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| Mexico`s Vanessa Flores (3) in tears after the loss to USA |
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| USA`s Jessica Scarpa, Marley Canales and Brooke Heinsohn |
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| Mexico`s Maria Shanchez (11) and USA Emily Ogle (10) |
By FIDELIS SUKINA
Pictures by7 Post Courier Photographer Mark Talia
United States of America again played catch up football in the FIFA U20 Womens World Cup in their 2-1 victory over Mexico in Port Moresby on the 25th of November 2016.
USA will now face Korea DPR on Tuesday at the Sir John Guise stadium in the first semi final match at 4pm.
It was a hard fought game in the humid afternoon that saw USA and Mexico battle it out in a match that remained scoreless in the in the first half.
It was an equally contested match, but opportunities were hard to come by, with both teams struggling to contain each other’s passing and running game at times.
USA captain Mallory Pugh bought her renowned speed and control to the game but was at times left without backup to finish the job.
USA forward Ashley Sanchez was also left with only a few opportunities, with Mexican defenders Vanessa Flores, Monica Flores and Rebecca Bernal working overtime.
It was in the 66th minute that the breakthrough came it was a hand ball by USA defender Kaleigh Riehl accidently got a hand ball, which earned Mexico a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area and Mexico Forward Maria Sanchez curled the ball around the near-side of the wall and straight through the hands of USA goalkeeper Casey Murphy.
USA had to catch up and they kept pushing up in attack and driving past the Mexicans, the Mexicans had a more decisive approach as they numbered up in defense and caused turn over’s from the USA forwards.
USA however had dept in the bench and it was none other than Ally Watt who was good off the bench that scored the equalizer.
Watt and her speed proved though as she was injected into the game in the 73rd minute Watt managed to sneak past the tiered Mexicans to latch on to a Sanchez through ball to put the ball past the approaching keeper.
United States of America again played catch up football in the FIFA U20 Womens World Cup in their 2-1 victory over Mexico in Port Moresby on the 25th of November 2016.
USA will now face Korea DPR on Tuesday at the Sir John Guise stadium in the first semi final match at 4pm.
It was a hard fought game in the humid afternoon that saw USA and Mexico battle it out in a match that remained scoreless in the in the first half.
It was an equally contested match, but opportunities were hard to come by, with both teams struggling to contain each other’s passing and running game at times.
USA captain Mallory Pugh bought her renowned speed and control to the game but was at times left without backup to finish the job.
USA forward Ashley Sanchez was also left with only a few opportunities, with Mexican defenders Vanessa Flores, Monica Flores and Rebecca Bernal working overtime.
It was in the 66th minute that the breakthrough came it was a hand ball by USA defender Kaleigh Riehl accidently got a hand ball, which earned Mexico a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area and Mexico Forward Maria Sanchez curled the ball around the near-side of the wall and straight through the hands of USA goalkeeper Casey Murphy.
USA had to catch up and they kept pushing up in attack and driving past the Mexicans, the Mexicans had a more decisive approach as they numbered up in defense and caused turn over’s from the USA forwards.
USA however had dept in the bench and it was none other than Ally Watt who was good off the bench that scored the equalizer.
Watt and her speed proved though as she was injected into the game in the 73rd minute Watt managed to sneak past the tiered Mexicans to latch on to a Sanchez through ball to put the ball past the approaching keeper.
It was substitute Kelcie Hedge who sealed the victory in extra time, when a break by again Sanchez give a pullback dummied by captain Pugh straight for Hedge to kick in the winner.
USA coach Michelle French said they had substitutes that were game changers and they were always there to deliver.
“The qualifying final was what I thought it would be and 100% more and I saw that the team had the determination, I always say our subs are game changers and they proved that,” French said
USA 2 ( A.WATT81' K.HEDGE 90'+3) defeated Mexico 1 (M. SANCHEZ 66')
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