USA wins Concacaf U20 Championship

by Travis Clark

March 12, 2022

The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team wrapped up stellar performance at the Concacaf Championship, holding off Mexico by a 2-0 score in the final on Saturday.

Michelle Cooper and Talia DellaPeruta provided the goals in the first half, and the U.S. back line marshalled a seventh straight shutout to win the regional championship.

Facing their biggest test of the tournament, and with a trip to this year’s World Cup already secured, Cooper ensured a dream start for the U.S. Mexico goalkeeper Celeste Espino had possession of the ball as El Tri looked to build out from the back. When she took too long to clear the ball, the Duke striker stripped the ball cleanly and slotted home the first goal of the game in just the third minute.

⚽ Goal! Michelle Cooper!

🇺🇸 @USYNT takes an early advantage! | #CWU20 #WeBelong pic.twitter.com/5iJVwYmHwa
— Concacaf W (@ConcacafW) March 12, 2022

High pressure nearly provided the second goal of the game just three minutes later. Alyssa Thompson forced a turnover and slotted in a second goal past Espino, but it was deemed to be a foul on Video Review.

Thompson was involved in the second goal of the game, however. She won a penalty kick when Alexxandra Ramirez was adjudged to have fouled her as she tried to turn the corner on the right side of the penalty area. DellaPeruta slotted the second goal home from the penalty spot to make it a 2-0 lead in the 43rd minute.

From there, the U.S. defense held firm for the rest of the game. Mexico outshot the U.S. by an 11-8 margin according to Concacaf.com, though the majority of attempts were from distance, and just four on target.

Cooper finished as the tournament's leading goal scorer with her eighth tally of the competition, as the U.S. scored 49 goals in seven games. She was also named by Concacaf as the competition's best player.

It marked the seventh U20 crown for the United States at a Concacaf regional championship. Both teams will head to the U20 World Cup this August in Costa Rica. Canada, which won the third place game against Puerto Rico, will be the fourth representative from Concacaf at this year’s tournament along with the host nation.

U.S. Lineup: Neeku Purcell; Elaine Rouse, Emily Mason, Lilly Reale, Samar Guidry; Talia DellaPeruta, Olivia Moultrie (Emily Colton), Alexis Missimo (Lauren Flynn); Alyssa Thompson, Michelle Cooper, Simone Jackson (Trinity Byars)