The Ghana vs USA U20 Women’s Youth National Team defeated Ghana 3-0 in their opening match of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, with goals from forwards Michelle Cooper, Alyssa Thompson, and Ally Sentnor.
In spite of a tough Ghana team that threw itself into every tackle with conviction, the USA maintained control of the game’s tempo from the outset and had the majority of the possession. Over the course of the game, Ghana received one red card and four yellow cards.
After posing a few early attacking threats, forward Jaedyn Shaw successfully defended the ball in the final third before passing to outside back Laney Rouse on the right flank to give the USA the lead. Rouse used a quick dribble while under pressure to beat her defender in the corner and then sent a left-footed cross well into the box for Cooper to meet at the far post. The American captain then added a precise header from close range, and the team took off.
One of the five Ghanaian players with professional experience, midfielder Jacqueline Owusu, was dismissed in the 31st minute after making a hard tackle from behind on midfielder Korbin Albert. Seven minutes later, the USA doubled its advantage when Cooper played a low, driven cross into the penalty area, where Thompson finished from just outside the six-yard box into the roof of the net. Just before the break, the Americans came close to scoring a third goal, but Albert’s first-time effort from the edge of the penalty area smacked off the underside of the crossbar and out.
Ghana vs USA U20 match ended as 0-3. The Black Princesses, who are yet to advance to the knockout stage in five attempts, will face Japan next on Sunday, before taking on the Netherlands in their ultimate group game.