U.S. U-16 Girls National Team plays Germany to 3-3 draw in second friendly

L’ALBIR, Spain – The U.S. U-16 Girls National Team drew Germany 3-3 in the second of three matches against European teams in the first training camp of the year which is taking place in Spain. The USA rebounded from a 4-1 loss to Germany on Jan. 10.

Germany scored first, with the goal originating from free kick near midfield that was played long to the edge of the penalty box. The ball was played out wide to Aylin Ardic, who beat her defender to the endline and cut a pass to top of the six-yard box where Charlotte Rohs was waiting to bury the ball in the 17th minute.

The U.S. then scored two goals in two minutes, equalizing in the 36th minute and taking the lead in the 37th. The first goal came after a long U.S. clearance out of the back fell to midfielder Isabella Ortiz near the bottom of the center circle. Ortiz beat a player and played a through ball to forward Caroline Barrow down the right side of the pitch. Barrow then slotted the ball home past the onrushing German goalkeeper Mara Erkens, completing her one-on-one chance.

(+Players That Impressed: ECNL Girls Florida National Event)

A minute later, forward Bridget Asekomhe picked up the ball near midfield and played a diagonal through ball to the left side. Froward Ryder White got on the end of the pass and took one touch before sending her shot towards the back post and into the net.

Germany would even the score just after the start of the second half as Smilla Bienert took advantage of a mistake off a U.S. clearance and ripped a shot from the top of the box. U.S. ‘keeper Gabby Gjeldum got a hand to it but could not redirect it enough to keep the ball from trickling over the goal line.

In the 70th minute, halftime substitute Kayleigh Cabigon would capitalize on a similar mistake from Germany. Working to play out the back from the right side, the German left back attempted to pass the ball to the center back on the top of the box. Cabigon anticipated the pass and was able to intercept the ball. The forward then struck a first time shot into the bottom left corner past a diving Erkens to take the lead back.

Germany wouldn’t let up, though, and in the 87th minute, it created the equalizer. Pressuring the U.S. defense, Germany won the ball and found Bienert, who buried her second of the game for the final 3-3 scoreline.

The U.S. will face Belgium’s U-17 team on Jan. 15 to finish the trip.

All 20 players on the U.S. roster were born in 2010, which is the birth cutoff year to be eligible for the 2027 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, the tournament that this age group of players will be attempting to qualify for at the 2027 Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship.

The camp 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-16 Women’s National Team Match Report-

Match: United States U-16 Girls’ National Team vs. Germany U-16 Girls’ National Team
Date: January 13, 2026
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Albir Garden Resort – Field #1; L’Albir, Spain
Weather: 59 degrees, partly cloudy and windy

Lineups:

USA: 1-Gabby Gjeldum; 2-Emma Sullivan (17-Eileena Chinyadza, 56), 5-Dorothea Perry (Capt.), 4-Brielle Hopkins (Cassandra Travers, 46), 3-Carolyn Voss (Ally Damron, 56); 6-Camila Fadiga (16-Natalia Hanson, 46), 8-Isabella Ortiz, 10-Sadie Siedel (20-Valentina Perrotta, 61); 7-Caroline Barrow, 9-Bridget Asekomhe (19-Kayleigh Cabigon, 46), 11-Ryder White (18-Makenna Mitchell, 76)

Subs not used: 13-Lara Almeida, 21-Olivia Hasan

Head Coach: Katie Schoepfer

GER: 1-Mara Erkens; 3-Svenja Hecke (Capt.) (13-Frieda Pohl, 58), 4-Josefine Schmitz (5-Oljeta Shala, 17), 24-Ina Gläser (2-Laura Carollo, 46); 10-Kim Wardjawand, 11-Aylin Ardic (21-Smilla Bienert, 46), 14-Luisa Eichinger (6-Emilia Watermeier, 46), 18-Jara Menken (16-Matilda Schütte, 46), 20-Maryam Bali (22-Anni Kuhl, 46), 25-Paula Meßmer (7-Catelyn Zimmermann, 46); 19-Charlotte Rohs (9-Alea Pospiech, 46).

Subs not used: 12-Selina Großer, 15-Lena Golz, 23-Katharina Jeppe

Head Coach: Kathrin Peter

Stats Summary: USA / GER
Shots: 14 / 11
Shots on Goal: 7 / 6
Saves: 3 / 4
Corner Kicks: 7 / 3
Fouls: 6 / 7
Offsides: 2 / 1

Officials:
Referee: Ismael Moreno (ESP)
Assistant Referee 1: Alejandro Chavez (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Cayetano Such (ESP)
Fourth Official: Miguel Grau (ESP)