USA U20 WNT buries Finland

USA U20 WNT buries Finland
by J.R. Eskilson
December 10, 2017

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Florida - Here’s something. We know the U.S. U20 Women’s National Team can score goals. The squad scored 13 goals through two games at the 2017 Nike Friendlies. Civana Kuhlmann led the way on Saturday with four, five, maybe six, or possibly seven, in the 10-1 win over Finland that probably should have been ended at half time. 

Kuhlmann, who scored four goals in the game, was unstoppable in front of the net and probably could have gone for more in the second half, but looked like she took the foot off the gas slightly. 

The competitiveness of the game was over within 15 minutes when the U.S. took a 2-0 lead. Taryn Torres scored the opener off an assist from Abigail Kim. Savannah DeMelo added the second on an assist from Samantha Coffey. Both of the goals were one-touch finishes inside the box. 

Kuhlmann scored her first on an assist from Isabel Rodriguez. It was a nice floated ball into Kuhlmann that tempted the goalkeeper to come off her line. Kuhlmann headed the ball over the keeper and into the goal. Coffey made it 4-0 on an assist from Torres. 

Finland pulled one back on a wind assist, which was nice for some semblance of competitiveness, but that quickly wore off. 

Demelo scored again to make it 5-1, and then Kuhlmann scored three goals in five minutes before half time. 

With an 8-1 advantage at the break, the game was over, but the teams still played a second half. Finland could not help themselves for the embarrassment and added an own goal in the 64th minute. 

Viviana Villacorta made it 10-1 in the 67th minute, and then mercifully USA stopped scoring for the rest of the night. 

U.S. Soccer’s social media referred to it as a statement win, which is accurate in saying that it will draw attention because of the score. However, the statement was more about Finland not being up to the level of this type of competition. 

USA will return to action at the Nike Friendlies on Monday with a (more competitive) game against Brazil at 6:30 p.m. 

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