MANAGUA, Nicaragua – The U.S. Under-17 women’s national team could not have asked for a better start.

The American women defeated Costa Rica, 4-0, to open its Group B play at the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championship Friday night.

Three goals came off headers, while Costa Rica contributed an own goal.

The U.S. dominated from start to finish and benefited from the own goal in the fourth minute by Jeimy Umana before forward Peyton Linnehan headed one home in the 15th minute. Defender Kennedy Wesley and midfielder Sophia Jones scored off headers from corner kicks in the second half.

The goals were the first in U-17 international competition for Wesley and Jones, with the latter providing an important bump in goal difference for the U.S. The Americans sit atop Group B, just ahead of Canada, which defeated Bermuda 3-0 in the other match of the night.

Linnehan’s run at goal was one of the U.S. highlights. She struck a shot off the top of the crossbar in the second half after a mazy, dribbling run that left several defenders in her wake.

After round-robin play within the groups, the top two teams in each group will cross-over for the semifinal matches and the winners of the semifinals and the third-place game will earn CONCACAF’s three berths to the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay.

The U.S. was captained by goalkeeper Angelina Anderson, who did not make a save as she earned her fifth career shutout.

The USA outshot Corta Rica 14-0 and put eight shots on goal.

The Americans will face Bermuda Sunday at 10 p.m. ET (go90.com).

 

Scoring Summary:    1          2          F
USA – Jeimy Umaña (Own Goal)                  4th minute
USA – Payton Linnehan (Samantha Meza)   15
USA – Kennedy Wesley (Kate Wiesner)        60
USA – Sophia Jones (Sunshine Fontes)        79

Lineups:
USA: 1-Angelina Anderson (capt.); 4-Talia DellaPeruta, 15-Natalia Staude (19-Michela Agresti, 68), 5-Kennedy Wesley, 3-Kate Wiesner; 20-Sophia Jones, 17-Hannah Bebar, 9-Croix Bethune; 16-Payton Linnehan, 18-Sunshine Fontes (13-Samantha Kroeger, 81), 7-Samantha Meza (8-Diana Ordoñez, 62)
Substitutes not used: 12-Julia Dohle, 14-Smith Hunter, 2-Makenna Morris, 6-Astrid Wheeler, 10-Mia Fishel, 11-Maya Doms
Head Coach: Mark Carr

CRC: 1-Fabiana Solano (capt.); 6-Pamela Gutiérrez, 8-Jeimy Umaña, 19-Gipzy Prieto; 7-Nicole Gómez (15-Daniela Contreras, 58), 10-Carmen Marín, 16-Emily Flores, 11-Priscilla Chinchilla (20-Ariana Dobles, 88); 12-María Paula Salas, 14-María Paula Porras, 17-Kyana Calvo (9-Medolyn Guerrero, 65)
Substitutes not used:18-Dislania Chacón, 2-Valery Sandoval, 3-Andrea Capmany, 13-Keylin Gómez, 4-María Fernanda Murillo, 5-Alexa Aguilar
Head Coach: Harold López

Stats Summary: USA / CRC
Shots: 14 / 0
Shots on Goal: 8 / 0
Saves: 0 / 5
Corner Kicks: 13 / 1
Fouls: 18 / 3
Offside: 4 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Samantha Meza (caution)       53rd minute
CRC – María Paula Salas (caution)   72

Officials: 
Referee: Odette Hamilton (JAM)
Assistant Referee 1: Jassett Kerr (JAM)
Assistant Referee 2: Mijensa Rensch (SUR)
4th Official: Queztalli Alvarado (MEX)

U.S. Soccer Woman of the Match: Sophia Jones

 

2018 CONCACAF Women’s U-17 Championship
Group B Standings
Team GP W L D Pts. GF GA GD
USA 1 1 0 0 3 4 0 +4
Canada 1 1 0 0 3 3 0 +3
Bermuda 1 0 1 0 0 0 3 -3
Costa Rica 1 0 1 0 0 0 4 -4

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.