PREVIEW: USA taking on Nigeria in FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup quarterfinals – Soccerwire.com

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With group stage play behind them, the USA looks ahead to the quarterfinal round at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup where it will take on Group A winner Nigeria on Saturday, October 26, in Santiago de los Caballeros (3:30 p.m. ET on Fox Soccer Plus, Universo and Telemundo digitals).
The USA and Nigeria also met in the 2022 FIFA U-17 WWC quarterfinals in India. The USA outshot Nigeria 27-8 but put only three shots on goal and finished regulation tied at 1-1. Agonizingly, the USA lost in PKs, 4-3. This year, the U.S. finished second in Group B play behind two-time defending world champion Spain with a 2W-1L-0D record and six points. Nigeria topped Group A with a 3W-0L-0D record and nine points.
U.S. FINISHES GROUP PLAY STRONG: The U.S. closed out group play with a resounding 5-0 win over Korea Republic. Just 30 seconds into the match, midfielder Melanie Barcenas scored the fastest U.S. goal ever at the FIFA U-17 WWC and the third-fastest goal in tournament history to give the USA a very early 1-0 lead. Just nine minutes later, Barcenas set up a Kennedy Fuller goal to double the team’s lead just ten minutes into the match. After taking the 2-0 lead into halftime, Barcenas came out firing in the second half, adding a second goal to her tally in the 47th minute to make it 3-0. Forward Mary Long made it 4-0 in the 67th minute, blasting a long-distance shot off the crossbar and across the goal line. She was set up when midfielder Kimmi Ascanio stepped in front of an attempted pass from a Korea Republic defender and then passed off to Long. Forward Maddie Padelski topped off the U.S. scoring in the 86th minute when her shot from outside of the box hit the Korean Republic goalkeeper’s hands before spilling over the goal line.
2024 U.S. UNDER-17 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB; HOMETOWN; CAPS/GOALS):
Goalkeepers (3): Wicki Dunlap (North Carolina Courage Academy; Raleigh, N.C.; 2), Evan O’Steen (Solar SC; Grapevine, Texas; 4), Molly Vapensky (Carolina Ascent; Evanston, Ill.; 7),
Defenders (6): Trinity Armstrong (UNC; Frisco, Texas; 7/0), Kiara Gilmore (FC Dallas; Allen, Texas; 10/0), Jordyn Hardeman (Solar SC; Midlothian, Texas; 10/1), Daya King (Legends FC; Moreno Valley, Calif.; 10/0), Katie Scott (Penn State; Fairview, Penn.; 12/1), Jocelyn Travers (FC Bay Area Surf; Santa Cruz, Calif.; 10/1)
Midfielders (7): Scottie Antonucci (Legends FC; Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; 4/0), 10-Kimmi Ascanio (San Diego Wave; Doral, Fla.; 12/4), Melanie Barcenas (San Diego Wave; San Diego, Calif.; 17/5), Kennedy Fuller (Angel City FC; Southlake, Texas; 11/11), Ainsley McCammon (Seattle Reign; Bedford, Texas; 8/1), Jaiden Rodriguez (San Diego Surf; San Diego, Calif.; 4/0), Y-Lan Nguyen (Virginia Development Academy; Fairfax, Va.; 6/1)
Forwards (5): Anna Babcock (Crossfire Premier SC; Sedro-Woolley, Wash.; 3/0), Micayla Johnson (Michigan Hawks, Troy, Mich.; 5/2), Mary Long (Duke; Mission Hills, Kan.; 5/3), Maddie Padelski (Alabama; Nolensville, Tenn.; 5/1), Leena Powell (Tudela FC; Culver City, Calif.; 9/1)
ROSTER NOTES:
PROS LEAD THE WAY: For the first time ever, a U.S. roster for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup features professional players, those being Angel City FC midfielder Kennedy Fuller, San Diego Wave FC midfielders Melanie Barcenas and Kimmi Ascanio and Seattle Reign midfielder Ainsley McCammon. Of the four, Fuller has seen the most NWSL minutes, playing 975 over 19 matches with one goal. Ascanio has played 145 minutes in six matches while Barcenas, who is in her second professional season, has played 446 minutes in 10 matches and scored her first career NWSL goal on Sept. 28 against the Portland Thorns. McCammon made her NWSL debut on Sept. 6 vs. Angel City FC, playing the very end of the match, and earned her first start in her final match before joining the U-17s, playing 63 minutes.
U-17 WYNT VS. NIGERIA
2024 NIGERIA FIFA U-17 WOMEN’S WORLD CUP ROSTER BY POSITION (CLUB)
GOALKEEPERS (3): 1-Christina Uzoma (Edo Queens), 16-Sylvia Echefu (Confluence Queens), 21-Elizabeth Boniface (Sunshine Queens)
DEFENDERS (6): 2-Rokibat Azeez (New Generation Academy), 3-Khadijat Adegoke (Remo Stars), 4-Hannah Ibrahim (Remo Stars), 6-Jumai Adebayo (Naija Ratels), 13-Vivian Ekezie (Heartland Queens), 17-Prisca Nwachukwu (Imo Strikers Queens)
MIDFIELDERS (3): 5-Faridat Abdulwahab (Nasarawa Amazons), 8-Shakirat Moshood (Bayelsa Queens), 10-Taiwo Afolabi (Delta Queens), 20-Muinat Rotimi (Nakamura Football Academy)
FORWARDS (8): 7-Ramotalahi Kareem (Honey Badgers), 9-Harmony Chidi (Imo Strikers Queens), 11-Aishat Animashaun (Naija Ratels), 12-Ololade Isiaka (Abia Angels), 14-Kudirat Arogundade (Green Foot), 15-Peace Effiong (Rivers Angels), 18-Blessing Ifitiezue (Delta Queens), 19-Oghenemairo Obruthe (City Sports)
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