USA eliminated from FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after draw vs. Spain

DINAN-LEHON, France (Via U.S. Soccer) – The USA rallied from two goals down to draw European champion Spain 2-2 in the third and final Group C match for both teams, but the Americans needed a win to advance to the quarterfinals and exited the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup despite the thrilling comeback.

With Japan defeating Paraguay 6-0 in the other Group C match taking place at the same time, the USA needed a victory to jump over Spain and earn a spot in the quarterfinals. Spain had the better of the early going and got on the board in the seventh minute through Patri Guijarro who finished after a misplayed U.S. clearance. The second Spain goal came in 42nd minute and put the USA in a deep hole. The U.S. once again failed to clear, this time a long free kick, and Lucia Garcia scored from close range.

The USA got its footing midway through the first half with forward Erin Gilory creating danger down the left wing. With the help of two substitutes, forward Abigail Kim and midfielder Brianna Pinto, the USA pushed to get back in the match in the second half. The Americans had the better of the game in the last 20 minutes, eventually matching Spain’s 16 total shots, but fell just short despite showing tremendous mental toughness to earn two late goals.

The USA scored in the 82nd minute on a perfectly struck free kick from forward Sophia Smith. When Savannah DeMelo’s deflected shot spun into the net in the 87^th minute, the USA had about seven minutes, including stoppage time, to produce the game-winner which would have secured advancement.

Despite several dangerous forays into the attacking third as the minutes ticked away, and a volley by Gilroy that sailed over the net in the waning moments, the USA could not get the goal it needed and failed to advance out of its group at the U-20 Women’s World Cup for the first time in nine tournaments.

Spain won Group C with seven points and Japan finished second with six.

Goal Scoring Rundown:
ESP – Patri Guijarro, 8th minute: Spanish captain Patri Guijarro went on a nifty run through the midfield before passing to Claudia Pino in the right side of the penalty box. Her cross was knocked down by defender Kiara Pickett and fell to Jaelin Howell in front of the U.S. goal, but her hurried clearance went straight to Guijarro at the top of the penalty box. Guijarro had time to settle the ball before driving her shot into the lower left corner, giving U.S. goalkeeper Laurel Ivory no chance. USA 0, ESP 1

ESP – Lucia Garcia (Patri Guijarro), 42nd minute: On a free kick from about 40 yards out, Aitana Bonmati launched the ball into the penalty area. Guijarro headed it down and the ball fell at the feet of Garcia. She hit it hard toward the right side of the goal from close range and although Ivory got her hands on it, the ball slipped under her and rolled across the goal line. USA 0, ESP 2

USA – Sophia Smith, 82nd minute: The USA employed some trickery on a free kick from just outside the left corner of the penalty box. Two players ran over the ball before Smith drove a spinning shot through numerous players in front of the net and it stuck just inside the right post to give the USA life. The goal was Smith’s third in the World Cup and 24th at the U-20 level, tying her for second on the USA’s all-time U-20 scoring list. Smith is age-eligible for the 2020 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup as well. USA 1, ESP 2

USA – Savannah DeMelo (Samantha Hiatt), 87^th minute: DeMelo got her fourth goal of the tournament with a driven shot from about 30 yards out that was deflected off the hip Spanish defender Damaris Egurrola and spun into the right corner past-the wrong-footed goalkeeper to pull the USA to within one goal of a quarterfinal berth. USA 2, ESP 2 FINAL

Key Stops:
ESP – Catalina Coll, 20th minute: Pressure from Erin Gilroy forced a Spanish turnover deep in its own territory. Sophia Smith latched into the loose ball and played it to Viviana Villacorta at the top of the penalty box. The midfielder evaded a defender with a nice dribble and rocketed a well-placed shot that was headed into the top right corner before Spanish goalkeeper Coll made a leaping save to push the ball away.

USA – Ashley Sanchez, 39th minute: Spain played a short corner which resulted in a cross into the penalty area and Guijarro fired a shot on goal that was headed into the lower right corner before Sanchez, defending at the post, cleared the ball away.

– U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team Match Report –

Match: U.S. U-20 Women’s National Team vs. Spain
Date: August 13, 2018
Competition: 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup – Group C
Venue: Stade du Clos Gastel; Dinan-Léhon, France
Kickoff: 7:30 a.m. ET (1:30 p.m. local time)
Attendance: 1981
Weather: 70 degrees, cloudy

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

ESP – Patricia Guijarro                                  7th minute
ESP – Lucia Garcia (Patricia Guijarro)           42
USA – Sophia Smith                                       83
USA – Savannah DeMelo (Samantha Hiatt)   87

Lineups:
USA: 1-Laurel Ivory; 13-Kiara Pickett, 16-Samantha Hiatt (capt.), 4-Naomi Girma, 14-Isabel Rodriguez (6-Penelope Hocking, 73); 11-Viviana Villacorta, 18-Jaelin Howell (8-Brianna Pinto, 59), 10-Savannah DeMelo; 19-Erin Gilroy 9-Sophia Smith, 2-Ashley Sanchez (17-Abigail Kim, 46)
Subs not used: 3-Tara McKeown, 5-Zoe Morse, 7-Alexa Spaanstra, 12-Amanda McGlynn, 15-Taryn Torres, 20-Emily Fox, 21-Angelina Anderson
Head coach: Jitka Klimkova

ESP: 21-Catalina Coll, 12-Lucia Rodriguez, 3-Berta Pujadas, 4-Laia Aleixandri, 11-Carmen Menayo; 18-Eva Navarro (15-Candela Andujar, 74), 6-Damaris Egurrola, 8-Patricia Guijarro (capt.); 20-Claudia Pina, 17-Lucia Garcia (7-Nuria Rabano, 59), 14-Aitana Bonmati
Subs not used: 1-Maria Isabel Rodriguez, 2-Ona Battle, 5-Andrea Sierra, 9-Paula Fernandez, 10-Maite Oroz, 13-Noella Ramos, 16-Silvia Rubio, 19-Paula Sancho
Head coach: Pedro Lopez

Stats Summary: USA / ESP
Shots: 16 / 16
Shots on Goal: 7 / 8
Saves: 5 / 5
Corner Kicks: 2 / 2
Fouls: 8 / 7
Offside: 0 / 3

Misconduct Summary:
ESP – Aitana Bonmati 71st minute

Officials:
Referee: Anna-Marie Keighley (NZL)
Assistant Referee 1: Lata Kaumatule (TGA)
Assistant Referee 2: Maria Salamasina (SAM)
4th Official: Jana Adamkova (CZE)

ussoccer.com Woman of the Match: TBA

2018 U-20 FIFA WWC Final Group C Standings