COUVA, Trinidad & Tobago — The United States could not have gotten to a better start at the CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship Friday night.

The Americans recorded a solid 2-0 victory over Nicaragua in a Group B match at Ato Bouldon Stadium.

The win left the Red, White and Blue (1-0-0, 3 points) in second place behind group leaders Mexico (1-0-0, 3), which recorded a 4-0 triumph in the first game of the doubleheader.

The victory also extended the U.S.’s unbeaten streak in the competition to 21 games (20-0-1).

The U.S. outshot the Central Americans, 19-3, enjoying a 15-0 corner-kick advantage. The team also was called offside 12 times against an organized side that played with a lot of grit.

Taryn Torres gave the Americans all the scoring they needed in the 16th minute as she slotted home a right-wing cross from Savannah DeMelo past goalkeeper Alicia Norori from four yards and a 1-0 advantage.

In the 53rd minute, the U.S. added an insurance goal when Jaelin Howell slipped a pass to Civana Kuhlmann, who scored from 10 yards.

Early on, Nicaragua came close to taking the lead. While clearing the ball out of her penalty area, goal keeper Laurel Ivory slipped. The ball went straight to Shannelly Treminio, whose chip shot from distance hit the outside of the crossbar.

Except for that encounter, the Central American side rarely threatened.

The Americans next will be in action against Jamaica Sunday. Mexico will take on Nicaragua that day.

Scoring summary

USA – Taryn Torres (Savannah DeMelo)            17th minute
USA – Civan Kuhlmann (Jaelin Howell)               53

Lineups:
USA: 1-Laurel Ivory; 5-Isabel Rodríguez, 14-Karina Rodríguez, 6-Zoe Morse, 17-Kiara Pickett, 18-Jaelin Howell, 15-Viviana Villacorta (10-Samantha Coffey, 73), 9-Savannah DeMelo; 20-Civana Kuhlmann (16-Kelsey Turnbow, 81), 2-Ashley Sánchez (11-Abigail Kim, 64), 7-Taryn Torres
Subs not used: 3-Sophia Smith, 4-Naomi Girma, 8-Brianna Pinto, 12-Amanda McGlynn, 13-Tara McKeown
Not available: 19-Tierna Davidson
Head coach: Jitka Klimkova

NCA: 1-Alicia Norori; 3-Diana Ortega, 5-Kesly Pérez, 2-Sheyla Flores (13-Yorcelly Humphreys, 88), 17-Natalie Orellana (8-Hormyne Paiz, 72); 4-Alis Cruz, 7-Katherine Pereira; 10-Elizabeth Vega, 16-Jacklyn Gilday, 9-Shanelly Treminio (6-Gloria Bermúdez, 62); 11-Yessenia Flores
Subs not used: 12-Yahara Salmeron, 14-Ariadna Meza, 15-Alma Gutierrez, 18-Lisbeth Moreno, 19-Edy Pérez, 20-Beykel Méndez
Head coach: Elna Dixon

Stats Summary: USA / NCA
Shots: 19 / 3
Shots on Goal: 5 / 1
Saves: 1 / 2
Corner Kicks: 15 / 0
Fouls: 6 / 9
Offside: 12 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
None

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.