avery Lakeman, 15-Nadia Pestell, 17-Anyssa Ibrahim, 18-Devon Kerr, 20-Nadya Gill
Head coach: Beverly Priestman

Stats Summary: USA / CAN
Shots: 14 / 5
Shots on Goal: 7 / 2
Saves: 2 / 5
Corner Kicks: 3 / 1
Fouls: 4 / 8
Offside: 3 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
CAN — Mika Richards (caution)   87th minute