Kennedy Fuller Hat Trick Powers USA Past New Zealand 9-0 at U-20 Women’s World Cup
SOSNOWIEC, Poland — With its FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup hopes hanging in the balance, the United States responded with a record-setting performance.
The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team overwhelmed New Zealand, 9-0, Saturday in its final Group D match at Arena Sosnowiec, securing a place in the Round of 16 as one of the tournament’s four best third-place teams.
Captain Kennedy Fuller led the offensive explosion with a hat trick, while Alex Buck scored twice as the Americans turned a must-win match into the largest victory in U.S. history at a FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
The previous record was a 7-0 victory over Paraguay at the 2024 tournament.
The Americans wasted virtually no time establishing control. Buck opened the scoring in the fourth minute after Hope Munson drove toward the endline and found the Washington Huskies forward in front of goal.
Two minutes later, Fuller doubled the advantage. The Bay FC midfielder collected a poor New Zealand clearance, worked through traffic and buried a left-footed shot into the far corner.
From there, the pressure rarely stopped.
Micayla Johnson made it 3-0 in the 38th minute, heading home from close range after New Zealand struggled to clear another dangerous sequence. Linda Ullmark added the fourth shortly before halftime, redirecting Munson’s pass off the post and across the goal line.
The statistics illustrated just how dominant the performance was. The United States finished with a staggering 41-1 advantage in shots, including 21-0 in shots on goal, while also earning all 11 corner kicks.
The attack continued after halftime.
Emeri Adames assisted Buck’s second goal in the 58th minute before scoring one herself just two minutes later, pushing the advantage to 6-0. Adames finished the match with a goal and two assists.
Fuller struck again in the 83rd minute, finishing a rebound for her second of the afternoon. Substitute Sealey Strawn made it 8-0 four minutes later with her first U-20 World Cup goal.
Fuller then completed the historic afternoon in stoppage time.
After Nyanya Touray was brought down by goalkeeper Brooke Neary on a breakaway, Fuller stepped to the penalty spot and converted for her third goal, becoming just the sixth American to record a hat trick at a FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
The victory also gave the United States 12 goals during the group stage, with seven different players finding the net.
More importantly, a U.S. team that entered its final group match with no guarantee of advancing emphatically punched its ticket to the knockout stage.
After surviving Group D, the Americans now get a fresh start.
And they will enter the Round of 16 coming off one of the most dominant performances in program history.
- NYCFC Shut Out Real Salt Lake 2-0 Behind Fernández Mercau, Luighi Goals
- Kennedy Fuller Hat Trick Powers USA Past New Zealand 9-0 at U-20 Women’s World Cup
- Six Nations Takes Two-Game Lead Over Adanacs at Mann Cup
- Riverhounds Grind Out Rain‑Soaked Win at F.N.B. Field
- Steelers Begin New Era Under McCarthy With Week 1 Test Against Falcons
