International break weekend round-up

Kadidiatou Diani bagged a brace as Les Bleues beat USA. (Photo: Ben Queenborough for TheFA)

The highlight of the last couple of days of internationals was a first defeat in 28 games for top-ranked USA, beaten 3-1 by World Cup hosts France.

Kadidiatou Diani scored early in each half as France defeated USA 3-1 in front of a 22,780 crowd at Le Havre. Marie-Antoinette Katoto made it 3-0 and Mallory Pugh got a stoppage-time consolation for the Americans.

Netherlands were 2-1 winners over South Africa in Cape Town, Sarah Spitse and Vivianne Miedema both netting in the first 19 minutes, Thembi Kgetlana pulling one back before the break.

Italy came from behind to edge Chile 2-1 in Empoli, Cristina Girelli conceding an own-goal before Ilaria Mauro levelled and Stefanie Tarenzi hit a stoppage-time winner.

Four Nations Tournament hosts China edged South Korea 1-0 in the final with a 15th-minute effort from Gu Yasha.  Chinwendu Ihezuo, Onome Ebi and Rita Chikwelu were among the goals as Nigeria took third place with a 4-1 result over Romania.

Belgium beat Republic of Ireland 1-0 at San Pedro del Pinatar in Spain, Elena Dhont on target after a quarter of an hour.

Portugal had a 3-0 result against higher-ranked Ukraine at Torres Novas, where Dolores Silva, Diana Silva and Jessica da Silva were their scorers.

Bosnia & Herzegovina came away 2-1 winners from Podgorica against Montenegro. Minela Gačanica’s second goal coming 7 minutes after Ana Sebek equalised.

Turkey and Slovakia played out a goalless draw in Ihca.

New Zealand Maori squad. (Photo: @MaoriFootballNZ)

In the first ever matches between teams of indigenous peoples from either sides of the Tasman Sea, New Zealand Maori twice put five goals past Australian First Nations in a double-header.

Youth internationals

Netherlands U-19s were 2-0 winners over their Norwegian counterparts at the Algarve Tournament. The Dutch then got the only goal of the game against England a dozen minutes from the end.

Italy beat Republic of Ireland U-19s 2-0 with two first-half goals, while Northern Ireland U-17s defeated Slovakia 2-1, Caitlin McGuiness and Joely Andrews with first-half efforts, Masurova netting in-between.

Spain U-17s fell behind to the Canary Islands who scored through Evelyn but hit back with a brace by Ascencion Martinez, followed by one each from Sara Carrillo and Arantxa Medina.

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