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Tracey Leone - With no prior history, under-19 women's world championship tournament will be hard to predict. U.S. under-19 women O'Reilly's one goal, three assists lead 5-1 romp over England to open inaugural world championships.VICTORIA, Canada (Saturday, August 17, 2002) -- Striker Heather O'Reilly assisted goals by Leslie Osborne and Heather O'Reilly, then found net herself to staked the United States to a three-goal lead at intermission en route to a 5-1 decision over England to open Group C play at the first under-19 women's world championships before 2,500 at Centennial Stadium.
Forward Kelly Wilson added two second half goals, one coming off O'Reilly's third assist, after England had closed to within 3-1. The U.S. and Australia, a 5-1 winner over Taiwan, are top Group C with 1-0 records. The Americans dominated throughout, outshooting England 25-11, 12-1 on goal. "We're really pleased with our performance," said U.S. coach Tracey Leone. "We came out with a great balance of focus and energy which is a great statement for these young players in their first world event. We showed great composure and intensity. England had a lot of numbers behind the ball and we had to be persistent and patient and continue to dig the game out." The U.S. needed 37 minutes to break through for a goal, but then piled up three tallies in seven minutes. In the 37th minute, Wilson played a pass down right wing to O'Reilly, who beat the defense with a burst of speed and then crossed to Tarpley, trailing the play. Tarpley tucked her shot into the right corner from six yards for a 1-0 advantage. "I was very impressed by England," said Tarpley, the U.S. captain. "They had a lot of skillful players and played together very well, but today all our preparation and hard work paid off. " Two minutes later, midfielder Kendall Fletcher sent a free kick perfect to O'Reilly on the right flank. O'Reilly put one defender behind her, carried to the end line and centered to Osborne and the midfielder finished neatly into the left corner from 12 yards to make it 2-1. O'Reilly made it 3-0 in the 44th minute with midfielder Manya Makoski starting the sequence with a slashing run through midfield. She beat three players before setting Tarpley free down the right side. Tarpley crossed back into the middle where Wilson touched back to O'Reilly for a shot off her first touch that caromed off the left post and in from 16 yards. "My teammates played some great balls down the flanks and I just had to run onto them and find the openings in the middle," O'Reilly said. "After that first goal, it was a bit of a breaking point for England and turning point for us. We realized that we could do this, we kept composed, kept the ball in their end and got another one and then another one." England narrowed its deficit to 3-1 two minutes into the second half when striker Ellen Maggs broke loose down the right flank, pushed past defender Rachel Buehler and played a short cross back to Katy Ward who touched her first-time shot home from seven yards. Megan Kakadelas, who replaced Osborne in the 63rd minute, played a part in the fourth U.S. goal a minute later. Lori Chalupny, who was the linchpin of the U.S. midfield, started with play with a short pass to the right flank where O'Reilly sent a high cross into the box. Kakadelas jumped for the ball, jostling goalkeeper Toni-Anne Wayne as the ball flew over her head and fell to Wilson who had an easy touch into an open net for a 4-1 lead. The final American goal came in the 74th minute. O'Reilly slipped a dangerous pass to Tarpley inside the right side of the penalty area. Tarpley knocked the ball on her first touch to Wilson, who in full stride, time cracked her shot over Wayne from 13 yards for the 5-1 final margin. "We're really happy with all of our attacking players and the impact they can have at this level, but Tarpley, Wilson and O'Reilly all played extremely well," Leone said. "And not just in the stats. They played well on both sides of the ball and really looked sharp, which is key in your first game as
you can really build from there."
United States 5, England 1
Lineups: United States - Ashlyn Harris, Jessica Ballweg, Jill Oakes, Rachel Buehler, Amy Steadman, (Kendall Fletcher 18, Keeley Dowling 79), Lori Chalupny, Manya Makoski, Leslie Osborne (Megan Kakadelas 63), Lindsey Tarpley (captain), Heather O'Reilly, Kelly Wilson. England - Toni-Anne Wayne, Leanne Champ, Corinne Yorston, Fara Williams (Emily Westwood, 65), Jessica Wright (captain), Laura Basset, Alex Scott (Kim Holden 82), Kelly McDougall, Katy Ward, Ellen Maggs,
Michelle Hickmont (Shelly Cox 46).
Scoring:
Shots: United States 25, England 11.
Shots on goal: United States 12, England 1
Saves: United States 0, England 6
Corner kicks: United States 12, England 0.
Fouls: United States 8, England 9.
Offside: United States 4, England 2.
Referee: Mayumi Oiwa (Japan).
Referee Assistants: Lynda Bramble (Trinidad & Tobago), Ameoli Aquerebourou (Tonga).
Attendance: 2,500 at Centennial Stadium in Victoria, British, Columbia.
Weather: Sunny, breezy, 78 degrees.
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