By Mike Woitalla
One reason U.S. Soccer invests so heavily in its youth national team program is to give young players experience in high-pressure, international competition.
Such a situation awaits the U.S. U-17 girls national team, which, after Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to Ghana, will most likely be eliminated from the U-17 Women’s World Cup if it doesn’tbeat Japan on Saturday (11:55 a.m. ET; FS2, NBC Universo).
The USA opened with a 6-1 win over Paraguay and is tied on three points with Ghana and in second place with a superior goal difference. But Ghana has a much easier game onSaturday, against Paraguay, which lost, 5-0, to Japan.
Group D Standings
PTS TEAM W-L-T GD
6 Japan 2-0-0 +10
3 USA 1-1-0 +4
3 Ghana 1-1-0 -4
0 Paraguay 0-2-0 -10
• Under-17 Women’s World Cup: Results & TV Schedule
Japan is the defending U-17Women’s World Cup champion and opened with a 5-0 win over Ghana.
Against Ghana, the USA took a fifth-minute lead when Frankie Tagliaferri met a pass from CivanaKuhlmann, cruised through the center of the Ghana defense, and stroked home from 13 yards.
But Ghana equalized on a close-range Gifty Acheampong header in the 63rdminute and Sandra Owusu-Ansah scored the gamewinner from the penalty spot in the 84th minute after a Kiara Pickett hand ball.
Yellow cards were shown to fourGhana players and one to the USA, Sophia Smith seeing yellow late in stoppage time.
“It was tough physically and emotionally, but we didn’t play well enough to wina World Cup match,” said Snow. “Congratulations to Ghana for turning itaround. The pace of the game changed and we weren’t able to wrest the initiative back and dictate terms. We found it hard to cope with their direct style, and we tried to hold on for a point atthe end, which wouldn’t have been a bad result against such a good team, but the penalty prevented us from doing that.”
Ghana outshot the USA 24-11 and had a 10-5 edge in shots ongoal. U.S. keeper Laurel Ivory was credited with eight saves; her Ghana counterpart Kayza Massey with four. (U.S. captain Ashley Sanchez hit thecrossbar in the second half.)
“We’ve seen a lot of teams fall to pieces against Japan, which is what can happen when you take on the world champions,” Snow said. “It didn’t mean tosay that Ghana were weak. They had their backs to the wall and they absolutely had to win. That’s where we are now, with a game against Japan to come.”
Oct.4 in Amman
USA 1 Ghana 2. Goals: Tagliaferri (Kuhlmann) 5; Acheampong (Mustapha) 63, Owusu-Ansah (pen.) 84.
USA — Ivory; Girma, Rodriguez, Pickett(Rodriguez, 85), Wiesner (Wesley, 57); Spaanstra, Pinto, Howell, Tagliaferri (Smith, 56); Sanchez, Kuhlmann.
Ghana — Massey; Mawia, Hagan, Asuako, Agbomadzi; Asantewaa,Acheampong, Mumuni; Kulchirie, Owusu-Ansah, Mustapha (Adjei, 86).
Mexico,with U.S. players, reaches second round
Mexico, which lost 2-1 to the USA in the 2015 U-17 Concacaf Championship that determined this World Cups qualifiers — but had a muchkinder World Cup draw — has clinched second-round passage thanks to wins over New Zealand (5-0 and host Jordan (4-1).
Half of the El Tri’s players are Mexican-American products of U.S.youth programs.
Goalkeeper Kelsey Brann, who started against Jordan, hails from the Texas Rush of the Houston area. Her Texas Rush teammate, Kim Rodriguez,started both games on Mexico’s backline and also played three games for Mexico at the 2014 U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Three Mexican-Americans have scored for Mexico: MelianaTorres (Chicago Sockers), Veronica Avalos (San Diego Surf) and Gabriela Juarez (Slammers FC/South California).
Ashley Soto (So Cal Blues) and LuisaDelgado (Real So Cal, No. 17, pictured above) played both games, while Mia Villegas (Davis Legacy/Northern California) came on as a sub against New Zealand. Also on thesquad: Reyna Reyes (FC Dallas) and Marianna Maldonado (Slammers FC).