U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team defeats Japan 2-1 to win U-17 Women’s NTC Invitational

CARSON, Calif. – The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team came from behind to defeat an extremely talented Japan team by a 2-1 score in its final match of the 2014 Women’s NTC Invitational, getting a 29th minute equalizer from midfielder Taylor Racioppi’s penalty and then a game-winner from midfielder Mallory Pugh in the 80th minute.

It was Pugh’s fourth goal in three games of the tournament; in which the USA also defeated China 5-0 and New Zealand 2-0. China defeated New Zealand 5-1 in the third place match.

The Americans gave up a goal just five minutes into the game to Moeka Minami but battled back for the victory in a tightly contested match.

Racioppi set up both goals, first being brought down in the penalty area and then converting the spot kick herself. With just 10 minutes left, the midfielder set up Pugh, who slotted her shot into the right corner from just inside the penalty area.

The tournament saw the USA register three victories against countries that are headed to the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in March in Costa Rica. The young Americans were denied their berth due to a penalty kick loss to Mexico in the semifinal of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament.

This was last event as U-17s for players born 1997 and 1998 as they will now transition to the U-18s and U-20s. The ‘99s will then become the primary age group for the U-17s as they start preparations for qualifying for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

– U-17 WNT vs. Japan Match Report –

Match: United States U-17 Women’s National Team vs. Japan
Date: Feb. 9, 2014
Competition: 2014 U-17 Women’s NTC Invitational
Venue: Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field – U.S. Soccer National Training Center – Carson, Calif.
Kickoff: 4 p.m. PT
Weather: 60 degrees

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

JPN – Moeka Minami 5th minute
USA – Taylor Racioppi (penalty kick) 29
USA – Mallory Pugh (Taylor Racioppi) 80

Lineups:
USA: 18-Kat Hess; 10-Ellie Jean, 9-Zoe Morse, 6-Natalie Jacobs, 12-Tegan McGrady; 4-Marley Canales,14-Taylor Racioppi, 17-Mallory Pugh; 8-Kelcie Hedge (20-Leah Pruitt, 66), 3-Maddie Haley (2-Dorian Bailey, 74), 11-Michelle Xiao (7-Mia Gyau, 66)
Subs not used: Ashley Sanchez, Taryn Torres, Frankie Tagliaferri, Karlie Paschall, Zoe Redei, Anika Rodriguez, Maddy Schultz, Alana Cook, Chloe Castaneda, Lauren Rood
Head Coach: BJ Snow

JPN: 1-Natsumi Asano; 6-Shiho Matsubara (21-Mizuka Sato, 77), 13-Moeka Minami, 3-Nana Ichise, 9-Hikaru Kitagawa; 10-Hina Sugita, 5-Asato Miyagawa, 14-Yui Hasegawa; 4-Nishida Meika, 8-Rikako Kobayashi, 18-Fuka Nagano (20-Mizuki Saihara,60)
Subs not used: Yukiko Abe, Wakaho Kanda, Fumika Yamashita, Mamiko Matsumoto, Yo Tachibana, Maho Hashinuma, Fuka Kono, Aimi Kunitake
Head Coach: Asako Takakura

Stats Summary: USA / JPN
Shots: 6 / 7
Shots on Goal: 4 / 6
Saves: 5 / 2
Corner Kicks: 5 / 7
Fouls: 7 / 4
Offside: 1 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
JPN – Nana Ichise 37th minute

Officials:
Referee: Juliana Duncan (USA)
Assistant Referee 1: Amanda Ross (USA)
Assistant Referee 2: Kathryn Nesbitt (USA)
Fourth Official: Adrienne McDonald (USA)