SAN JOSE, Costa Rica – Mexico’s campaign in the 2022 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica came to a close on Saturday with a 1-0 quarterfinal defeat to Spain at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose.
Mexico GK Celeste Espino was at her usual best from the start and made a pair of big saves, first in the sixth minute of play and then another diving stop in the 22’ to keep things scoreless.
But there was nothing Espino could do to prevent Inma Gabarro from breaking the deadlock in the 25’, as she took a cross from the left and redirected it in for a 1-0 Spain lead.
Mexico looked to strike right back and they nearly did so on 35 minutes when a hard hit from distance off the boot of Samantha Lopez thundered off the crossbar.
It would be the first time that the woodwork denied Mexico an equalizer. In the final seconds of first half stoppage time, Alexia Villanueva lofted in a shot toward goal that also dropped onto the crossbar and out of play.
Back and forth the teams continued, with Mexico getting their best chance of the second stanza just after the hour mark when an unmarked Alice Soto fired over the crossbar inside the area.
Mexico attempted to get a final crack at goal, but it could never find a way past the Spanish defense, resulting in the narrow defeat.
