The U.S. U- 20 Women’s Youth National Team will play for the bronze medal at the 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup after falling to Korea DPR, 1-0, in the first semifinal. After winning two dramatic overtime matches (plus a penalty kick shootout) in the knockout stage, the resilient Americans ran up against a fresher North Korean side that had breezed through the 24-team tournament.

Contesting its first U-20 semifinal since 2016, when it also lost to Korea DPR, the USA gave the reigning Asian champions a genuine game on a warm night at Estadio Pascual Guerrero. The Koreans had won each of its five previous World Cup matches in 90 minutes while outscoring its opponents by a 23-4 margin. It faced its stiffest challenge in the USA.

North Korea was on the front foot early and pulled ahead midway through the first half. But the U.S. recovered and created a few chances of its own, forcing the Koreans to defend through significant stretches of the second half. The goal never came, however, leaving the Americans to refocus on bronze while North Korea aims to lift the U-20 WWC trophy for a third time.

The U.S. will meet the loser of the Japan-Netherlands semifinal in the Third-Place Match on Sept. 21 at 5 p.m. ET at the Estadio El Campín in the Colombian capital of Bogotá. It’ll mark the fourth time the U-20s will compete for the bronze medal at this tournament. The USA won it in 2004 and settled for fourth place in 2006 and 2016. After going out in the group stage in 2018 and 2022 (the 2020 tournament was canceled), the USA is assured of at least matching its best U-20 World Cup finish since winning it all in 2012.

With the temperature in Cali hovering around 90 degrees at kickoff, U.S. coach Tracey Kevins made one noteworthy lineup decision in striker Jordynn Dudley, who scored the extra-time game winner in the round of 16 triumph over Mexico and then notched the 98th-minute goal that launched the instantly iconic U.S. comeback in the quarterfinal against Germany. Dudley came off the bench on both occasions, but against North Korea, she started in place of Pietra Tordin, whose four goals lead the squad in Colombia.

Dudley’s presence and potential as a target who could find space between the Korean lines was evident early, and she nearly set up a goal in the 12th minute. Dudley found Emeri Adames with a through ball on the left, but the Seattle Reign rookie’s shot hit the side netting.

That would be the USA’s best first-half chance as the Koreans’ speed, pressure and direct approach made it difficult to bring players forward and establish threatening possession. North Korea, which showed it was as adept at building through the midfield as it was in its dynamic transition play, took the lead in the 22nd minute as center midfielder Kim Song Ok turned and sent a one-touch pass that beat two U.S. defenders and found Choe Il Son alone in the penalty area. Goalkeeper Teagan Wy, who had yet another fine game in net for the USA, had no chance to deny Choe her fifth goal of the World Cup, which tied her for the tournament lead.

The Americans’ spacing improved early in the second half and they were able to establish a bit more of a foothold in the Korean end. Captain Ally Sentnor forced a save from netminder Chae Un Gyong in the 52nd. Kevins inserted Tordin for Dudley and Leah Klenke for defender Gisele Thompson five minutes later. 

Tordin unleashed a right-footed shot in the 76th that Chae had to dive to her right to reach, but that would be the closest the USA would come to scoring. That the USA did have one sustained attacking flurry that produced their first three corner kicks of the match, but Korea DPR’s swarming defense, timely tackling and incisive transitions were enough to see out the game. The possession battle was nearly even but the USA only managed seven shots (three on target) compared to North Korea’s 18, many of which were from distance as the Asian champions put just five on target.

After losing the tournament opener to reigning world champion Spain, 1-0, the Americans recovered to reel off three straight wins. They then authored the incredible comeback against Germany. They’ll have a chance to bounce back one more time in Bogotá.

GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN

PRK — Choe Il Son (Kim Song Ok), 22nd minute: The Koreans cut through the U.S. defense with two vertical passes -- a feed from Kim Song Gyong to Kim Song Ok, and then her deft one-touch through ball to Choe. Choe was unopposed and took two touches to her left and finished neatly inside the right post. USA 0, PRK 1 FINAL

Additional Notes:

• Three of the four teams in the 2024 FIFA Women’s World Cup semifinals were in the USA’s group at the 2022 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica; the USA, Japan and Netherlands.
• Ally Sentnor’s game tying goal against Germany in the quarterfinal has been changed to an Own Goal by FIFA, giving her two in the World Cup and 11 in of her U-20 career. She also had a goal in the 2022 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, giving her three U-20 World Cup goals.

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

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

Date: Sept. 18, 2024

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

Venue: Estadio Pascual Guerrero; Cali, Colombia

Attendance: 5,439

Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. local (5:30 p.m. ET)

Weather: 85 degrees, hot, partly cloudy

Scoring Summary:   1          2          F

USA                            0          0          0

PRK                            1          0          1

PRK – Choe Il Son (Kim Song Ok)                22nd minute                              

Lineups:

USA: 1-Teagan Wy; 2-Gisele Thompson (3-Leah Klenke, 57), 15-Heather Gilchrist, 4-Jordyn Bugg (5-Elise Evans, 87), 3-Savy King; 10-Ally Lemos, 16-Riley Jackson, 18-Yuna McCormack (17-Maddie Dahlien, 78); 9-Ally Sentnor (Capt.), 8-Jordynn Dudley (19-Pietra Tordin, 57), 11-Emeri Adames (14-Taylor Suarez, 87)

Substitutes not used: 6-Claire Hutton, 7-Giana Riley, 12-Mackenzie Gress, 20-Addison Halpern, 21-Caroline Birkel

Head coach: Tracey Kevins

PRK: 21-Chae Un Gyong; 6-Kim Kang Mi, 5-Oh Sol Song, 3-Han Hong Ryon, 14-Hwang Yu Yong; 20-Chae Un Yong, 17-Kim Song Ok (12-Choe Kang Ryon, 90+5), 9-Kim Song Gyong, 13-Jon Ryong Jong (7-Jong Kum, 90+1); 4-Sin Hyang (10-Pak Mi Ryong, 90+2), 15-Choe Il Son

Substitutes not used: 1-Hyon Son Gyong, 2-Ri Su Yang, 8-Choe Song Gyong, 11-Ham Ju Hyang, 16-Pak Hyo Son, 18-Pak Su Mi, 19-Min Kyong Jin

Head coach: RI Song Ho  

Stats Summary: USA / PRK

Shots: 7 / 18

Shots on Goal: 3 / 5

Saves: 4 / 3

Corner Kicks: 3 / 12

Fouls: 6 / 4

Offside: 0 / 3