Trinity Rodman of Laguna Niguel assisted on the final goal as the U.S. defeated Cameroon, 3-0, Wednesday to open play in the 2018 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay.
After the U.S. repelled a Cameroon attack Rodman collected a pass out of the back, carried the ball through midfield and played a leading pass for Sunshine Fontes to chase into the Cameroon half. After running onto the ball, Fontes spotted Les Lionnes goalkeeper Olga Ngo Esse off her line and lifted a shot over her from 32 yards out that went into the back of the net.
Rodman, the daughter of Basketball Hall of Fame member Dennis Rodman, entered the 90-minute game in the 60th minute.
Rodman’s teammate on the San Juan Capistrano-based club team the So Cal Blues, Isabella D’Aquila, entered the game in the 82nd minute.
Mia Fishel opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, putting in the rebound of her own shot.
Fontes scored on a penalty kick five minutes into stoppage time in the first half. The U.S. was awarded the penalty kick after referee Casey Reibelt ruled Cameroon goalkeeper Christemilie Onomo cleated U.S. midfielder Maya Doms in the midsection. Onomo was issued a red card, forcing Les Lionnes to play shorthanded the remainder of the game.
The U.S. will resume play Saturday against North Korea.