Young talents push U.S. women's national soccer team to Pan American Games semifinal

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — The United States Under-19 women's national soccer team has shown at the Pan American Games that it will have a lot of talent coming through the pipeline for the next few years.

The Americans dominated their rivals in every match in Chile, advanced to the semifinals with one game in hand and on Saturday thrashed Argentina 4-0 to secure the top spot in Group B.

Sixteen-year-old Kendall Bodak scored her first goal in the tournament in the 15th minute with a header so unmissable that she didn't even have to jump.

Five minutes later, 18-year-old Charlotte Kohler netted the second from close range after 17-year-old Emeri Adames assisted with the through ball in the middle of the Argentine defense.

Substitute Amalia Villarreal, 17, made it 3-0 in the 51st minute with her third goal of the tournament.

Grace Restovich, another 17-year-old, scored the last goal with a powerful shot from the penalty spot after a corner kick in the 55th minute.

The U.S. team started with a 6-0 rout of Bolivia and then beat Costa Rica 3-1 despite their rivals fielding several senior national team players. The U.S. then crushed Argentina in Valparaiso, outside Santiago.

The U.S. will face host nation Chile in Tuesday's semifinals. Chile finished second in Group A after beating Jamaica 6-0 on Saturday.

Mexico and Argentina will play in the other semifinal.

The U.S. men's national team, represented by Under-23 players, is not as dominant, but could secure a spot in the semifinals on Sunday with a win against Colombia. The Americans lost their first match to Brazil 1-0 and beat Honduras 2-1 and are tied with Colombia in second place in Group B.

If the U.S. men's team advances to the semifinals its most likely rival will be Chile.

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