The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Soccer Team allowed an equalizer in the 92nd minute and had to settle for a 2-2 draw with regional rival Canada in a match played at the Brazilian National Team Training Center. Midfielders Brittany Bock and Tobin Heath scored for the USA.

“The staff and I were talking about if I had to pick one or the other right now, would I want results or beautiful play,” said U.S. head coach Tim Schulz. “I would probably have to say beautiful play, and we got that today, it was some awesome stuff. We were playing some good short balls at the right time, and good long balls at the right time. There were some very clever and sophisticated things out there so I was very pleased.”

The match, part of the three-team Ricardo Teixeira Cup that also includes the Brazilian U-20 women, was the first game of the competition for both teams. All three teams are deep into preparations for the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Championship to be held in Russia from Aug. 17 - Sept. 3.

The USA showed some quality possession and attacking soccer with Bock and midfielder Amanda Poach playing excellent matches in the middle of the field, carving through the Canadian midfield while linking well with the forwards. The Americans created more dangerous chances, out-shooting Canada, 15-12, but a pair of defensive breakdowns led to two Canadian goals and the first tie in international play this year for the U.S. U-20s. The two teams last met in late January at the championship game of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament for the U-20 world championship with the USA coming away with a 3-2 victory. That match, played in Mexico, was the most recent international game for the USA before today’s contest. In between, the U-20s played 16 matches against mostly college sides.

The USA opened the scoring in the 28th minute off a corner kick from the right side. Defender Sarah Wagenfuhr, who had earned the corner kick off an overlapping dribble, drove her cross to the far post where Bock met the ball with a powerful header from eight yards out, sending her shot into the left corner.

The USA had two more good scoring opportunities in the first half, but forward Jessica Rostedt’s effort from 14 yards was blocked and 17-year-old forward Kelley O’Hara fired a quality chance over the top.

Rostedt almost made it 2-0 just three minutes after halftime, but her flick towards goal off a cross from Heath, who came on at halftime, spun right into the hands of Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe.

Labbe came up big again in the 57th minute after O’Hara burst through the middle of the Canadian defense on a 60-yard solo dribble, but the Canadian ‘keeper came sliding out of her goal to deny the breakaway chance.

That miss proved costly as two minutes later, Canada took advantage of a give-away by the U.S. defense with forward Rehanne Sleiman latching onto the ball and spinning it around U.S. goalkeeper Val Henderson, off the right post and into the net from 14 yards out.

The USA battled back and Bock had several more dangerous headers, including a rocket that flew right into the hands of Labbe in the 63 minute.

In the 67th minute, Bock created the second U.S. goal, lifting a perfect long pass over the back of the Canadian defense into the left side of the penalty area. Heath settled the ball expertly and then smacked a left-footed shot into the left corner of the net from 11 yards out for the 2-1 lead. It was Heath’s first international goal at the U-20 level.

Midfielder Tina DiMartino hit the left post in the 75th minute, but the final quarter hour of the match belonged to Canada, who attacked well looking for an equalizer. The USA gave them one with just seconds left in the game as the defense failed to clear a ball and it bounced fortuitously to Lorendana Riverso, who slotted her shot into the lower left corner from close range.

U.S. forward Lauren Cheney had to leave the game in the 22nd minute with a minor rib injury after colliding with Labbe inside the penalty area.

“In the smaller picture, we let in a couple of soft goals,” said Schulz. “But the girls are learning from it, and instead of three points out of today, we got one.”

ussoccer.com Woman of the Match: Brittany Bock

Scoring Summary:
USA – Brittany Bock (Sarah Wagenfuhr) 28th minute.
CAN – Rheanne Sleiman (unassisted) 59.
USA – Tobin Heath (Brittany Bock) 67.
CAN – Lorendana Riverso (unassisted) 92+.

USA – 1-Val Henderson; 3-Sarah Wagenfuhr, 4-Carrie Dew, 12-Nikki Kryzsik – Capt. (8-Ariel Harris, 46), 2-Jordan Angeli (13-Stephanie Logterman, 46); 9-Danesha Adams (6-Tobin Heath, 46), 21-Amanda Poach (16-Allie Long, 76), 7-Brittany Bock, 17-Tina DiMartino; 5-Lauren Cheney (10-Kelley O’Hara, 22), 14-Jessica Rostedt.
Subs not used: 18-Kelsey Davis.
Head Coach: Tim Schulz

CAN – 1-Stephanie Labbe; 9-Vonya Beckles, 11-Desiree Scott, 17-Eden Hingwing (Anoop Josan, 67), 4-Caroline Vanderpool, 3-Sophie Schmidt – Capt., 8-Véronique Maranda, 6-Kaylen Kyle, 16-Paige Adams (15-Lorendana Riverso, 71), 5-Karla Schacher (12-Selenia Iacchelli, 61), 13-Rheanne Sleiman (14-Aysha Jamani, 61).
Subs not used: 20-Erin McNuluty, 2-Katie Radchuck, 7-Jodi-Ann Robinson.
Head Coach: Ian Bridge

courtesy of ussoccer.com