Concacaf U-17 Women's Championship: USA beats Jamaica for semifinal spot
- by Mike Woitalla @MikeWoitalla, May 4, 2022
Amalia Villarreal, who's been playing club ball for her home state Michigan Jaguars and Texas' Solar SC, scored and assisted in the win over Jamaica. The 16-year-old's goal within three minutes of kickoff was her team-leading eighth of the tournament (in five games).
Villarreal assisted on captain Riley Jackson's 41st minute goal after Charlotte Kohler's 2-0 strike. The USA, which outshot Jamaica 38-2, got its final goal from Melina Rebimbas, assisted by Onyeka Gamero, in the 56th minute.
The assist by Gamero of California's Beach FC was her team-leading sixth of the tournament. Also, her deflected cross set up Kohler's goal.
Next up: USA vs. Canada in the semifinals on Friday at 7 p.m. ET • Mexico vs. Puerto Rico semifinals on Friday at 4 p.m. ET
• The semifinal winners and winner of the third-place game qualify for 2022 U-17 Women's World Cup in India Oct. 11-30.
May 4 in San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic
USA 4 Jamaica 0. Villarreal (Gonzalez) 3, Kohler 32, Jackson (Villarreal) 41, Rebimbas (Gamero) 56.
USA -- Gundry; Thompson, Gonzalez, Fraser, King; Jackson (Harvey 78), 1Hutton (Martinho, 46), Kohler (Bhuta, 65); Gamero (Oliaro, 65), Villarreal (Rebimbas, 46), Suarez.
Jamaica -- Brooks; Lawrence (Finnikin, 8, Johnson, 61), Nelson (Amele, 84), Mignott, Johnson; Powell (Tubach, 84), Buckley (Bryan, 61), Wilson, Seaton, Raghunandanan; Atkinson.
Referee: Smeedly Saint Jean (Haiti).
Thanks Mike. Notice from the report that the US coach was able to limit minutes for most of the US mids and forwards.
The only thing that disturbs me is that the USSF is so risk adverse that they will not allow a more sophisticated, technical style of play. I feel like I am watching USSF repeat England's failure to change in the 40s and 50s. As we well know, England didn't admit they had a problem until Hungary embarrassed them twice.
I had such high hopes for the future oif the MNT in 2014 which were slowly crushed during JK's tenure. I had such high hopes for the transformation of the WNT under Jill Ellis which were crushed after she left. It doesn't appear that anyone left at USSF has a clue as to how she was managing the WNT.
Yes the MNT just qualified, but under current management their ambition is merely to advance from group play. That is no progress since 1994 despite having a better player pool. As for the WNT, they are actually going backwards to 1990s despite a promising pool of young players. I miss Jill Ellis because she knows how to use technical players.
Bob, did Jill Ellis every actually Leave.???.... Afterall the USSF paid her 400,000 dollars last Year.???
Right and left wing dominate. A changeup in the middle could be a creative move.
USSF said she was an "ambassador". Meaning she is outward facing, not inward. So yes she has left. I could tell from the way the team was managed in the last Olympics. Her influence was gone.
A nice add to this article would be to note the performance of Canada and the other teams left. Have they been hammering the minnows just like US?
Mexico dominated its group, but the goal differentials are not as high. Canada and Jamaica tied in their last group match (allowing both to advance). Canada eliminated Costa Rica 3-0 (US beat them 5-0), but Puerto Rico made it to the semi-finals (we beat them 13-0). So the label "minnows" in this pond is unfair to Jamaica, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico.
While Puerto Rico may be a "minnow" based on past performances at other levels, today they are swimming with the big fish.
Bob, thanks for the details....... we may disagree on what a minnow is but do appreciate you filling in the article!
I have a real issue with calling Puerto Rico a minnow. It is part of the US. Puerto Rico forms a team out of players that did not get called up for the US national team. I can't begin to estimate the number of US citizens that are either Puerto Rican or descendants of Puerto Ricans. It, however, numbers in the millions.
I hadn't considered this, Bob. I'm curious how much influence Americans have playing for other national teams. Look at the Phllipines--the women are ranked 54th, the men 133rd. I see 9 Us-resident players listed on wiki, so it seems the Phillipines is benefitting from US ladies as well.