fter an impressive run to win Group C at the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, the U.S Under-17 Women’s National Team put forth another excellent performance in its Round of 16 match against the Netherlands but couldn’t turn that dominance into goals and eventually fell in the penalty shootout, 7-6.

With the tournament expanded to 24 nations, this was the first Round of 16 for the history of this tournament and while the Netherlands was certainly up for the challenge, the USA was by far the better team in the second half, rolling up a 24-9 shot advantage (after having a 7-6 advantage in the first half). If not for a heroic performance from Netherlands goalkeeper Maren Groothoff, who made eight saves, the USA would likely have finished this one off in regular time.

The USA allowed a goal in just the third minute as speedy Netherlands winger Liv Pennock ran onto a long ball from midfielder Lina Touzani. In a battle inside the penalty box with U.S. defender Sydney Schmidt, Pennock was able to slot her shot into the lower left corner past U.S. goalkeeper O’Steen.

The Americans were on the front foot after that, but the physically imposing Netherlands side was organized and tough into tackles.

Forward Maddie DiMaria got her head on a Cali O’Neil cross from the right in 24th minute, but she didn’t quite get enough on it and the ball deflected off the leg of a Netherlands defender before bouncing to the goalkeeper.

Midfielder Scottie Antonucci blocked a Netherlands clearance in the 36th minute that spun back and deflected off the top of the crossbar. In the 43rd minute, midfielder Nyanya Touray fired a blistering volley from the top of the penalty area, but it was right at the ‘keeper.

The Netherlands were dangerous on the transitions, and in the 37th minute Pennock got behind the U.S. defense again to shoot from almost the same spot from where she finished her goal, but this time O’Steen was able to close the angle and made a great save. 

The first U.S. chance of the second half came in the 48th minute as center back Pearl Cecil stepped into the midfield to drive a shot just over the crossbar from distance. Forward Lauren Malsom also struck a nice drive over the bar in the 50th.

In the 55th minute, forward Micayla Johnson had a good chance 10 yards out from the right side of the penalty box but smashed her shot directly at Groothoff, who batted the ball away.

Johnson then scored in the 57th on a fabulous strike. She side-stepped a defender in the middle of the field and crushed her left-footed shot into the upper right corner from 28 yards out to tie the match. It was a world-class goal by any measure.

In transition again, Pennock got free down the right side in the 59th, but with Schmidt closing fast, she cut her shot just outside the left post and the game stayed locked at 1-1. From then on, the Americans sent wave after wave of attacks at the Dutch goal.

In the 60th minute, Malsom danced around a defender on the left side of the box, dribbled to the near post and crossed, but the USA couldn’t finish the play with a shot. Moments later Antonucci ran down an errant shot from Touray on the right wing, turned and roared into the penalty box. To the naked eye it looked as if she’d been cut down from behind by a Dutch player, but upon review, the referee didn’t award a penalty kick.

In the 75th minute, Johnson smacked a left-foot shot just inches outside the right post, and then a minute later struck a shot from a sharp angle from the right side of the box that sailed in front of the goal.

The USA earned a free kick in the 88th minute after midfielder Chloe Sadler was fouled inside the penalty arc just one yard outside the top of the penalty area. Touray spun her shot off the top of the goal’s upper left corner, just inches away from giving the USA the win.

Malsom then had a chance to win it at the cusp of 90 minutes, spinning her 12-yard shot right at the ‘keeper after forward KK Ream had set her up with a pass into the seam from the left side.

Ten minutes of stoppage time were added, and the USA certainly took advantage, creating a multitude of chances to win it as the Dutch were barely holding on for penalty kicks.

Cecil, the U.S. captain who played a fantastic tournament, struck a volley off the outside of the left post off a corner kick in the 90+2nd minute.

The USA followed that up with two chances from Touray. She ran behind the defense to receive a chipped pass and brought it down before shooting, but Groothoff made a brilliant kick save. Touray then hit the follow-up into the left side netting.

In 90+6, Cecil’s header off a corner beat the ‘keeper but was agonizingly cleared off the line by a Dutch defender.

In the waning seconds of stoppage time, Malsom struck a hard shot from outside the box, which was saved by the ‘keeper. Ream had a chance to finish the rebound, but the scrambling Dutch defense was able to clear it out of danger.

All knockout round matches at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup go directly to penalty kicks, and both teams performed admirably from the spot. Each team made their first six kicks, with the young Americans converting with class, power and poise, but after Tess Van der Vliet finished her side’s seventh attempt, Groothoff saved substitute Sadler’s attempt, and the U.S. was headed home. On the Netherlands’ third kick, O’Steen had the best chance to make a save, but the shot, struck up the middle, bounced off her leg and trickled over the goal line, highlighting the fine margins between winning and losing at the highest levels.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN

USA – Liv Pennock (Lina Touzani) 3rd minute: The USA gave up an unfortunate early goal before three minutes elapsed when Touzani sent Pennock on a thundering run at the U.S. defense. Pennock fended off the challenge of U.S. defender Sydney Schmidt and struck her shot into the lower left corner from around 14 yards out. USA 0, NED 1

 USA – Micayla Johnson (Sydney Schmidt), 57th minute: Johnson took a pass from Schmidt in the middle and drove at goal, evading a defender before hitting a laser beam of a shot into the upper right corner from 28 yards out for her second goal of the tournament. USA 1, NED 1 FINAL

Additional Notes

• Twenty of 21 players on the roster played at the 2025 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. The only player who did not to feature was back-up goalkeeper Ella McNeal.
• The USA scored 13 goals in group play in this tournament, matching its record for most goals during the group stage at the FIFA U-17 WWC, which was set in India in 2022, but that group stage included an 8-0 win over India.
• Eight different players scored goals for the U.S. in the tournament. That is the second-most goal scorers in a single tournament. The U.S. record is 12, set in 2022.
• Nyanya Touray led the U.S. in scoring with four goals, one away from matching the record for most goals scored in a single U-17 WWC tournament by an American player, which was set by Vicki DiMartino with five in 2008. 
• Touray matched Kennedy Fuller's four goals from last year's tournament, which is the second-most scored in a single U-17 WWC tournament by an American.
• This is the ninth FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and the seventh in which the USA has participated. The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup will be held in Morocco for the next four years.
• Johnson, who had two goals in the tournament, became the first American player to score in two consecutive FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cups.
• Midfielder Mak Whitham, at age 15, became the youngest ever scorer in this tournament for the USA when she tallied against Norway. She is age-eligible for the next two FIFA U-17 WWCs.

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

Match: United States Under-17 Women’s National Team vs. Netherlands

Date: Oct. 28, 2025 

Competition: 2025 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup – Round of 16

Venue: Mohammed VI Football Academy (Pitch 1); Salé, Morocco

Attendance: 750 

Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. local (11:30 a.m. ET) 

Weather: 75 and cloudy 

Penalty Kicks:

NED: Renfurm (Goal), Hubert (Goal), Thomassen (Goal), Vinckers (Goal), Dap (Goal), Pennock (Goal), Van der Vliet (Goal)

USA: Schmidt (Goal), Malsom (Goal), Johnson (Goal), Cecil (Goal), Ream (Goal), Touray (Goal), Sadler (Saved)

Lineups: 

USA: 1-Evan O’Steen; 2-Cali O’Neill, 4-Pearl Cecil (Capt.), 5-Meila Brewer, 3-Sydney Schmidt; 6-Scottie Antonucci (8-Chloe Sadler, 67), 15-Riley Kennedy, 7-Nyanya Touray; 17-Micayla Johnson, 9-Lauren Malsom, 11-Maddie DiMaria (19-KK Ream, 72) 

Substitutes not used: 10-Jaiden Rodriguez, 12-Trayer Peyton, 13-Olivia Robinson, 14-Natalie Chudowsky, 15-Riley Kennedy, 16-Anastasia Showler-Little, 18-Mak Whitham, 20-Elayna Kocher, 21-Ella McNeal 

Head coach: Katie Schoepfer 

 NED: 1-Maren Groothoff; 2-Naomi Van der Linden, 15-Kee Hubert, 4-Maud Thomassen, 5-Kim Rietveld; 7-Liv Pennock, 6-Rosalie Renfurm (Capt.), 8-Tess Van der Vliet, 17-Lina Touzani (18-Sophie Van Hunnik, 81), 10-Anne Gelevert (14-Jayda Vinckers, 67); 20-Aymee Altena (9-Rochelity Dap, 67)

Substitutes not used: 11-Ranneke Derks, 12-Inge Bolder, 13-Leah Fuite, 16-Tess Doeschot, 19-Ayah Eloualdi, 21-Abigayle Van Lint 

Head coach: Oliver Amelink 

Stats Summary: USA / NED 

Shots: 24 / 9 

Shots on Goal: 10 / 5 

Saves: 4 / 8 

Corner Kicks: 10 / 2 

Fouls: 10 / 11

Offside: 0 / 0