USA defeats Mexico 2-1 in 2022 Concacaf U-17 Women’s Championship title match

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – The U.S. U-17 Women’s Youth National Team won the 2022 Concacaf U-17 Women’s Championship in thrilling fashion after defeating Mexico, 2-1, in a well-played and entertaining final.

A first-half goal from midfielder Lauren Martinho and a game-winner from second-half substitute forward Melina Rebimbas lifted the USA to victory as the young Americans won a third straight Concacaf Women’s U-17 title and record fifth overall.

Team captain and midfielder Riley Jackson, who was superb in pulling the strings of the U.S. midfield throughout the tournament, was named the Best Player. U.S. goalkeeper Victoria Safradin, who played four matches in the tournament, took home Best Goalkeeper honors. Mexico won the Fair Play Award and Canada forward Rosa Maalouf was the Top Scorer.

With its World Cup berth secured after its semifinal victory and a raucous trophy lift on a warm night, the U-17 WYNT and head coach Natalia Astrain, leading her first tournament at the helm of the USA, will now shift focus to preparations for October’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in India. Earlier today, Canada defeated Puerto Rico, 3-0, on three second-half goals in the Third-Place match to earn Concacaf’s third and final World Cup berth.

?? ? ?? Highlights:

? United States gets crowned as the #CU17W Champion! Don't miss the best moments! ? #WeBelong pic.twitter.com/0NGcFS03iR

— Concacaf W (@ConcacafW) May 9, 2022

Mexico, which had scored 57 goals leading into the championship game to the USA’s 56, was far and away the most difficult challenge of the competition, but the USA still dominated the match, piling up a 27-7 shot margin and an 8-1 advantage in corner kicks. At times, Mexico did put pressure on the U.S. back line, but the U.S. defense held strong and it was the Americans who had the lion’s share of the scoring chances. Some quality goalkeeping from Mexico’s Carmen Lopez combined with some close-range near misses kept Mexico in the game.

Martinho opened the scoring with a fantastic long-range shot in the 20th minute that deflected off Lopez’s gloves, onto the underside of crossbar and down across the goal line. The USA dominated the rest of the half, outshooting Mexico 10-2 to carry the lead into the break.

Both teams came out strong in the second half with Mexico creating a few more problems with its pressing play. In the 66th minute, forward Maribel Flores scored the equalizer after getting on the end of a cross deep in the USA’s penalty box. The goal was the first conceded by the U.S. in its seven matches at the tournament.

The level score didn’t last for long as USA’s pressing defense forced a turnover deep in the attacking half and forward Taylor Suarez played Rebimbas inside the box. She shook off a defender with some fancy footwork and buried a left-footed shot just inside the right-side netting to regain the lead.

With the win, the USA concludes the tournament with a perfect 7-0-0 record while scoring 58 goals and conceding just one. The USA tied Mexico for most goals scored in the competition and also topped the tournament with 232 shots and 46 assists.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:

USA – Lauren Martinho, 20th minute – After a poor clearance from Mexico, Martinho latched onto the ball just outside the box and fired a powerful right-footed strike from 22 yards out that skimmed off the goalkeeper’s gloves, off the underside crossbar and down the goal line to open the scoring. USA 1, MEX 0

USA – Maribel Flores (Alice Soto), 66th minute – From outside the penalty on the right side, Soto sent in a cross deep into the left of the USA box. A brief miscommunication on the U.S. back line allowed Flores to get on the end of the ball and poke in a shot from three yards out to equalize. USA 1, MEX 1

USA – Melina Rebimbas (Taylor Suarez), 77th minute – After winning the ball with pressuring defense in the attacking third, Suarez poked a pass toward Rebimbas inside the box. She shook off her defender with a clever move and buried a low left-footed shot into the far post side netting from 10 yards out. USA 2, MEX 1

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• Midfielder Lauren Martinho’s goal marked her fourth of the tournament.
• Before Mexico’s goal, the USA’s shutout streak at the tournament had been 606 minutes.
• Forward Melina Rebimbas’ goal marked her eighth of the tournament, tying forward Amalia Villarreal for the team lead.
• Forward Taylor Suarez’s assist to set up Rebimbas’ game-winner was her sixth assist of the tournament.
• The win marked the third consecutive Concacaf Women’s U-17 Championship in which the USA has defeated Mexico in the final.

-U.S. Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team Match Report-

Match: United States Under-17 Women’s Youth National Team vs. Mexico
Date: May 8, 2022
Competition: Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship – Final
Venue: Estadio Olímpico Félix Sánchez; Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Attendance: 50
Kickoff: 5 p.m. ET
Weather: 86 degrees, hot

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

USA – Lauren Martinho 20th minute
MEX – Maribel Flores (Alice Soto) 66
USA – Melina Rebimbas (Taylor Suarez) 77

Lineups: 

USA; 12-Victoria Safradin; 20-Gisele Thompson, 17-Alyssa Gonzalez, 4-Cameron Roller, 3-Savannah King; 7-Riley Jackson (Capt.), 19-Lauren Martinho, 8-Charlotte Kohler (10-Mia Bhuta, 72); 18-Onyeka Gamero, 16-Amalia Villarreal (14-Melina Rebimbas, 59), 9-Taylor Suarez (6-Mia Oliaro, 83)

Substitutes Not Used: 1-Abigail Gundry, 2-Nicola Fraser, 5-Keegan Schmeiser, 11-Nicollette Kiorpes, 13-Claire Hutton, 15-Shae Harvey

Head Coach: Natalia Astrain

MEX: 1-Carmen Lopez; 2-Michel Fong (17-Katherin Guijarro, 88), 4-Natalia Colin, 5-Giselle Espinoza, 3-Daniela Meza (13-Brenda Vega, 25); 8-Grecia Pineda (14-Deiry Ramirez, 88), 18-Jade Martinez, 9-Tatiana Flores (15-Layla Sirdah, 61), 10-Alice Soto; 11-Valerie Vargas (19-Montserrat Saldivar, 73), 7-Maribel Flores

Substitutes not used: 12-Renatta Cota, 6-Sofía Jiménez, 16-Valeria Ramon, 20-Fernanda Quiroz

Head coach: Ana Galindo

Stats Summary: USA / MEX
Shots: 23 / 7
Shots on Goal: 9 / 3
Saves: 2 / 7
Corner Kicks: 8 / 1
Fouls: 8 / 13
Offside: 2 / 0

Misconduct Summary:
N/A

Officials:
Referee: Annays Rosario (PUR)
1st Assistant Referee: Santa Medina (DOM)
2nd Assistant Referee: Lourdes Noriega (HON)
4th Official: Sandra Benitez (SLV)