USA comes up just short against Mexico in 2024 Concacaf U-20 Championship Final

LEÓN, Mexico – The U.S. Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team nearly took the 2024 Concacaf U-20 Championship Final into penalty kicks, but ultimately fell to Mexico 2-1 on a stoppage-time game winner from Diego Ochoa in the dying moments of extra time on Sunday at Estadio León.

As the final seconds ticked down, Mexico brought the ball up the pitch for one last attack. Midfielder Heriberto Jurado sent the ball into the box and found Ochoa, who headed the ball back toward the far-left side of the net for the winner.

The two teams went into halftime deadlocked 0-0, largely due to two big saves from goalkeeper Adam Beaudry. In the 39th minute, Ochoa fired a dangerous cross into the box, barely missing his intended target, but forcing Beaudry to punch the ball out of danger. One minute later, El Tri’s Elías Montiel was free at the far-right post and headed a cross down toward the net, but Beaudry made a diving one-handed save to keep him off the scoresheet.

The U.S. opened the scoring in the 52nd minute when forward Nimfasha Berchimas finished a 35-yard dribble down the pitch with a 25-yard curling shot into the upper right corner of the net. The USA defense fought off wave after wave of Mexico attacks following the goal. But El Tri equalized in the sixth minute of stoppage time when Mateo Levy headed a Yael Padilla cross into the back of the net.

Mexico kept their foot on the gas in extra time, outshooting the U.S. 11-2, but Beaudry came up with another two big saves to keep things level. In the 99th minute, he made a diving stop to deny Mexico’s Stephano Carillo. One minute later, he denied El Tri’s Yael Padilla on a free kick.

The USA finished the tournament with three awards. Niko Tsakiris received the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, David Vazquez earned the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top scorer with three goals, and the USA earned the Fair Play Award.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN

USA – Nimfasha Berchimas, 52nd minute: Midfielder Pedro Soma sent a pass out wide to the left for Berchimas, who collected the ball just beyond the halfway line and dribbled 35 yards toward the box. Berchimas then cut to his right and curled a shot from 25 yards out inside the far right corner of the net. USA 1, MEX 0

MEX – Mateo Levy (Yael Padilla), 90+6 minute: Midfielder Yael Padilla dribbled toward the right corner of the box before looping a diagonal ball toward the top of the six. Levy flicked it back toward the far-left post, tucking his header into the left-side netting. USA 1, MEX 1

MEX – Diego Ochoa (Heriberto Jurado), 120+1 minute: Midfielder Heriberto Jurado brought the ball down the left sideline then sent a cross toward the top of the six-yard box. Ochoa came rushing to the cross and headed the ball as he fell back toward the right. The ball went toward the far left post and hit the left side netting. USA 1, MEX 2. FINAL

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• The USA falls to 3W-9L-0D vs. Mexico all-time at the Concacaf U-20 Championship.
• The USA falls to 2W-5L-1D in a Concacaf U-20 Championship Final.
• Midfielder Niko Tsakiris earned the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. He finished the tournament with two goals and an assist.
• Forward David Vazquez earned the Golden Ball as the tournament’s top goal scorer. He finished the tournament with three goals and two assists.
• The USA was awarded the Fair Play Award. The award is handed out to the team with the fewest yellow cards in the tournament.

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

Match: U.S. Under-20 Men’s Youth National Team vs. Mexico
Date: August 2, 2024
Competition: Concacaf U-20 Championship – Final
Venue: Estadio León; León, Mexico
Kickoff: 3:06 p.m. local (5:06 p.m. ET)
Weather: 82 and sunny

Lineups:
USA: 12-Adam Beaudry; 15-Luca Bombino, 3-Nolan Norris (Capt.), 4-Noah Cobb (19-Sergio Oregel, 91), 2-Aiden Harangi; 6-Pedro Soma (14-Taha Habroune, 72), 8-Brooklyn Raines (5-Stuart Hawkins, 90+2), 10-Niko Tsakiris (13-Cruz Medina, 84); 11-David Vazquez (18-Zavier Gozo, 46), 7-Nimfasha Berchimas, 20-Ruben Ramos, Jr. (9-Marcos Zambrano, 46)
Substitutes not used: 1-Julian Eyestone, 21-Duran Ferree, 9-Marcos Zambrano, 16-Ethan Kohler, 17-Keyrol Figueroa
Head coach: Michael Nsien

MEX: 1-Emmanual Ochoa; 2-Fransico Mendez, 3-José Pachuca (19-Mateo Levy, 82), 4-Diego Ochoa; 6-Cesar Garza, 8-Elias Montiel (c), 14-Amaury Morales(18-Ari Contreras, 95); 9-Stephani Carrillo, 10-Jonathan Padilla 11-Heriberto Jurado, 17-Diego Sánchez(5-Cesar Bustos, 95)
Substitutes not used: 12-Pablo Lara, 21-Javier Orantes, 13-Jonantan Villal, 15-Ricardo Juarez, 16-Brandon Tellez, 20-Xavier Biscayzacu
Head coach: Eduardo Arce

Stats Summary: USA / MEX
Shots: 6 / 33
Shots on Goal: 2 / 8
Saves: 6 / 1
Corner Kicks: 2 / 19
Fouls: 29 / 18
Offside: 1 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Zavier Gozo (caution) 49th minute
USA – Adam Beaudry (caution) 60
USA – Taha Habroune (caution) 74
MEX – Diego Ochoa (caution) 74
USA – Luca Bombino (caution) 80
MEX – Stephano Carillo (caution) 87
USA – César Bustos (caution) 89
USA – Nimfasha Berchimas (caution) 90+1
MEX – Cesar Garza (caution) 90+4
MEX – Cruz Medina (caution) 90+5
USA – Nolan Norris (caution) 120+2

Officials:
Referee: Kwinsi Williams (TRI)
Assistant Referee 1: Ainsley Rochard (TRI)
Assistant Referee 2: Melissa Nicholas
Fourth Official: Crystal Sobers (TRI)
VAR: Benjamin Whitley (CAY)
AVAR1: Dilia Bradley (GUA)