Canada digs early hole, loses 4-1 to U.S. in CONCACAF Girls’ U-15 Championship final
TAMPA, Fla. – Canada dug itself an early gap Sunday, conceding twice within the first 10 minutes en path to a 4-1 loss to the defending champion U.S. within the remaining of the CONCACAF Ladies’ Beneath-15 Championship.
Alexandra Pfeiffer and Kennedy Fuller scored within the seventh and tenth minute, respectively, for the People within the 70-minute match. Abby Ballek and Ashlnn Puerta added insurance coverage objectives within the 67th minute and stoppage time (72nd minute) with Canada urgent for an equalizer.
Isabelle Chukwu replied for Canada within the twenty sixth minute, recording the primary aim conceded by the U.S. on the match.
It was 30 levels Celsius, feeling like 34 C for the 11 a.m. native time kickoff on the Hillsborough County Sportsplex.
The U.S. went forward within the seventh minute when Canada didn’t clear the ball out of its personal finish with Pfeiffer beating Canadian ‘keeper Noelle Henning with a left-footed shot from a decent angle.
Issues went from unhealthy to worse when Caroline Helfrich’s cross hit Bianca Hanisch’s arm, prompting Jamaican referee Neressa Goldson to level to the penalty spot. Fuller stepped up and beat Henning for a 2-0 lead within the tenth minute.
Henning made a diving one-handed save within the 18th minute to disclaim a protracted shot by Ainsley McCammon because the U.S. saved up the stress.
Canada’s Annabelle Chukwu, Isabelle’s twin sister, had a half-chance within the twentieth minute however was unable to get correct contact on the ball in entrance of aim, permitting U.S. ‘keeper Molly Vapensky to wash up.
Isabelle Chukwu got here on within the twenty fifth minute after a cooling break and instantly had an influence, chipping a shot over Vapensky to chop the united stateslead to 2-1 within the twenty sixth.
Henning made one other superb save within the forty fourth minute, diving to parry away Fuller’s redirection of a Katie Scott free kick.
Twin sisters Keelyn and Taegan Stewart got here on for Canada within the second half.
Ballek made it 3-1 late within the sport after a pleasant setup that noticed an American teammate nutmeg a Canadian defender to place Ballek within the clear. Ballek took her time earlier than slotting the ball between Henning’s legs.
Puerta accomplished the scoring, tapping in a low cross from point-blank vary.
The U.S. has gained all three CONCACAF U-15 Championships it has participated in, additionally claiming the trophy in 2016 and 2018.
Canada gained the inaugural occasion in 2014, was runner-up in 2016 (shedding 2-0 to the People) and missed out on the semifinals in 2018.
Fuller gained the match’s Golden Ball Award as high participant and Truthful Play Award. Gabriella Quezada of the U.S. Virgin Islands gained the Golden Boot Award as high scorer.
The U.S. gained 1-0 Thursday when the 2 North American rivals met within the remaining Group B sport, with each groups having already certified for the semifinal by advantage of wins over Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. The People outshot Canada 11-1 in that match, pulling forward on a Seventeenth-minute Fuller aim.
The U.S. defeated the Dominican Republic 6-0 in its semifinal. Canada reached the ultimate by edging Mexico 6-5 in a penalty shootout following a 0-0 draw.
Earlier Sunday, Mexico blanked the Dominican Republic 5-0 within the third-place sport.
Competing within the eight-team League A, the Canadians went into Sunday’s remaining with a 3-1-0 file having outscored the opposition 9-2. The People had been 4-0-0 with a 30-0 edge in objectives.
Canada is coached by Jasmine Mander of Delta, B.C.
League B featured the following 12 ranked CONCACAF groups: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Nicaragua downed Aruba 3-1 to win the League B title Saturday.
The People defeating Mexico 3-0 to win the final version of the CONCACAF U-15 Championship in 2018, in Bradenton, Fla. The 2020 match was cancelled because of the pandemic.
Canada’s file on the match is 16-4-2.
Of the 51 gamers who represented Canada on the three earlier editions of the tournaments, 12 have already had call-ups to Canadian senior squad together with Olympic champions Julia Grosso (2014), Jordyn Huitema (2014 and 2016), and Jayde Riviere (2016).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Aug. 7, 2022
