U.S. U-20 WNT opens World Cup Qualifying with 2-2 draw vs. Mexico
SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National team opened play in the 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championship with a 2-2 draw against Mexico.
With the draw, the USA sits tied for second in Group B on one point with Mexico. Haiti leads the group with three points after scoring a dramatic 3-2 win against Panama, who will serve as the USA’s next opponent on Sunday, Dec. 6 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The USA-Panama match will be broadcast on FOX Soccer Plus.
Captain Mallory Pugh led the way for the U.S., scoring the opening goal of the match and assisting the other USA score to propel the team to an early 2-0 lead.
The U.S. came out on the attack early, consistently stringing passes together and working their way down the field to earn chances and dominating the run of play early on. In the 20th minute, the USA’s efforts earned a penalty kick, which Pugh confidently buried. Two minutes later, Emily Fox also found the net.
Mexico would break back and convert its first goal in the 32nd minute, which began from a free kick. The goal gave Mexico a burst of energy, which carried into a second half that was more evenly contested than the first. In the 66th minute, Mexico again converted an opportunity that started from a set piece as Kiana Palacios finished to level the score.
As the game wound down, the U.S.’s attacking intensity rose and they broke for a number of chances, but on more than one occasion missed potential game-winners by fractions.
Goal Scoring Run Down:
USA – Mallory Pugh, 20th minute: The U.S. broke ahead on the attack and got the ball over to Marley Canales on the left side. Canales made her way into the box and whipped a cross in that was cut out by Mexico’s outside back but hit the arm of her teammate; the referee signaled a handball and the U.S. was set up with a penalty kick. Captain Mallory Pugh stepped up to take it, calmly blasting a powerful shot past the ‘keeper into the upper, left hand corner. USA 1 MEX 0
USA – Emily Fox (Mallory Pugh), 22nd minute: Two minutes after the first score, the U.S. doubled its lead. Ashley Sanchez started it off, jetting down the right side before threading a ball into the center of the box in the area of Mallory Pugh. Pugh made a nifty spinning move and back-heeled the ball to Emily Fox, who hammered in for the U.S. USA 2 MEX 0
MEX – Bianca Solis (Gabriela Alvarez), 32nd minute: Mexico found a way to answer back with a goal of their own in the minutes before the intermission. It started with a free kick played in from the left side that bounced around and ended up at the feet of Bianca Solis inside the box on the right. Solis made a double move, cutting to the outside and then turning back in, leaving her defender behind and freeing herself to bury a shot in the far side netting with her left foot. USA 2 MEX 1
MEX – Kiana Palacios (Monica Flores), 65th minute: Again Mexico found success from a set piece. From the left side, Monica Flores sent a lofted ball towards the box. Palacios rose above the defense and flicked a ball on at goal that just beat Chandler to level the game.USA 2 MEX 2
– U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team Match Report –
Match: U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team vs. Mexico
Date: Dec. 4, 2015
Competition: 2015 CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championship; Group B
Venue: Olympic Stadium; San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. ET
Attendance: TBA
Weather: 77 degrees; Partly cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 2 0 2
MEX 1 1 2
USA – Mallory Pugh (penalty kick) 20th minute
USA – Emily Fox (Mallory Pugh) 22
MEX – Blanca Solis (Gabriela Alvarez) 32
MEX – Kiana Palacios (Monica Flores) 65
Lineups:
USA: 1-Rosemary Chandler; 2-Natalie Jacobs, 4-Sabrina Flores, 5-Tierna Davidson, 16-Emily Fox; 3-Mikaela Harvey (9-Jordan Harr, 46), 6-Savannah Demelo, 7-Marley Canales (8-Ella Stevens, 73), 17-Parker Roberts; 10-Mallory Pugh (capt.), 13-Ashley Sanchez (15-Jessica Scarpa, 46)
Subs Not Used: 11-Kelcie Hedge, 12-Kiara Pickett, 14-Taylor Ottos, 18-Brooke Heinsohn, 19-Shannon Horgan, 20-Zoe Redei
Head coach: Michelle French
MEX: 1-Emily Alvarado; 3-Vanessa Flores, 4-Rebeca Bernal, 5-Monica Flores, 6-Liliana Rodriguez, 7-Sonia Vazquez, 8-Gabriela Alvarez (18-Belen Cruz, 73), 9-Kiana Palacios, 11-Maria Sanchez (17-Jacqueline Crowther, 86), 13-Annia Mejia, 19-Blanca Solis
Subs Not Used: 2-Jaqueline Rodriguez, 10-Katty Martines, 12-Esthefanny Barreras, 14-Natalia Villarreal, 15-Evelyn Gonzalez, 16-Eva Gonzalez, 20-Vivian Vega
Head coach: Roberto Medina
Stats Summary: USA / MEX
Shots: 13 / 7
Shots on Goal: 7 / 5
Saves: 3 / 5
Corner Kicks: 6 / 0
Fouls: 14 / 8
Offside: 1 / 0
Misconduct Summary:
USA – Emily Fox (caution) 40th minute
MEX – Liliana Rodriguez (caution) 70
Officials:
Referee: Marianela Araya (CRC)
Assistant Referee 1: Nelly Alvarado (CRC)
Assistant Referee 2: Stephanie-Dale Yee (JAM)
4th Official: Gillian Martindale (BAR)
