USA qualifies for U20 Women's World Cup

by Travis Clark

March 10, 2022

The United States Under-20 Women’s National Team clinched as spot at this year’s World Cup, beating Puerto Rico by a 7-0 score.

It continued a dominating run at the Concacaf Championship for Tracey Kevins’ squad, which hasn’t conceded a goal in six games and will play at this year’s World Cup in Costa.

Two goals in two minutes in the first half broke the game open for the United States in the Concacaf semifinal. Talia DellPeruta opened the scoring from distance, before a quick second from Olivia Moultrie. Two more goals from Michelle Cooper made it a 4-0 lead at the half, and the U.S. never looked back. A second-half hat trick from Simone Jackson in just 16 minutes rounded out the scoring.

Despite Puerto Rico aiming to sit in deep and defend, early chances were there for the United States. Avery Patterson and Michelle Cooper both had opportunities in the first six minutes, but neither were extremely dangerous. The first was easily handled by the goalkeeper and the second fired well over by Cooper.

The United States continued to pile on the pressure, finding gaps and getting the ball into dangerous areas. DellaPeruta broke the deadlock. She unleashed a low, driven shot from just outside the penalty area that beat the Puerto Rico goalkeeper and opened the scoring in the 20th minute.

Moultrie added a second just a couple of minutes. A cross in from Ayooluwapo Oke wasn’t dealt with by a Puerto Rican defender. Moultrie nipped in to poke the ball away, turned and finished at the near post to make it a 2-0 lead.

With a two-goal cushion, the U.S. continued to attack. Outside backs Elaine Rouse and Oke were able to get forward early and often, and it was Rouse involved in the third goal. Getting the edge on her opposing defender towards the end line, she crossed the ball back towards the penalty spot. A nice dummy by Trinity Byars allowed Cooper enough space to roof the third goal in the 36th minute.

HIGHLIGHTS 📹
✅ @USYNT 🇺🇸 is in the #CWU20 final by defeating Puerto Rico 🇵🇷
✅ Great match by Simone Jackson and Michelle Cooper ⚽#WeBelong pic.twitter.com/K5UkGbqvaY
— Concacaf W (@ConcacafW) March 10, 2022

Cooper scored four minutes later from the penalty spot after Byars was taken down in the penalty area. With a 4-0 lead 40 minutes into the game, a spot at this year’s U20 World Cup was essentially guaranteed by the halftime whistle.

After a relatively quiet 20 minutes to start the second half, the U.S. nearly had a fifth. Simone Jackson, on as a substitute, forced a very nice kick save from goalkeeper Ariana Anderson.

Two minutes later, Jackson got her goal. It came in slightly fortuitous circumstances, as a Puerto Rican clearance attempt popped right into the path of Jackson, running into the box. Her finish at the far post made it a 5-0 game.

Jackson added a sixth goal, her second of the game, in the 75th minute. Five minutes later, she had a hat trick. A cross from Patterson was once again left along by Byars, and when the Puerto Rican defender couldn’t control it, Jackson lashed it home to the far post.

The U.S. outshot Puerto Rico by a 38-1 margin, as Anderson, who plays for Texas club power Solar SC, made 14 saves.

With a spot at the World Cup this year officially secure, the United States will look to win the Concacaf Championship on Saturday, March 12 against Mexico or Canada.

U.S. Lineup: Neeku Purcell; Elaine Rouse (Samar Guidry), Aidan McConnell, Emily Mason (Lauren Flynn), Ayooluwapo Oke; Olivia Moultrie, Emily Colton, Talia DellaPeruta (Alexis Missimo); Trinity Byars, Avery Patterson, Michelle Cooper (Simone Jackson)