MIAMI, Florida – The 2022 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica is now in the books following Spain’s 3-1 victory over Japan in Sunday’s Final.
It brings to a close just the third U20 Women’s World Cup played in the Concacaf region and the first in Central America (Canada 2002, Canada 2014).
While the host nation did not advance to the knockout stage of the tournament, they did provide one of the highlight moments in their opening match of Group A against Australia.
With the score tied at 0-0 in the 19th minute, team captain Alexandra Pinell fired in a free kick from about 40 yards away into the top right cornet of net to give Costa Rica a 1-0 lead in the match.
It was a moment that will forever be remembered in the annals of Costa Rican football history.
GOLAZO de la Capi. ©@fedefutbolcrc brought the house down with this 🚀 in their opening #U20WWC match! pic.twitter.com/D0b5fFxD4g
— FIFA Women's World Cup (@FIFAWWC) August 11, 2022
Mexico would prove to be the lone team from the Concacaf region that reached the quarterfinal round, and they did so in style. After earning draws in their first two matches with New Zealand (1-1) and Colombia (0-0), El Tricolor played their best match of the tournament when it mattered most.
Going up against three-time U20 Women’s World Cup champions Germany in their group stage finale knowing that only a win would suffice to advance, Mexico got a goal from Alexia Villanueva in the 59th minute to nail down a 1-0 victory to punch their ticket to the next round.
Mexico’s run came to an end in a narrow 1-0 quarterfinal loss to eventual champions Spain, but not before Mexico twice hit the woodwork, giving La Roja a strong run for their money.
There were also highlights for Concacaf’s other two representatives in the tournament.
2022 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship winners the United States enjoyed a winning start with a 3-0 victory over Ghana in which CWU20 Best Player and Top Scorer Michelle Cooper scored her team’s first goal.
Canada were unable to find the win column in Costa Rica, but they did score the fastest goal of the tournament when Kaila Novak had the ball in the back of the net in just the second minute of play in Canada’s group stage finale versus Nigeria.
