SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic – The United States are on their way to the 2022 FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Costa Rica after defeating Puerto Rico 7-0 in the semifinals of the 2022 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship in the Dominican Republic at the Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez in Santo Domingo.
It is the 10th straight Women’s Under-20 World Cup qualification for the U.S., who are also three-time champions of the tournament.
The U.S. will face either Canada or Mexico in Saturday’s CWU20 Final, while Puerto Rico will hope to secure the region’s third Women’s Under-20 World Cup spot in Saturday’s Third Place Match.
Talia DellaPeruta got the scoring started for the U.S. on the stroke of 19 minutes, as she hammered in a right-footed shot from outside the area for a 1-0 lead.
Three minutes later in the 22’, the advantage was doubled, 2-0, when the Puerto Rico defense was unable to clear and Olivia Moultrie took advantage, swinging in a left-footed shot.
The momentum stayed with the U.S. and they stretched the lead to 3-0 in the 35’ on an excellent right-footed finish from Michelle Cooper.
Trinity Byars was fouled in the Puerto Rico area in the 39’ and two minutes later Cooper notched her second, scoring from the penalty spot for a 4-0 lead.
Simone Jackson came on as a second half substitute and made the most of her minutes, firing in a right-footed shot in the 65’, before adding a second in the 76’ and then completing her hat trick in the 81’ to round out the 7-0 scoreline.
