USA beats Mexico 4-1 to claim Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship title

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team claimed its record sixth Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship with a 4-1 triumph over Mexico as forwards Trinity Rodman and Mia Fishel each scored twice.

It was the second-largest margin of victory ever for the USA in a Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship Final. The USA downed Mexico 4-0 in the 2014 title game.

After taking an early lead in almost every game of the tournament, Mexico struck first today, finding the net in the sixth minute through an excellent long-range finish from Silvana Flores. From there on, the USA controlled the match, equalizing in the 12th through Rodman and then putting the game away with a brace from Fishel in the 49th and 57th before an 88th-minute strike from Rodman put a cap on the afternoon.

Fishel’s second goal was her 13th of the competition, a new all-ages record for the USWNT in a qualifying tournament, albeit in more games than her predecessors due to the change in format for this year’s competition. Fishel won the Golden Ball as the tournament MVP as she topped Green’s record, 12 goals netted at the 2012 Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship.

Kelly Wilson scored nine in three games in qualifying for the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women’s World Cup. Kerri Hanks had nine in the qualifying for the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women’s World Cup. The legendary Michelle Akers holds the record for most goals ever for a senior U.S. WNT player in a Concacaf qualifying tournament when she scored 11 in qualifying for the 1991 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The final presented a rematch of the 2018 Concacaf U-20 Women’s Championship Final, which the USA lost in a dramatic penalty kick shootout. There would be much less drama this time around as U.S. head coach Laura Harvey made four changes to the starting XI that qualified for the U-20 Women’s World Cup with a 6-0 win against Dominican Republic in the semifinal.

The sensational volley by Flores from 20 yards out that opened the scoring gave the U.S. no chance to make a save and the goal would stand as the only one conceded by the USA in the entire seven-game tournament.

The U.S. held the majority of possession in the match and almost found a breakthrough in the 38th minute as midfielder Katelyn Duong’s left-footed shot from 25 yards beat Mexico goalkeeper Wendy Toledo, but banged off the base of the left post.

In the 49^th, Duong once again struck a dipping shot on-target, this time causing Toledo to spill the ball in front of the goal, where the speedy Fishel was lethal in putting the USA ahead. Moments later, Fishel made history with her 13th goal of the competition, connecting with a cross from the right wing by defender Emily Mason and powering her shot through the hands of Toledo and into the net.

The USA amassed a 13-5 shot advantage in the game, including 6-3 shots on goal. Rodman closed out the title game with a brilliant solo run in the 87th minute, smashing a shot past Toledo from 10 yards out and into the lower left corner of the net.

With today’s victory over Mexico, USA has won six of nine Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championships that have crowned a champion, the most of any nation. It has reached the final of every tournament and has won five of the last six titles. The U.S. showcased its tremendous depth throughout the tournament with every player on Harvey’s roster seeing action over the course of seven games.

Next on the Schedule: With World Cup qualification secured, the U-20 USWNT will now hold several domestic training camps that will serve as preparation for the 2020 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup this August in Costa Rica and Panama.

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GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:

Mexico – Silvana Flores, 6th minute: A Mexico cross into the penalty area was cleared away by U.S. defender Shae Holmes. The clearance fell to the feet of Mexico midfielder Silvana Flores at the top of the box and she took a touch to lift away from a closing U.S. defender. Flores then struck a vicious half-volley with her left foot from 20 yards out that sailed into the top right corner. USA 0, MEX 1 

USA – Trinity Rodman (Alexa Spaanstra), 12th minute: The USA wasted little time in creating the equalizer as Mia Fishel slipped a pass through to Spaanstra on the right wing. Spaanstra bent a far post cross that fell perfectly for Rodman, who smashed a volley into the left side of the net to tie the game. USA 1, MEX 1 

USA – Mia Fishel, 49th minute: The USA went ahead on a goalkeeper error, but that should take nothing from Fishel, who was on the spot to tap in the rebound after Katelyn Duong’s shot was bobbled by Mexico goalkeeper Wendy Toledo. Duong’s shot was dipping, causing Toledo to spill the ball in front of the goal and the speedy Fishel hammered it home to put the USA ahead. USA 2, MEX 1 

USA – Mia Fishel (Emily Mason), 57th minute: Fishel made history in the 57th minute when she headed home a perfect cross from Mason near the left post for her 13th goal of the competition.Mason’s service from 30 yards out fell right on the head of Fishel, who powered her shot through the hands of Mexico goalkeeper Toledo and into the net. USA 3, MEX 1

USA – Trinity Rodman (Brianna Pinto), 88th minute: Rodman ended any doubt with a brilliant solo run in the 88th minute, taking a pass from Pinto about 20 yards past midfield and thundering into the penalty area. She rode one tackle inside the box before sliding to slip her shot into the lower left corner and add an exclamation point for the young Americans. USA 4, MEX 1

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• The USA is 9-0-2 all-time vs. Mexico at the Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship.
• Fishel’s 13 goals ranked second in the tournament. Brianna Pinto’s nine ranked third behind Haiti’s Melchie Dumornay (14).
• Fishel and Pinto scored a combined 22 goals, the most of any two teammates at this tournament.
• Eleven players scored for the USA at the 2020 Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship: Mia Fishel (13), Brianna Pinto (9), Trinity Rodman (7), Summer Yates (3), Katelyn Duong, Sierra Enge, Shae Holmes, Rebecca Jarrett, Samantha Meza, Alexa Spaanstra and Kennedy Wesley.
• Fifteen players have logged an assist for the U.S. at the tournament: Rodman (6), Spaanstra (6), Yates (4), Duong (3), Naomi Girma (3), Fishel (2), Holmes (2), Jarrett (2), Pinto (2), Maycee Bell (1), Brianna Martinez (1), Emily Mason (1), Meza (1), Jenna Nighswonger (1), Wesley (1).
• Brianna Pinto earned her 38th U-20 cap, moving her into a three-way tie for third with Samantha Mewis and 2018 U-20 WWC teammate Savannah DeMelo.
• Emily Mason recorded her first U-20 assist.
• The U.S. outscored opponents 44-1 in seven games at the tournament.

U.S. UNDER-20 WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT

 Match: U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team vs. Mexico U-20 WNT
Date: March 8, 2020
Competition: 2020 Concacaf Women’s U-20 Championship – Final
Kickoff: 1 p.m. local/ET
Weather: 80 degrees, cloudy

Scoring Summary:    1          2          F
USA                                         1          3          4
MEX                                        1          0          1

MEX – Silvana Flores                                      6th minute
USA – Trinity Rodman (Alexa Spaanstra)      12
USA – Mia Fishel                                                         49
USA – Mia Fishel (Emily Mason)                    58
USA – Trinity Rodman (Brianna Pinto)           88

LINEUPS:

USA: 1-Julia Dohle; 3-Emily Mason, 5-Naomi Girma (Capt.), 15-Kennedy Wesley, 13-Shae Holmes; 10-Jenna Nighswonger, 6-Brianna Pinto, 18-Katelyn Duong (4-Sierra Enge, 81); 8-Trinity Rodman (7-Summer Yates, 89), 9-Mia Fishel, 17-Alexa Spaanstra (20-Talia DellaPeruta, 76)
Subs Not Used: 2-Brianna Martinez, 11-Sophia Smith, 12-Claudia Dickey, 14-Maycee Bell, 16-Rebecca Jarrett, 19-Samantha Meza

Head Coach: Laura Harvey

MEX: 12-Wendy Toldeo; 4-Nicole Soto, 5-Ximena Rios (18--Yanin Madrid, 85) 8-Nicole Perez (Capt.), 10-Alison Gonzalez, 11-Aneette Vazquez (9-Gabriela Juarez, 55), 13-Joseline Montoya, 16-Reyna Reyes, 18-Silvana Flores (2-Destinee Manzo, 68), 19-Karla Zempoalteca, 20-Maricarmen Reyes

Subs Not Used: 1-Zoe Aguirre, 3-Tanna Sanchez, 6-Laura Parra, 7-Nayeli Diaz, 14-Mariel Roman, 15-Julieta Peralta

Head Coach: Monica Vergara

Stats Summary USA / MEX:
Shots: 13 / 5
Shots on Goal: 6 / 3
Saves: 2 / 2
Corner Kicks: 1 / 2
Fouls: 12 / 10
Offside: 2 / 1

Misconduct Summary:
None

Officials:
Referee: Sandra Benitez (SLV)
Assistant Referee 1: Lidia Ayala (SLV)
Assistant Referee 2: Jassett Kerr (JAM)
Fourth Official: Crystal Sobers (TRI)