USA captures bronze medal at 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup

BOGOTÁ, Colombia – For the third time in four knockout stage games, the U.S. Under-20 Women’s Youth National Team rose to the occasion late. This time, thanks to a 119th-minute own goal created by forward Maddie Dahlien, that ability to find another gear was worth a 2-1 win against the Netherlands and a well-earned bronze medal at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

The dramatic, overtime triumph at the Estadio El Campín in the Colombian capital of Bogotá lifted the Americans to their best finish in the past five World Cups, dating back to their third and most recent title in 2012. It was USA’s second success in the bronze medal game, last taking third in 2004 in Thailand.

Dahlien, whose speed has changed games off the bench throughout the tournament (she came on as a sub in all seven games), was the extra-time spark-plug. She entered the match for an injured Jordynn Dudley in the 76th minute and by the time the extra session began, Dahlien clearly was the most dynamic and determined player on the field.

After creating several excellent chances on the dribble, she beat her marker as time was set to expire and hit a cross from the left channel. The ball deflected off Dutch defender Nayomi Buikemaand rolled into the right side of the net past stunned goalkeeper Femke Liefting, who was most responsible for the match still being tied at that point.

It was a fortunate but well-deserved bounce for the young Americans who outshot Netherlands 26-11 and forced Liefting into seven saves, several of them quite difficult.

U.S. head coach Tracey Kevins fielded a starting XI at El Campín that featured a lot of familiar faces, but also the return of center midfielder Claire Hutton, who’d missed the previous two games while in concussion protocol. The Americans started strong and put the Dutch under immediate pressure, earning three corner kicks in the first four minutes and nearly scoring on a short-range shot from midfielder Taylor Suarez.

Goodnight from your #U20WWC Bronze Medalists!🥉#U20WYNT pic.twitter.com/LduLaocef8

— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) September 22, 2024

In the 10th minute, the USA deservedly broke through. Striker Pietra Tordin, as she has been so frequently throughout the tournament, was the catalyst, driving into the penalty area and forcing the Dutch defense to collapse around her before she was tackled. Defender Gisele Thompson latched onto the loose ball and then located wide-open forward Ally Sentnor just beyond the 18-yard line. Sentnor’s unstoppable, one-time curler was her third goal of this World Cup and the 12th of her glittering U-20 career.

The Netherlands found its footing following the U.S. goal and as the playing field began to level, they equalized through PSV Eindhoven’s Robin Lacroix. Her 26th-minute strike, a relatively easy finish from about 11 yards away, was set up by a brilliant turn and no-look through ball from PSV teammate Fleur Stoit. It was the Oranje’s first shot on target. The Dutch would only produce two more shots on goal through the 120 minutes, but one late in regulation time was spectacular saved by U.S. goalkeeper Teagan Wy, and another hit the right post.

The rest of the first half was played end-to-end and at a high pace, but without a go-ahead goal. The U.S. was more dangerous after intermission, as both Sentnor and substitute playmaker Yuna McCormack, a University of Virginia star, had looks. But the Dutch, even when pinned pack, successfully limited the quality of the Americans’ chances with tough defending and quality goalkeeping.

The Netherlands then nearly won it in the 87th minute with just their second shot of the half, a counterattack blast by Eva Oude Elberink that Wy parried acrobatically off her left post. Substitute right back Leah Klenke forced a solid save from Oranje netminder Femke Liefting, but 10 minutes of stoppage time didn’t produce a winner. So each side would have to play an extra 30 minutes for the third time in four knockout matches.

Dahlien then took command. She saw her shot from a tight angle redirected by Liefting in the 94th. She tested Liefting again in the 111th and then hit the crossbar four minutes later. Just about everything was running through Dahlien. The Americans’ territorial and statistical advantage had become significant, but the breakthrough remained elusive. As penalty kicks approached, the USA held a commanding lead in shots and had piled up a 17-1 margin on corner kicks. Then Dahlien produced her final moment of magic.

The USA finished the World Cup with a 4W-2L-1D record and concluded the two-year U-20 cycle at 13W-4L-3D. This U-20 team will be remembered for setting a program record with eight professional players on the roster — all NWSL rookies — led by the inspirational captain and rising Utah Royals star Sentnor. And it’ll be remembered for its depth. Fifteen of the 21 squad members earned a start over the course of the competition, including 14 of the 18 field players.

It’ll be remembered for the emergence of Tordin, the Princeton junior who wasn’t capped until February and who didn’t start the tournament opener against Spain. But she finished the World Cup with a team-leading four goals — the most since Maya Hayes notched four in 2012 — in addition to two assists. Jordyn Bugg, the Seattle Reign rookie, played all but four minutes at center back despite being the third-youngest player on the roster. Emeri Adames, also a Reign player, had four assists, the most at a U-20 World Cup since the legendary Heather O’Reilly tallied seven in 2002.

Vital contributions by super subs like Florida State’s Dudley (two knockout-stage goals) and, of course, North Carolina junior Dahlien (two goals), will also linger. As will the group’s resilience and late-game resolve. The Americans never folded in 1-0 defeats to Spain and Korea DPR, pushing both title contenders to the brink in the closing moments. They beat rival Mexico in the round-of-16 in overtime, then authored a storybook quarterfinal comeback against Germany with goals in the 98th and 99th minutes (before winning on penalties). And there still was one more late-game, bounce-back effort in the tank, as the USA rebounded from its semifinal defeat to claim bronze in Bogotá. It was a memorable run.

Japan and North Korea will contest the final on Sept. 22 and then a new U-20 cycle will begin. The 2026 U-20 Women’s World Cup, the second including 24 teams, will be played in Poland. Among the 21 women who represented the USA in Colombia, five remain U-20 eligible in 2026: Adames, Bugg, Hutton, goalkeeper Caroline Birkel and midfielder Addison Halpern.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN

USA – Ally Sentnor (Gisele Thompson), 10th minute — After Pietra Tordin dribbled into the Dutch penalty area and was tackled, Thompson picked up the loose ball, cut inside and then slid a pass back to Sentnor. The captain, standing just beyond the 18-yard line, whipped a perfect, first-time shot inside the left post. USA 1, NED 0

NED – Robine Lacroix (Fleur Stoit), 26th minute — Stoit’s superb no-look through ball left the U.S. defense beaten and Lacroix by herself in the penalty area. She finished cleanly from about 11 yards into the lower left corner. USA 1, NED 1

USA – Own Goal, 119th minute –A blast from Ally Sentnor struck a Dutch defender and spun out to Maddie Dahlien on the left wing. She beat defender Inske Weiman on the dribble then cut a cross back toward the penalty spot. The cross on the ground struck the Netherlands’ Nayomi Buikema and rolled into the far-side netting. USA 2, NED 1 FINAL

Additional Notes:

• Ally Sentnor’s goal was her third goal of WWC (after her goal vs. Germany in the quarterfinal was changed to an own goal) and the 12th of her U-20 career.
• Sentnor also scored in the 2022 FIFA U-20 WWC, and she ends her U-20 career with four World Cup goals.
• Gisele Thompson’s assist on Sentnor’s goal was her second of the tourney.
• Pietra Tordin was the USA’s leading scoring in the tournament and finishes her U-20 career with six goals in 13 U-20 caps.
• Jordynn Dudley’s scored twice in the tournament, both off the bench, to give her five U-20 goals in 13 appearances.
• Yuna McCormack, who earned her first two U-20 caps in the final two games before the World Cup, has an excellent tournament, scoring two goals with two assists.
• All the tournament awards will be announced after the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Final tomorrow in Bogotá featuring Korea DPR and Japan.
• U.S. goalkeeper Teagan Wy, who was a back-up at the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, was stellar all tournament, making several key saves that contributed to the eventual bronze medal.

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

Match: United States Under-20 Women’s Youth National Team vs. Netherlands
Date: Sept. 21, 2024
Competition: 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup – Third-Place Match
Venue: Estadio El Campin; Bogotá, Colombia
Attendance: 11,008
Kickoff: 4 p.m. local (5 p.m. ET)
Weather: 67 degrees, cloudy

USA –Aly Sentnor (Gisele Thompson)10th minute
NED – Robine Lacroix (Fleur Stoit)26
USA – Own Goal (Nayomi Buikema)119

Lineups:

USA:1-Teagan Wy; 2-Gisele Thompson (13-Leah Klenke, 58), 15-Heather Gilchrist, 4-Jordyn Bugg, 3-Savy King (5-Elise Evans, 120+2); 6-Claire Hutton (10-Ally Lemos, 89), 16-Riley Jackson, 14-Taylor Suarez (18-Yuna McCormack, 46); 9-Ally Sentnor (Capt.), 19-Pietra Tordin (8-Jordynn Dudley, 58, 17-Maddie Dahlien, 76), 11-Emeri Adames (7-Giana Riley, 89)

Substitutes not used: 12-Mackenzie Gress, 20-Addison Halpern, 21-Caroline Birkel

Head coach: Tracey Kevins

NED:1-Femke Liefting; 2-Louise Van Oosten (12-Inske Weiman, 63), 3-Djoeke De Ridder (13-Eef Smits, 46), 4-Veerle Buurman, 5-Emma Frijns; 6-Kealyn Thomas (18-Nayomi Buikema, 89), 8-Ilse Kemper, 11-Iris Remmers (19-Eva Oude Elberink, 46), 10-Robine Lacroix (15-Jet Van Beijeren, 89), 9-Bo Van Egmond; 17-Fleur Stoit (20-Fieke Kroese, 63)

Substitutes not used: 7-Zoë Zuidberg, 14-Noelle Van Der Sluijs, 16-Netty Booms, 21-Febe Copier

Head coach: Roos Kwakkenbos

Stats Summary: USA / NED
Shots: 26 / 11
Shots on Goal: 9 / 3
Saves: 2 / 8
Corner Kicks: 17 / 1
Fouls: 7 / 8
Offside: 3 / 5

Misconduct Summary:
NED – Ilse Kemper (Caution)96th minute
USA – Riley Jackson (Caution)115
USA – Savy King (Caution)120+2

Officials:
Referee: Shahenda Saad (EGY)
AR1: Soukaina Hamdi (MAR)
AR2: Asma Ouahab (ALG)
4th Official: Vincentia Amedome (TOG)