U17s Get First World Cup Win

Chance At Quarterfinals in Next Game

November 2, 2008

The USA will now meet France on Nov. 5 at Auckland�s North Harbour Stadium in the final Group C match for both teams with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.

In the other Group C game, Japan continued its spectacular play with a 7-1 demolition of France. Now the U.S. can advance to the quarters with a win or a draw against the French.

In the 31st minute, U.S. captain and Hanson, Mass. native Kristie Mewis took off on a long dribbling run followed by a shot, but it skipped wide right from 22 yards out.

On the first goal, Gloria Villamayor lost two U.S. defenders in the left corner and dribbled down the end line. Her crossed then eluded two U.S. players who might have had a chance to clear and fell to the feet of the diminutive Rebecca Fernandez, whose quick toe-poke beat U.S. �keeper Taylor Vancil into the lower right corner.

At halftime, coach Kazbek Tambi sent on forwards Vicki DiMartino and Courtney Verloo and the duo immediately made a difference as the USA started to dominate the match.

Still, the U.S. caught a break just three minutes into the second half as Harris, who played a fine match at the defensive midfield slot, sent an excellent weak-side chip to Elizabeth Eddy on the right wing. Paraguayan goalkeeper Zulma Orue came sliding out in the deep right corner of the penalty area, but couldn�t corral the ball. Eddy popped free with it and crossed into a penalty box devoid of U.S. players. Somehow Paraguayan defender Cris Marbel Flores bundled the cross, which was not originally headed into the goal, into her own net as she tried to clear and suddenly the score was tied, 1-1.

In the 78th minute, the U.S. burst forward on a counter-attack down the right side after a rare Paraguay foray and once again Eddy crossed into the middle. The ball skipped off a Paraguayan player to Klei, who perfectly one-touched the ball into the path of DiMartino and the U.S. forward easily finished from the center of the penalty area into the lower right corner from eight yards out, putting the USA ahead 2-1.

Verloo would not miss in the 83rd minute as she scored the USA�s third goal after winning a ball deep in Paraguyan territory. She cut into the middle and powered a 22-yard drive into the upper left corner for the final margin. Verloo put the ball into the net one more time in the game after a Mewis header had been saved by the �keeper, but she was correctly whistled for offside. Verloo also saw a shot pushed off the right post by Orue.

U.S. UNDER-17 WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT

Scoring Summary:
PAR � Rebecca Fernandez (Gloria Villmayor) 32nd minute
USA � Own Goal (Cris Marbel Flores) 48th
USA -- Vicki DiMartino (Olivia Klei) 77th
USA � Courtney Verloo 83rd

Lineups:
USA: 18-Taylor Vancil; 4-Crystal Dunn, 6-Cloee Colohan, 16-Morgan Brian; 19-Elizabeth Eddy (14-Mandy Laddish, 78), 2-Alexis Harris, 15-Kate Bennett, 10-Kristie Mewis (Capt.), 20-Olivia Klei, 12-Hayley Brock (8-Vicki DiMartino, 46), 9-Samantha Johnson (7-Courtney Verloo, 46).

PAR: 1-Zulma Orue; 3-Cris Marbel Flores, 4-Noelia Cuevas (17-Maria Toledo, 65), 5-Paola Genes; 8-Paola Zalazar, 10-Ana Fleitas (18-Jacqueline Rivas, 88), 14-Evelyn Armoa, 20-Mara Talavera; 7-Rebecca Fernandez, 9-Karen Ruis Diaz (Capt.), 19-Melissa Parada, 65), 11-Gloria Villlamayor.

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