In the first game between a U.S. women’s national team at any level against a Middle East nation, the U.S. U-16 girls national team beat Iran, 6-0, at the 1st International Women’sTournament of Gradisca in Italy.
“It was a really cool experience to be able to play a team that the U.S. has never played before and it’s a game that none of us will everforget,” said U.S. captain Sierra Enge, who captained the USA in the match. “It was an incredible way to see how soccer can bring people and countries together. It alsoshowed how soccer can help with the empowering of women across the world and we were humbled to be a part of that.”
Photo courtesy U.S. Soccer
Summer Yatesscored a hat trick while Emaly Vatne, Olivia Wingate and Rebecca Jarrett provided the rest of the goals against Iran.
Coach TriciaTaliaferro’s team opened the tournament with a 1-0 loss to host Italy.
April 26 in Monfalcone, Italy
USA 6 Iran 0.Goals: Vatne (Yates) 18 Yates (Nighswonger) 23, Yates (Verguru) 40, Yates (Wingate) 50, Wingate (Godfrey) 57 Jarrett (Wingate) 73+.
USA — Meyer; Minamishin, Bell (Desiano, 35),Enge, Martinez (Morris, 51); Nighswonger (Dyke, 35) Vergura (Piper, 51), Yates, Godfrey, Vatne (Jarrett, 35), Mendoza (Wingate, 35).
Iran — Mazidi; Noorizadehigder, Kouhi(Laleh, 45), Varnosfaderani, Motevallitaher; Rahmani, Rezapourlori (Alizadehkaryak, 30), Amiri, Fatemeh Hosseini; Mohammadi, Geraelisheikh.
April 25 in Gradisca,Italy
Italy 1 USA 0. Goal: Benedetti 5.
Italy — Forcinella; Costantino, Nischler, Orsi (Baldi, 56), Bardin; Benedetti, Ndiongue, Coda (Sclavo, 65),Crespi (Visentin, 65); Puglisi (Cafferata, 70), Tomaselli (Nichele, 57).
USA — Hancuff; Bell, Bell, Enge, Martinez; Bethune (Wingate, 63), Nighswonger (Piper, 55), Dyke,Godfrey; Yates (Vatne, 55), Mendoza.