U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team defeats Wales 5-0 in MIMA Cup

SAN PEDRO DEL PINATAR, Spain – The U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team opened the MIMA Cup in Spain with a resounding 5-0 win over Wales during the first round of matches.

With the win, the USA qualifies for the Gold Medal Path and will face Morocco – who earned a 2-1 win over Scotland in their first-round match – in the semifinals on Feb. 12.

The other two matches in the eight-team tournament saw Norway down Poland, 1-0, and England defeat Mexico, 1-0, to also qualify for the Gold Medal Path semifinals. Wales, Scotland, Poland and Mexico are now relegated to the Consolation Path semifinals.

The USA dominated the match against the Welsh, outshooting them 19-3, but couldn’t break through until the 24th minute when midfielder Taylor Morrell followed up a teammate’s shot, latched onto the rebound and fired past diving Wales goalkeeper Poppy Lyons-Walker. The goal was Morrell’s first at the U-17 level in her first U-17 international match.

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Morrell played provider for the second goal, which came on the last kick of the first half. She played a through ball to streaking midfielder Loradana Paletta, who took a touch and finished seconds before the halftime whistle. The goal was Paletta’s second of her U-17 career in seven caps.

The USA then closed out the game with two goals in a four-minute span early in the second half. In the 56th minute, defender Maddie Maves carried the ball through the midfield and played it to Amari Manning who crossed to Morrell for the finish, completing her brace.

Less than four minutes later, forward Gianna Hanf sent a shot on goal that was blocked by Lyons-Walker. Manning charged at the deflection scored her second international goal in just three U-17 caps.

The fifth and final goal came in the 81st minute via two substitutes as midfielder Lilah Helwig, who had just come on eight minutes earlier, crossed into the box for Giselle Aguilar, who had come on at the half, and she got a foot to the ball to knock it home for the final scoreline. It was Aguilar’s first U-17 goal in her first U-17 cap.

All the matches are being played at the 3,000-seat Pinatar Arena in San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain. If any match ends in a draw, the match will go directly to a penalty shootout to determine the winner.

The trip to this tournament is part of the Federation’s continued focus on the U.S. Way philosophy, which emphasizes increased programming for Youth National Teams to create more opportunities for young players to advance through the pathway to the senior National Team with the goal of representing their country at a world championship.

-U.S. UNDER-17 WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-

Match: United States U-17 Women’s National Team vs. Wales U-17 WNT
Date: February 9, 2026
Competition: MIMA Cup
Venue: PINATAR Arena; San Pedro del Pinatar, Spain
Attendance: 70
Weather: 55 degrees, light rain

Lineups:

USA: 1-Ella McNeal; 2-Gigi Zuniga, 4-Anaiah Williams (14-Sophia Ahrens, 46), 5-Maddie Maves, 3-Kendra Hansen (13-Venina Moodie, 62); 18-Taylor Morrell (8-Jordyn Heathcock, 77), 6-Loradana Paletta (16-Elena Vera, 46), 10-Mia Corona (Capt.) (20-Lilah Helwig, 73); 7-Maddie DiMaria (17-Giselle Aguilar, 46), 9-Gianna Hanf (19-Deus Stanislaus, 62), 11-Amari Manning (15-Alexia Hansen, 73)

Subs not used: 12-Alexis Fischer

Head Coach: Ciara Crinion

WAL: 1-Poppy Lyons-Walker; 4-Amelia Collins (15-Sophie Batters, 77), 16-Holly Clark, 5-Katie Whiteway, 6-Molly Stroud (Capt.), 3-Bethan Jones (13-Emily Howson, 77); 8-Suki Yau (17-Anya Grunewald, 85), 14-Ava Rees (18-Ava Bould, 56), 2-Daisy James; 10-Ellen Marsh (7-Pippa Ellis, 56), 11-Emily Giddings

Subs not used: 12-Jessica Bryan, 19-Chloe Prangley, 20-Isabel Roberts

Head Coach: Natalie Lawrence

Stats Summary: USA / WAL
Shots: 19 / 3
Shots on Goal: 14 / 2
Saves: 2 / 9
Corner Kicks: 11 / 0
Fouls: 5 / 10
Offside: 0 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
None

Officials:
Referee: Andrea Firvida

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