Nike Friendlies: U.S. U-20 women finish third after falling to Brazil

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Dec 12, 2017

Needing a win to capture the 2017 Women’s Nike International Friendlies, the U.S. under-20 women's national team fell to Brazil, 2-0, in the tournament finale and dropped to third place in the final standings behind England and Brazil.

Brazil was the deserving winner, taking control of the game after it went ahead on a penalty kick by Victoria in the 11th minute. The USA played better to open the second half but a goal by Kerolin in the 59th minute sealed the win for the Brazilian U-20s.

England, which beat Finland, 6-0, in Monday's first game, won the Nike Friendlies with seven points; Brazil finished second with six points. USA split its three games to take third place with four points. Last-place Finland lost all three games.

Golden Boot. Stanford freshman Civana Kuhlmann won the tournament’s Golden Boot award as the top scorer (four goals, all against Finland).

The U.S. U-20s will get back together after Christmas. They need to prepare for the 2018 Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship Jan. 18-28 in Trinidad & Tobago.

Dec. 11 in Lakewood Ranch, Fla.
USA 0 Brazil 2. Goals: Victoria pen. 11, Kerolin 59.
USA -- McGlynn; Brewster (McKeown, 63), Morse, Girma, I.Rodriguez; Villacorta, Coffey (Howell, 46), 10-Savannah DeMelo (Pinto, 64); Kuhlmann (Kim, 46), Smith, Harr (Torres, 20; Turnbow, 78)
Brazil -- Kemelli; Isa, Thais Regina, Andressa, Reiss; Ana Victoria; Karla Alves, Angelina, Victoria; Brenda Woch, Kerolin.
Att.: 350.