Mexico vs United States: Concacaf U-17 Women's Championship
For the second consecutive time, Mexico and the United States faced off to determine the Concacaf U-17 Women's Championship, and once again it was the Mexicans who fell to the Stars and Stripes, this time with a score of 3-2. The story from two years ago in Granada repeated itself, except in that occasion the Mexican team lost 2-1 against the Americans.
The Mexican players showed superiority in football and teamwork in the first few minutes of the match and were rewarded just after the half-hour mark.
Nicole Pérez scored the first goal for the Mexican National Team in the 31st minute from the penalty spot. However, Mexico's joy didn't last long, as Bebar equalized in the 33rd minute.
The Mexican team kept pushing forward after the setback, took control of the ball, and showed better play in midfield than the North Americans. They were rewarded just before the end of the first half. In the 44th minute, Nayeli Díaz took advantage of a mistake in the American defense, took the ball at the edge of the penalty area, positioned herself and scored the second goal with an open net. So, with a minimal advantage for the Mexicans, they went into halftime.
Starting the second half, in the 46th minute, the United States equalized thanks to a good through pass that Fontes took advantage of for the second goal of the Stars and Stripes.
It seemed like the teams were settling for a draw, the ball was moving without danger, but in the 76th minute, the Mexican defense failed to clear a corner kick correctly, the ball fell to Kebar, who didn't miss the opportunity to score her second goal and the third for the United States, which dampened the spirits in the crowd and put pressure on Mexico.
From there, the Mexican team attempted with long-range shots or free kicks, but the equalizing goal was denied and finally, the United States was crowned as the Champion of the Concacaf U-17 Women's Championship.
Despite the loss, the Mexican National Team already had a spot in the World Cup that will be held in Uruguay from November 13th to December 1st of this year. The United States and Canada complete the trio that will represent Concacaf in the tournament.
The Stars and Stripes will share Group C with Cameroon, Korea, and Germany.