U23 WNT Defeats Norway 5-0 to win Four Nations

The U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team defeated Norway 5-0 in its final match of the 2012 Four Nations Tournament. The victory clinched the tournament title for the U.S. team that also defeated Sweden 2-0 and fell to England 2-1. U.S. midfielder Amber Brooks was named MVP of the competition.

The USA scored just 13 minutes into the game when forward Morgan Marlborough was played a ball wide on the flank. She was able to beat a Norwegian defender and get to the end line before cutting the ball back to a driving Sinead Farrelly who finished the play off by tucking her shot low into the net from six yards out.

The USA’s second goal came in the 31^st minute off a corner kick that eventually found the feet of Farrelly. She laid the ball back to Brooks for her to slam into the net.

The final goal of the first half came in the 40^th minute when Farrelly finished a cross from defender Camille Levin. Levin made an overlapping run that got her free to play a beautiful cross to the on-rushing Farrelly.

With the match well in hand by halftime, the U.S. added two more after the break. The fourth goal came from Marlborough, who lost several defenders on the turn and fired a shot past the Norwegian goalkeeper in the 61^st minute.

The final goal came in the 76^th minute and was the work of two of U.S.’s substitutes. Midfielder Zakiya Bywaters slipped a ball to forward Taylor Lytle, who then created separation from her defender and curled a shot into the corner of the goal from 18 yards out.

U.S. goalkeeper Adrianna Franch kept a clean sheet, finishing the match with five saves.