Handed the difficult task of facing reigning world champion Spain in Sunday’s opener of the FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup, the U.S. U-20 Women’s Youth National Team held firm after conceding an early goal but ultimately fell, 1-0, despite a strong second-half push for an equalizer.

The USA will continue its Group C journey on Sept. 4 back at the Pascual Guerrero Stadium against Morocco (9 p.m. ET, FS2 and Telemundo Digital). Morocco is making its debut at the U-20 Women’s World Cup. The U.S. then will conclude the group stage on Sept. 7 vs. Paraguay in Bogotá.

The USA was the stronger side toward the end of both halves and thought it might have earned a penalty kick with just a few minutes remaining in regulation time, but a handball call against Spanish captain Silvia Lloris was correctly reversed after video review.

With the biennial tournament’s expansion to 24 teams from 16, the Americans remain in strong contention for a spot in the knockout rounds. The top two finishers in each of the six four-team groups will advance to the Round of 16, along with the four best third-place sides. Morocco and Paraguay, who played later Sunday, are also in Group C with the U.S. and Spain.

Sunday’s match at the Estadio Pascual Guerrero in the southwestern city of Cali wouldn’t determine the Americans’ fate, but it did represent a massive test and measuring stick. Spain is the first nation to hold women’s world titles at the senior, U-20 and U-17 levels simultaneously. In addition to lifting the U-20 World Cup two years ago in Costa Rica (four members of that team are with the current squad), La Roja have won three consecutive UEFA U-19 crowns. 

The U.S. team arrived in Colombia with unprecedented professional seasoning and it proved it was prepared to face Spain’s developmental juggernaut. A program-record eight pro players made U.S. coach Tracey Kevins’ roster and seven of them started Sunday against La Roja. Their maturity and experience mattered as Spain threatened to break the game open early.

The USA looked solid in the opening moments, but some trademark Spanish one-touch passing in midfield set the table for forward Lucía Corrales in the eighth minute. The Sevilla product received the ball on the turn, found a channel through the center of the U.S. midfield and covered about 40 yards at speed. She then slid a pass between two defenders to Deportivo La Coruña playmaker Olaya Enrique, who took a touch then ripped a 12-yard, left-footed shot underneath the crossbar.

The resilient Americans did well to keep Spain at bay for the remainder of the first half. Scoring chances were hard to come by for both sides as the temperature hovered near 90 degrees. U.S. captain Ally Sentnor, playing on the right wing, challenged the Spanish defense in the 33rd minute, embarking on a dangerous dribbling run across the top of the penalty area before dropping a pass to center midfielder Claire Hutton. The Kansas City Current rookie’s shot was well-hit but was blocked by a defender inside the penalty area. 

Three minutes later, U.S. left midfielder Emeri Adames hit a smart, early cross that striker Jordynn Dudley was able to meet near goal before being challenged successfully by Spain’s Lloris. Although they were behind, the Americans had recovered from yielding the early goal and appeared to be in the ascendancy at intermission.

But the break came at the right time for Spain, which would’ve doubled its lead in the 53rd if not for an outstanding save by U.S. goalkeeper Teagan Wy. Corrales was the creator again, this time down the left wing, and her cross was redirected on frame by striker Jone Amezaga. But Wy, the University of California standout, reacted in a flash and was able to parry the eight-yard shot over the bar. Wy then stymied Spain substitute Laia Martret at the left post in the 69th minute. The final 20 minutes saw U.S. search for an attacking solution with the game becoming a bit more open. 

The insertion of forward Madeline Dahlien and attacking midfielder Yuna McCormack in the 73rd minute helped  the Americans make a last push and their best chance came in the 85th. Substitute forward Pietra Tordin did well to chest down a cross at the right post before lashing a shot into the side netting. Lloris received her reprieve from the referee a few minutes later (the ball struck her right arm, but it was judged to be tucked into her body) and the U.S. wasn’t able to make its late pressure pay off. The champions were pushed to the limit but escaped with all three points.

The U.S. outshot Spain by a 9-7 margin but couldn’t force a save from 6-foot-1 goalkeeper Eunate Astralaga. Holding the Spanish to just one goal, however, could pay dividends when the final standings are tabulated.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN:

ESP - Olaya Enrique (Lucía Corrales), 8th minute: A couple of quick passes in midfield left Corrales with space to dribble quickly toward the heart of the U.S. back four. Her pass through the left channel split two defenders and left Rodríguez time to set up her shot and blast the ball over goalie Teagan Wy from about 12 yards out. USA 0, ESP 1 FINAL

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• Five players on the U.S. team made their FIFA World Cup debuts while six players featured for the USA in the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and team captain Ally Sentnor played in her second FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
• This was the third meeting between the USA and Spain in a FIFA WWC at this age level. In 2004 in Thailand, the USA defeated Spain, 1-0, in its second match of the tournament and in 2018 in France, the USA drew Spain 2-2 in its final group match. 

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

Match: United States Under-20 Women’s Youth National Team vs. Spain

Date: Sept. 1, 2024

Competition: 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup – Group C

Venue: Estadio Pascual Guerrero; Cali, Colombia

Attendance: 9.979 

Kickoff: 3 p.m. local (4 p.m. ET)

Weather: 88 degrees, partly cloudy

Scoring Summary:   1          2          F

USA                            0          0          0

ESP                             1          0          1

ESP – Olaya Enrique (Lucía Corrales)          8th minute                      

Lineups:

USA: 1-Teagan Wy; 2-Gisele Thompson (13-Leah Klenke, 73), 5-Elise Evans, 4-Jordyn Bugg; 3-Savy King; 6-Claire Hutton, 16-Riley Jackson, 14-Taylor Suarez (18-Yuna McCormack, 73); 9-Ally Sentnor (Capt.), 8-Jordynn Dudley (17-Madeline Dahlien, 73), 11-Emeri Adames (19-Pietra Tordin, 85)

Substitutes not used: 7-Giana Riley, 10-Ally Lemos, 12-Mackenzie Gress, 15-Heather Gilchrist, 20-Addison Halpern, 21-Caroline Birkel

Head coach: Tracey Kevins

ESP: 21-Eunate Astralaga; 2-Judit Pujols, 5-Sandra Villafañe, 8-Silvia lloris, 12-Aïcha Camara; 6-Maite Zubieta, 10-Júlia Bartel, 16-Olaya Enrique (4-Nahia Aparicio, 73); 9-Jone Amezaga (19-Laia Martret, 63), 15-Sara Ortega (7-Ornella Vignola, 85), 17-Lucía Corrales (18-Lucía Moral, 85)     

Substitutes not used: 1-Sofía Fuente, 3-Estela Carbonell, 11-Ona Baradad, 13-Andrea Tarazona, 14-Marina Artero, 20-Erika Gonzalez

Head coach: Sonia Bermudez

Stats Summary: USA / ESP

Shots: 9 / 7

Shots on Goal: 0 / 4

Saves: 3 / 0

Corner Kicks: 1 / 4

Fouls: 11 / 8

Offside: 2 / 3

Misconduct Summary:

USA – Jordynn Dudley (Caution)                   59th minute

USA – Teagan Wy (Caution)                          66

Officials:

Referee: Anahi Fernandez (URU)

AR1: Daiana Fernandez (URU)

AR2: Belen Clavijio (URU)

Fourth Official: Casey Reibelt (AUS)