USA U17 qualifies for the Youth World Cup 

<p class="p1">The U.S. U17 Women’s National Team is going to the 2022 World Cup in India. USA earned a spot at the international event on Friday with a win over Canada in the regional qualifying tournament for Concacaf. USA defeated the northern neighbor 3-0 behind a pair of goals from [player_tooltip player_id="24190" first="Melina" last="Rebimbas"], her sixth and seventh of the tournament, and another tally from [player_tooltip player_id="18947" first="Onyeka" last="Gamero"], her fifth of the tournament.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">USA will play against Mexico in the championship game on Sunday at 5 pm (ET). Mexico also qualified for the Youth World Cup on Friday with a very comfortable 5-0 win over Puerto Rico in the other semifinal. Puerto Rico and Canada play on Sunday in the third place game. The winner of the game will earn the last berth from Concacaf to the 2022 U17 World Cup, which will be held in October.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="in">[player_tooltip player_id="24190" first="Melina" last="Rebimbas"] with the opener for USA in the Concacaf U17 semifinal vs Canada <a href="https://t.co/tN7guKFnEA">pic.x.com/tN7guKFnEA</a></p> — J.R. Eskilson (@JREskilson) <a href="https://x.com/JREskilson/status/1522719133455945728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <p class="p1">USA came into the game as the favorite, as the team has dominated every game so far during the competition. Canada gave USA too much respect in that approach and played on the back foot throughout the contest. Without any numbers in the attack, Canada did not threaten the USA goal much on the day. Victoria Safradin finished the day with the shutout, USA has yet to concede a goal during the tournament. Canada managed only two shots during the game, both came in the first half.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">Rebimbas scored the opener in the 18th minute. She took an assist from [player_tooltip player_id="22756" first="Nicollette" last="Kiorpes"] as the East Coast duo linked up for the eventual game-winner. Rebimbas celebrated with her patented stomp the yard goal celebration, but hopes of the floodgates opening up were quickly squashed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">Despite trailing by a goal, Canada showed no urgency in trying to find an equalizer. The underdogs sat back and forced USA to breakdown a defense that regularly had eight players behind the ball and within 30 yards of their goal.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">USA could not find that second goal in the opening half. There were chances, but the decision-making in the final third was not sharp. It will be an area of improvement for the squad heading into Sunday - and for the World Cup as the level of competition is about to take a giant step up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">Rebimbas stomped the yard again in the second half for her second of the game. Lauren Martinho, the pride of North Carolina, slipped in the pass to the forward. Rebimbas buried the shot with her left foot and sealed the victory.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">Amalia Villarreal replaced Rebimbas shortly after the second goal. The Michigan Jaguars forward brought a new look to the attack. She provided the assist, her fifth of the tournament, to Gamero for the final goal of the game.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">Gamero had a golden chance at a second goal in the final minute of the game, but Canada goalkeeper Coralie Lallier blocked her shot with a heroic charge off her line. While Canada was clearly overmatched in the game on Friday, there will still be a few players on the squad who get some interest from college coaches for their performances. Amanda Allen’s burst of pace on the wing will definitely have the scouts inquiring. Anna Hauer covered a ton of ground in the game.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">USA’s focus quickly turns to Mexico, which has looked like a worthy adversary throughout the tournament. Mexico has a deep and talent roster that includes a few players with U.S. youth national team experience. Valerie Vargas (Beach FC) is second in the event in goals scored with 10. She is a club teammate of Gamero, but they play on different teams within that club. Layla Sirdah and [player_tooltip player_id="19885" first="Maribel" last="Flores"] are also U.S.-based players who have been impressive at the tournament for Mexico. They both have friends on the USA side, but don’t expect Sunday’s game to be friendly. The confederation championship is on the line.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">USA XI vs Canada: Victoria Safradin, [player_tooltip player_id="33286" first="Gisele" last="Thompson"], [player_tooltip player_id="19044" first="Alyssa" last="Gonzalez"], Cameron Roller, Savannah King; Riley Jackson (C), [player_tooltip player_id="33296" first="Charlotte" last="Kohler"], Lauren Martinho; [player_tooltip player_id="18947" first="Onyeka" last="Gamero"], [player_tooltip player_id="24190" first="Melina" last="Rebimbas"], [player_tooltip player_id="22756" first="Nicollette" last="Kiorpes"]<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">Subs: Nicki Fraser, Mia Bhuta, Mia Oliaro, Taylor Suarez, Amalia Villarreal<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p> <p class="p1">Goals: [player_tooltip player_id="24190" first="Melina" last="Rebimbas"] (18’, 58’), [player_tooltip player_id="18947" first="Onyeka" last="Gamero"] (78’)<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></p>