The US youth national team for 23 years defeats India 4-1 in the first of two matches in Sweden
HELSINGBORG, Sweden (June 25, 2022) – The US youth national team for women under 23 defeated India, 4-1, in the first ever meeting between the two countries in women’s football when forwards Messiah Bright and Ava Cook and midfielders Jenna Nighswonger and Sierra Enge voted for the Americans.
It was the first of two matches for the United States in the Women’s U-23 Three-Nations Tournament. The USA will also meet host Sweden on June 28 in Vittsjö. This was also the first international match for US U23 WYNT since the autumn of 2019 due to the break in programming during the covid-19 pandemic.
India took a surprising lead just seven minutes into the match on a goal from the forward Pyari Xaxa, who will go down in history as the first Indian player ever to score against the United States, but the young Americans had an excellent response when Bright equalized just two minutes later when she finished a post on the ground from Washington Spirit forward Anna Heilferty.
The United States took the lead less than two minutes into the second half on a direct free kick from the top of the penalty area by Nighswonger. Her shot hit the crossbar and then bounced down over the line.
Nighswonger played supplier on the next goal, which came in at 75th minute, when she put a pass to Enge at the top of the penalty box for her smash in the upper left corner.
The United States put the game to bed in the 86thth minute when Chicago Red Stars forward Ava Cook got possession of a loose ball before dribbling to the goal line. She then cut back and finished with her left foot just inside the far post.
The goals were the first at U-23 international level for all four players.
The US list for this trip consists of eight current National Women’s Soccer League players, 12 collegiate players and a youth club player in Alyssa Thompson, who plays for a boys team from Total Futbol Academy in Los Angeles.
The U-23s are coached by Jené Baclawski, the former technical director of the South Texas Youth Soccer Association and current football coach in the United States, who also heads the American Football Visa SheBelieves Cup MVP selection committee.
American U23 national team match report for women-
Fit: USA U-23 ladies youth national team against U-23 India WNT
Date: June 25, 2022
Competition: Internationally friendly
Venue: Larods IP; Helsingborg, Sweden
Weather: 75 degrees, clear skies
Presence: 233
Summary of results: 1 2 F
USA 1 3 4
IND 1 0 1
IND – Pyari Xaxa 7th minute
USA – Messiah Bright (Anna Heilferty) 9
USA – Jenna Nighswonger 47
USA – Sierra Enge (Jenna Nighswonger) 75
USA – Ava Cook 86
Team lineups:
USA: 1-Ruthie Jones; 17-Brianna Martinez, 13-Kate Wiesner (3-Kerry Abello, 79), 4-Taryn Torres, 5-Megan Bornkamp (Capt.), 20-Jenna Nighswonger (10-Croix Bethune, 79), 18-Hannah Bebar ( 16-Mikayla Cluff, 70), 14- Samantha Meza (9-Ava Cook, 79), 7-Alexa Spaanstra (21-Alyssa Thompson, 70), 11-Anna Heilferty (6-Sierra Enge, 46), 19-Messiah Light
Unused substitutes: 2-Emily Madril, 8-Brianna Pinto, 22- Shelby Hogan
Head coach: Jene Baclawski
IND: 1-Aditi Chauhan; 17-Dalima Chhibber, 2-Ngabgbam Sweety Devi, 4-Loitongbam Ashalata Devi (Capt.), 14-Sorokhaibam Ranjana Chanu, 13-Martina Thokchom (12-Karthika Angmuthu, 80), 9-Anju-Apurna, 24-Apurna, 9-Anju 80), 7-Ratanbala Devi Nongmeithem (27-Soumya Gugloth, 58), 11-Grace Dangmei, 16-Manisha (26-Dular Marandi, 63), 10-Pyari Xaxa.
Substitutes not used: 3-Manisa Panna, 6-Priyangka Devi Naorem, 15-Renu, 19-Maibam Linthoingambi Devi, 21-Shreva Hooda, 22-Ritu Rani, 25-Santosh, 30-Arifa Zaheer Sayed
Head coach: Daniele Zoratto
Summary of Statistics: USA / IND
Shot: 17/6
Shot on goal: 11/5
Saves: 4/7
Corner kick: 8/0
Violation of the rule: 1/5
Offside: 1/2
Summary of irregularities:
No
Officials:
Referee: Maral Mirzai Beni (Sweden)
Assistant Judge 1: Jilan Thaher (Sweden)
Assistant Judge 2: Camilla Stendahl (Sweden)
Fourth official: Isabelle Svensson (Sweden)