U20 Women Advance to Semis

Take Down England, 3-0

December 1, 2008

CHILLAN, Chile � The U.S. Under-20 Women�s National Team advanced to the semifinals of the U20 Women�s World Cup with a 3-0 win over England on Sunday.

With the win, the U.S. advances to the semifinal and will play the winner of Monday�s quarterfinal between Brazil and Germany. The USA�s semifinal will take place on Thursday, December 4 in Coquimbo, Chile with a place in the U-20 Women�s World Cup Final on the line.

Midfielder and team captain Keelin Winters scored the game-winning goal in the 53rd minute while Sydney Leroux tallied her third and fourth of the tournament in the second half. At the other end of the field, goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher led her defense to its third shutout in four games as Nikki Marshall and Lauren Fowlkes continued their solid play on the backline.

�I thought in the first half England did a very good job of not letting us play our style,� said head coach Tony DiCicco. �We had to change the way we played and then work back to our style as the game went on. We felt that coming back to Chillan was like playing in our home stadium.�

After a scoreless first half, the Americans got on the board just eight minutes into the second. Midfielder Christine Nairn came into the game in the 52nd minute and immediately jogged over to take the USA�s eighth corner kick of the night. After sending it into the box, the ball was cleared back out to Nairn on the right wing. She settled it and sent driven ball to the far post where team captain Keelin Winters rose above two defenders to send a well-struck header from seven yards out just inside the left post.

�I think we have to give a lot of credit to England because in the first half they were really battling with us,� said Winters. �In the second half we came out with a little bit more desire and I think that�s what it came down to tonight.�

In the 81st minute, the U.S. took advantage of another corner kick opportunity and again it was Nairn with the service. The lefty played an in-swinger that flew perfectly for Leroux, who darted in front of a defender to head it in for the 2-0 lead.

Leroux�s second of the night came in the fourth minute added time. Winters, who was named Sierra Mist Woman of the Match for her efforts in the midfield, won the ball in her own end and moved forward on the dribble. She played a soft ball through the middle of English back line for Leroux, who sped past the last defender and with a defender in tow, shot from the top of the penalty are to place a perfect shot just inside the right post past the onrushing English goalkeeper.

�I think there were some nerves, but we knew what we had to do to turn ourselves around in the second half,� said Leroux after the match. �The change was just us realizing that if we didn�t step it up that we could be going home. We�ve all sacrificed too much to go home at this point.�

With the win, the USA has advanced to the semifinals of every FIFA women�s event ever held. That streak includes five FIFA Women�s World Cup tournaments, four Olympic Games, two FIFA U-19 Women�s World Cups, two FIFA U-20 Women�s World Cups and the just completed inaugural U-17 FIFA Women�s World Cup.

U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT

Scoring Summary:
USA � Keelin Winters (Christine Nairn) 53rd minute
USA � Sydney Leroux (Christine Nairn) 81st
USA � Sydney Leroux (Keelin Winters) 90+

Lineups:
USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 6-Elli Reed, 15-Lauren Fowlkes, 17-Nikki Marshall, 3-Meghan Klingenberg; 12-Ingrid Wells (11-Christine Nairn, 52), 14-Keelin Winters (capt.), 8-Becky Edwards; 16-Nikki Washington (10-Michelle Enyeart, 80), 13-Alex Morgan (2-Kaley Fountain, 90), 19-Sydney Leroux

ENG: 1-Rebecca Spencer, 2-Stephanie Houghton, 3-Claire Rafferty, 4-Danielle Buet (20-Jade Moore, 66), 5-Fern Whelan (capt.), 7-Toni Duggan, 8-Remi Allen, 9-Natasha Dowie, 11-Jessica Clarke, 12-Chelsea Weston, 14-Brooke Chaplen (10-Rachel Williams, 57)

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