USA U20s book spot at World Cup

by J.R. Eskilson

March 6, 2020

The U.S. U20 Women’s National Team qualified for the 2020 U20 Women’s World Cup on Friday with a 6-0 win over Dominican Republic. With Costa Rica and Panama serving as hosts of the World Cup, only two spots were awarded to Concacaf for the big tournament in August

USA’s win over Dominican Republic in the semifinal of the Concacaf Championship sealed one spot at the event. Mexico faces Haiti on Friday in the other semifinal with the winner advancing the championship game and World Cup.

USA’s place in the final was never in doubt. USA raced away with the game in the opening 20 minutes with a 4-0 lead before the first hydration break. Brianna Pinto scored three and Trinity Rodman added the other goal.

Rodman nearly scored the first goal within the opening 60 seconds of the contest, but her shot from the top of the 18-yard box hit off the crossbar and bounced off the line and away from the goal. Pinto tallied the opening strike in the second minute on a header off a cross from Rodman. The dynamic duo would link up again for the second goal with Pinto putting a volley in off a cross from Rodman. Pinto added another on a cross from Fishel. Rodman scored her first goal of the game to put USA up 4-0 early on in the game.

The host side did not threaten Claudia Dickey’s goal much throughout the 90 minutes. Dickey was credited with two saves in the game.

Mia Fishel scored her 11th goal of the tournament in the second half to give USA a 5-0 advantage. Fishel’s 11 goals tied a U.S. Women’s National Team record for most goals scored at a Concacaf Championship event.

Rodman added her second goal of the game in the second half to put USA up 6-0. Fishel provided the assist on Rodman’s goal, her second assist of the game.

The only negative on the day for USA was injuries. Sophia Smith exited in the first half. Samantha Meza was taken off the field on a stretcher after a hard foul late in the game. USA was forced to play the final few minutes of the contest with only 10 players.

USA is back in action on Sunday in the championship game against the winner of Mexico/Haiti.

USA XI: Claudia Dickey; Shae Holmes, Naomi Girma, Maycee Bell, Talia DellaPeruta; Jenna Nighswonger, Brianna Pinto (Sierra Enge), Katelyn Duong; Sophia Smith (Rebecca Jarrett), Mia Fishel, Trinity Rodman (Samantha Meza)