Costa Rica earns first trip to U-20 Women’s World Cup

February 2, 2010

Costa Rica earned its first trip to the Under-20 Women’s World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Canada in Saturday’s third-place game of the CONCACAF championship.

The result sent Costa Rica to Germany in July with the United States and Mexico, who were to play in the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship final later Saturday, and denied the two-time and defending champion Canadians their first trip in five tries.

The Ticas become the first team from outside North America to earn a berth at the World Cup from CONCACAF. Katherine Alvarado’s goal in the 19th minute was the difference, despite Canada enjoying slightly better possession and chances.

Alvarado lofted a free kick from 35 meters on the left that Canadian keeper Cynthia LeBlanc appeared to have covered. But LeBlanc drifted three meters off her line and then had to retreat, flailing unsuccessfully with her outstretched arm as the ball carried over her and under the bar into the goal.

It was only the third goal in five games allowed by Canada, and the second straight that LeBlanc appeared to flub.

In Thursday’s semifinals, she allowed a corner kick to slip through her hands, bounce off her face and into the goal in the 104th minute, enabling Mexico to win 1-0.

It also was the second straight game Canada was held without a goal and extended its goalless streak to 232 minutes.

Canada started quickly, creating its first chance 93 seconds after the opening kickoff when Christabel Oduro’s header off a cross from Bryana McCarthy was headed just wide at the right post.

Costa Rica had a goal disallowed a minute later for offside when LeBlanc was able to block Raquel Rodriguez Cedeno’s initial shot from outside the area, but wasn’t able to corral the rebound and Carolina Venegas tapped in the rebound.

After leaving Adriana Leon, who had two of Canada’s six goals, on the bench to start the match, coach Carolina Morace inserted her to start the second half. The Canadians had the majority of possession in the final 45 minutes, but were largely limited to chances from distance with Costa Rica often committing 10 players behind the ball.

It swarmed around the Costa Rican net for much of the final 15 minutes, forcing the ball into the Tica area in the 84th before it was finally cleared.

GUATEMALA CITY

Concacaf

Tags: adriana, canadians, cedeno, concacaf championship, corner kick, first chance, five games, free kick, mccarthy, offside, opening kickoff, place game, rebound, straight game, World Cup

Costa Rica earns first trip to U-20 Women’s World Cup

January 31, 2010

Costa Rica earned its first trip to the Under-20 Women’s World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Canada in Saturday’s third-place game of the CONCACAF championship.

It was only the third goal in five games allowed by Canada, and the second straight that LeBlanc appeared to flub.

In Thursday’s semifinals, she allowed a corner kick to slip through her hands, bounce off her face and into the goal in the 104th minute, enabling Mexico to win 1-0.

It also was the second straight game Canada was held without a goal and extended its goalless streak to 232 minutes.

Canada started quickly, creating its first chance 93 seconds after the opening kickoff when Christabel Oduro’s header off a cross from Bryana McCarthy was headed just wide at the right post.

It swarmed around the Costa Rican net for much of the final 15 minutes, forcing the ball into the Tica area in the 84th before it was finally cleared.

GUATEMALA CITY

Concacaf

Tags: adriana, Adriana Leon, berth, bryana, Canada, canadians, Carolina Morace, Carolina Venegas, cedeno, Christabel Oduro, concacaf championship, corner kick, Cynthia LeBlanc, defending champion, first chance, five games, guatemala city, Katherine Alvarado, leblanc, mccarthy, Mexico, North America, opening kickoff, place game, Raquel Rodriguez, United States, World Cup

Leroux leads United States to U-20 Women’s title

January 31, 2010

Sydney Leroux scored her tournament-leading sixth goal with three minutes remaining to give the United States a 1-0 victory over Mexico on Saturday and its second CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship crown.

It was the United States’ second victory in six days over its southern neighbor, finally subduing Mexico on a rapid attack out of the midfield.

Kristie Mewis sent a ball from the edge of the center circle down the left to Leroux. The UCLA forward outraced Bianca Sierra, took one touch and then beat Marylin Diaz before unleashing a left-footed strike from well outside the goal box that Mexican keeper Aurora Santiago was able to get her finger tips to but unable to stop.

“I was in absolute shock,” said Leroux describing her reaction. “I was so excited I put my hands in the air and ‘AAHHHH”, I screamed. It was the same excitement as when I scored in the World Cup.”

Leroux, the Golden Ball winner at the 2008 Under-20 Women’s World Cup, was a threat throughout the match, including putting a header off the foot of the left post in the 37th minute. She was fouled frequently and struggled to beat the offside trap until the goal.

The Americans won all five of its games in the 11-day tournament, outscoring its opponents 15-2.

Despite its loss, Mexico was the first team other than the United States or Canada to reach the final of the CONCACAF Championship and suffered two losses, both to the United States. It lost 2-1 on Monday in the Group B finale.

Both will head to the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany along with third-place game winner Costa Rica, which qualified with its 1-0 victory over defending and two-time champion Canada earlier in the day.

The Americans had the possession and chances early, the best coming on Leroux’s header off the post from Toni Pressley’s free kick out of the midfield.

Charlyn Corral was again the focus of Mexico’s attack, testing the U.S. defense as early as the eighth minute.

Just before halftime, U.S. coach Jill Ellis inserted Teresa Noyola for Casey Short, and the Americans were much more dominant in the second half.

Mexico’s chances were largely limited to shots from distance, the best coming in the 53rd when Liliana Godoy’s free kick from 40 meters had to be tipped over the bar by leaping U.S. keeper Bianca Henninger.

But the United States continued to push forward, sending in Zakiya Bywaters who hit the side netting in the 54th and Vicky DiMartino’s shot high in the 64th.

GUATEMALA CITY

Concacaf

Tags: aurora, ball winner, Bianca Henninger, Bianca Sierra, Canada, Casey Short, champion canada, championship crown, charlyn corral, concacaf championship, Costa Rica, eighth minute, finger tips, game winner, Germany, guatemala city, hands in the air, Jill Ellis, kristie, Kristie Mewis, leroux, Liliana Godoy, marylin, Mexico, offside trap, place game, southern neighbor, SYDNEY, teresa noyola, Toni Pressley, U.S, United States, Vicky DiMartino, world cup in germany, Zakiya Bywaters

Mexico tops Canada in extra time to get to final

January 29, 2010

Mexico reached the final of the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship for the first time Thursday, beating Canada 1-0 in extra time when Canada goalkeeper Cynthia LeBlanc let a seemingly innocent corner kick slip through her hands.

LeBlanc appeared to easily have Corral’s inswinging corner covered, but the ball went through her hands, banged off her face and into the goal in the 104th minute. She lunged into the goal and slapped the ball away, but not before it crossed the line.

The result set up a Saturday final between Mexico and the United States, which won the earlier semifinal against Costa Rica. It will be the first time in the history of the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s Championship Canada has not played the United States in the final.

The victory also earned Mexico a third straight trip to the World Cup in July in Germany and fourth overall.

“It would be a big step for Mexico to be champion in addition to reaching Germany,” captain Lydia Rangel said.

The two-time and defending CONCACAF Canada has qualified all four times for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup and has another chance to become one of CONCACAF’s three entrants when it faces Costa Rica in Saturday’s third-place game.

Mexico’s Sandra Mayor hit the post in the 73rd with the best chance for either team before extra time, dribbling across the top of the area until she reached the arc and unleashed a right-footed blast that banged off the left upright.

Mexico started out with the possession and chances for the first 10 minutes, but Canada took control and had the better of play for the remainder of the half. Julie Casselman’s header from Chelsea Stewart’s cross in the 40th was covered by Mexican keeper Aurora Santiago at the far post for the Canadians’ best chance.

Canada started the second half and had more possession and opportunities until about the 72nd. But Corral capitalized on a turnover to get off a quick shot from just inside the top of the area, and Mayor’s blast off the corner of the goal was the best chance for either side in the first 90 minutes.

The goal appeared to inspire Mexico, which had three good chances in the final 16 minutes. Corral put a header off a cross from Mayor just wide in the 110th and Corral also had the first of two consecutive shots in the 116th that LeBlanc stretched to parry wide.

GUATEMALA CITY

Concacaf

Tags: aurora, Canada, canadians, captain Lydia Rangel, casselman, CHELSEA, Chelsea Stewart, concacaf, Costa Rica, Cynthia LeBlanc, extra time, far post, Germany, Goalkeeper, guatemala city, Julie Casselman, lydia, Mexico, mexico and the united states, place game, possession, rangel, remainder, Sandra Mayor, Santiago, straight trip, turnover, United States, World Cup

Canada, United States head into semis as favorites

January 29, 2010

It looks like another North American grudge match could decide the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s title.

Both the United States and Canada advanced to the semifinals unbeaten and untied through the group stage, dominating their opponents and only allowing one goal each in three games.

However, both have to get through the knockout semis on Thursday, which will be a repeat of two years ago in Mexico, when the United States beat Costa Rica 4-0, and Canada edged Mexico 2-1.

The United States will face Costa Rica in the first semifinal at 1:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m. U.S. Eastern) with Canada against Mexico following at 4:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. U.S. Eastern).

“Costa Rica is an excellent team and I think it will be very challenging game for us,” U.S. coach Jill Ellis said. “We know they have some wonderfully skilled players and they play an attractive style so we are definitely going to have to be prepared. Hopefully, we’ll get our legs back with a couple of days of rest and then we’ll be ready to go.”

The United States has won two World Cups, but has lost to Canada two of the three times they faced off in the CONCACAF final.

The United States doesn’t want to appear like it’s looking past Costa Rica, realizing that a win Thursday qualifies it for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Germany in July.

“We’re excited to be in the semifinals,” said striker and co-captain Sydney Leroux, who leads all scorers with five goals. “We are definitely going to be ready and bring our ‘A’ game. That’s all I can ask of my teammates.”

With three teams qualifying for the World Cup, a semifinal loss won’t preclude a trip to Germany, but will require a victory in Saturday’s third-place game.

The United States has been, so far, the most impressive team, outscoring Jamaica, Trinidad and Mexico 12-1, allowing its only goal in second-half injury time of its finale against its southern neighbor.

“It’s fairly obvious that they are physically stronger than us,” Costa Rica coach Randal Chacon said. “They are strong and tall, but we have to take advantage of our strengths. We will work to maintain our shape when we don’t have the ball.”

Mexico and Costa Rica have split their two meetings in the third-place game, and Mexico may feel it’s time to avoid the uncertainty of World Cup qualification in a consolation match.

It benched forward Charlyn Corral, instrumental in El Tri’s victories over Trinidad and Jamaica, when Mexico played the United States. It apparently was looking to prevent her from picking up a second yellow card and having her miss the semifinals. Accumulated yellow cards are not waived after the first round.

“This is the most important game…we can’t keep anything in,” Corral said. “We have to give more than our 100 percent and we have to plat intelligently because we know that in the physical aspect, the height, and in the air battle we may have a disadvantage.”

Canada coach Carolina Morace feels her side has improved each game, but forward Adriana Leon noted she thinks the side needs to improve its finishing.

While the four semifinalists were not unexpected, the Caribbean’s three representatives teams went home disappointed – mostly notably Jamaica.

The “Reggae Girlz” – which reached the semifinals four years ago, returned to their country without a goal and having been outscored 9-0. Along with Cuba and Trinidad. the three Caribbean sides did not win any of the eight games against non-Caribbean opponents and finished with an aggregate goal difference of minus-18.

Conversely, Guatemala, which was playing in its first Under-20 Women’s Championship, managed a victory (over Cuba 2-1) and was the only team to score a goal against the defending and two-time champion Canadians.

GUATEMALA CITY

Concacaf

Tags: adriana, Canada, Caribbean, Carolina Morace, chacon, co captain, concacaf, Costa Rica, Cuba, Germany, group stage, grudge match, Guatemala, guatemala city, impressive team, injury time, Jamaica, Jill Ellis, knockout, Leon, leroux, Mexico, North American, place game, qualifying for the world cup, randal, semifinal loss, semis, skilled players, southern neighbor, three games, Tri, Trinidad, U.S, United States, world cup in germany, world cups

U.S. reaches CONCACAF U-20 Women’s final, returns to World Cup

January 29, 2010

The United States will return to the Under-20 Women’s World Cup to defend its title, qualifying with a 2-1 victory over Costa Rica on Thursday in the semifinals of the CONCACAF championship.

Kristie Mewis and Teresa Noyola scored second-half goals to send the United States to the World Cup for the fifth consecutive time, finally solving a defensive Costa Rica which lost central defender Marianne Ugalde midway through the first half after a collision with goalkeeper Priscilla Tapia.

Mewis put the United States ahead in the 60th and Noyola added the insurance 11 minutes later to seal the victory.

The United States will face Mexico in a rematch of Monday’s Group A finale won by the Americans 2-1, while Costa Rica will play Canada in the third place game for the last of CONCACAF’s three berths in the World Cup in Germany in July.

It was the second straight time the United States has beaten Costa Rica in the semifinals, having won 4-0 two years ago in Mexico.

Costa Rica had the better of play for the first 10 minutes, including Raquel Rodriguez Cedeno’s free kick from 30 meters that skipped off the top side of the crossbar in the fourth minute. But except for Katherine Alvarado’s free kick that smacked the left post in the 45th, the Ticas were defensive for most of the match.

The United States began to build possession and forced Tapia to tip a Jenna Richmond header on the right post in the 31st.

Rachel Quon sent a right-footed, bending ball toward the near post, where Mewis ran on to it, beat defender Paolo Alvarado and goalkeeper Priscilla Tapia and deflected it into the net from the top of the goal box.

After Daniela Cruz was yellow carded for tripping Sydney Leroux as the U.S. captain ran laterally across the top of the box, Noyola scored her second by hitting a 23-meter free kick over a five-player wall and just inside the left post.

Costa Rica pulled within a goal in the 77th the help of some fortuitous bounces. Ana Aguilar crossed a ball from the right that deflected off U.S. defender Toni Pressley and then Crystal Dunn before Vasquez Cedeno volleyed the bounding ball with her right from eight meters past U.S. keeper Bianca Henninger.

It was only the second goal allowed in four games by the United States, but the second in as many games having allowed a second-half injury time strike by Mexico in its final group match.

GUATEMALA CITY

Concacaf

Tags: aguilar, Ana Aguilar, berths, Bianca Henninger, Canada, cedeno, central defender, concacaf championship, Costa Rica, crossbar, daniela, fifth consecutive time, Germany, guatemala city, jenna, Jenna Richmond, Katherine Alvarado, Kristie Mewis, leroux, Marianne Ugalde, match, Mexico, midway, Paolo Alvarado, place game, Priscilla Tapia, quon, Rachel Quon, raquel, straight time, tapia, teresa noyola, Toni Pressley, U.S, United States, world cup in germany

Canada, United States head into semis as favorites

January 28, 2010

It looks like another North American grudge match could decide the CONCACAF Under-20 Women’s title.