U.S. U20 WNT Beats Mexico at World Cup

by Travis Clark

September 12, 2024

The United States and Mexico played out an instant classic on Wednesday in the Round of 16 at the Under-20 Women’s World Cup.

Familiar foes after duking it out at the 2023 U20 Concacaf Championship – which Mexico won by a 2-1 score – the United States got revenge in a 3-2 win in extra time.

Jordyn Dudley powered home the crucial winner, scoring in the 96th minute. Pietra Tordin and Allyson Sentnor tallied goals for the United States, as the high-powered offense was able to keep pace with a dangerous Mexican attack.

Ten minutes into the game, the U.S. jumped in front as the two sides traded blows. Tordin supplied the finishing touch on a brilliant Emeri Adames cross from the left-hand side.

The lead wouldn’t last long, as Mexico tied it in the 21st minute. Montserrat Saldivar was played down the left flank on a ball over the top of Gisele Thompson. The Mexican winger ghosted into space towards the end line. She drove a left-footed cross that found Valerie Vargas, whose left-footed effort deflected in off U.S. defender Jordyn Bugg.

Five minutes later, the U.S. jumped out in front. This time, a sublime, left-footed rocket from Allyson Sentnor beat Renatta Cota from just outside the box.

Saldivar swapped from provider to goal-scorer to tie the game in the 39th minute. It came in similar fashion to the first Mexican goal. This time, a low pass into space found the live-wire winger. She cut back past Thompson onto her right foot, and her shot on goal deflected off Heather Gilchrist and past Teagan Wy.

Things didn’t change much in the second half. The United States had a goal chalked off six minutes into the second half, with a player just a few millimeters offside in the buildup.

Sentnor missed a gilt-edged chance to take the lead in the 63rd minute. After Savannah King won the ball high up the field, the left back slid possession to Tordin. Running at the back line, she supplied a beautiful through-ball for Sentnor. The former UNC star pulled her left-footed shot wide, however.

Neither side managed a second half goal after the helter-skelter action of the first 45 minutes. Dudley broke the deadlock six minutes into added time. Substitute Yuna McCormack stole a poor back pass as Mexico looked to build out from the back. The Virginia midfielder drove at the Mexico back line, slipping a pass to Dudley in the right channel of the penalty box. After taking a couple of touches, Dudley roofed what turned out to be the game-winning goal.

⚽⚠️ ¡GOL! ¡GOL! ¡GOOOL DE JORDYNN DUDLEY!

Entró de cambio y cumplió con el tercero, en tiempo extra, para el 'Team USA'

🇲🇽 México 2-3 Estados Unidos 🇺🇸

EN VIVO 📺 @NBCUniverso y 📱 Telemundo APP ➡️ https://t.co/CTSaWGjoBa #U20WWC #Colombia2024 @USYNT pic.twitter.com/6yMpBujCng
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) September 12, 2024

The U.S. had a chance to put the game away in the 113th minute, but Riley Jackson had a penalty saved by Mexico goalkeeper Mariangela Medina.

That miss didn’t prove costly, as the U.S. back line held firm to advance to the quarterfinals on Sunday. Next up is the winner of the Round of 16 match between Germany and Argentina.

U.S. Lineup: Teagan Wy; Gisele Thompson, Jordyn Bugg, Heather Gilchrist, Savannah King; Taylor Suarez, Claire Hutton, Riley Jackson, Emeri Adames, Allyson Sentnor; Pietra Tordin

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