CARSON, Calif. – Mexico beat the United States for the second time ever, getting goals from Lizbeth Ovalle and Mayra Pelayo for a 2-0 victory in the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup.
The US entered the game 40-1-1 against its rival, with its only previous loss a 2-1 decision during Women’s World Cup qualifying in 2010.
It was the first loss for the US under interim coach Twila Kilgore, who took over after the team’s dramatic exit from the Women’s World Cup last summer in the round of 16. Emma Hayes will take over for Kilgore this spring.
Mexico, which failed to qualify for last year’s World Cup, finished atop Group A in the Gold Cup while the United States finished second. Both teams advanced to the knockout round.
“They went out and they were bold they were brave with the dream of playing a good game against the United States,” Mexico coach Pedro Lopez Ramos said according to AP.
Ovalle, who plays for Tigres of Monterrey, put Mexico ahead in the 28th minute. US defender Becky Sauerbrunn tried to defend Ovalle but kicked the ball right at her. Ovalle floated a shot over goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and two US defenders and into the net.
It was the first goal conceded by the US to a CONCACAF opponent in 33 matches. “I think it just shows how far the game is coming and there´s no easy games anymore. And if we don´t take care of business and we don´t execute, this is to be expected,” Kilgore said.
“We´ll step up and take ownership in that and I think anytime you have a group that is willing to take ownership in things like this, it´s a good thing for the future of the tournament. Everything´s still on the table and we´ll be motivated, that´s for sure.”
Mexico nearly scored again in first-half stoppage time but Karla Nieto’s shot from distance hit the crossbar.
Kiana Palacios had a good chance to give Mexico a cushion but her shot hit defender Abby Dahlkemper and bounded away.
Pelayo scored from distance in stoppage time and Mexico’s players celebrated wildly on the field.
“If we lose in the quarterfinals, then the beautiful win is useless,” Lopez Ramos said through a translator. “I hope that this is not an isolated moment.”
The United States saw success from its teenagers in the first two games of the tournament. Olivia Moultrie, 18, scored twice in a 5-0 victory over the Dominican Republic and Jaedyn Shaw, 19, scored a pair in a 4-0 victory over Argentina.
This is the first-ever Women’s Gold Cup, created to give women’s teams in the CONCACAF region more competitive matches.
Twelve teams played group-stage matches across three cities: Carson, San Diego and Houston.
Argentina beat Dominican Republic earlier in Group A.
Argentina closed out their group matches in the Dignity Health Park stadium in Carson, Los Angeles, with a 3-0 win over the Dominican Republic. It was less comfortable than they were probably expecting but still guarantees them progression to the quarter-finals of the Gold Cup.
It is a measure of how much Dominican Republic have improved over their three group games that, if it hadn’t been for a close offside call, they would have been 1-0 up against Argentina after 18 minutes.
Argentina came into the match after 4-0 loss to the US who in an 8-minute first half blitz had scored three. That Argentina kept the scoreline to just four was a credit to their defensive tenacity.
Dominican Republic came into the game on the back of an 8-0 thrashing by Mexico and a need to find both solidity and confidence.
Argentina needed a similar score to Mexico if they were to wrestle the second automatic qualification slot for the quarter finals off them (assuming that the US beat Mexico in the second match of the night).
Argentina opened with possession and in the fifth minute had an Eliana Stabile free kick headed over. Yamila Rodriguez, the focal point of the Argentina attack alongside Marianna Larroquette had a shot from distance easily fielded by Paloma Pena in Dominican Republic’s goal.
