MIAMI, Florida – Both the United States and Mexico put up impressive wins on Tuesday in quarterfinal action of the 2022 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship in the Dominican Republic.
The U.S. and Haiti kicked things off at the Estadio Panamericano in San Cristobal and it was the reigning champions U.S. who came away with a 6-0 win.
Emily Mason’s header in the 8’ got the U.S. off to an early 1-0 lead, but Haiti would hang tough and kept it a one-goal affair going into the second half.
In the second 45 minutes, the U.S. took things up a notch and made it 2-0 in the 50’ through Alyssa Thompson’s composed right-footed finish. It was then 3-0 in the 60’ courtesy of Simone Jackson, whose right-footed shot found the back of the net.
The U.S. had all the momentum and got goals from Talia DellaPeruta in the 78’ from the penalty spot, Avery Patterson in the 87’ from close-range and Michelle Cooper in the 90+4’ off the post for the 6-0 final.
The action in San Cristobal ended with Canada taking on Panama in what was a hard-fought 90 minutes between the two sides. In the end, a penalty conversion in the 29’ from Holly Ward earned the Canadians a 1-0 victory and a place in the final four.
Santo Domingo’s Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez was the site of the day’s other two quarterfinals, beginning with Puerto Rico’s 3-0 triumph over Guatemala.
A back-and-forth opening half hour gave way to the game’s first goal, with Puerto Rico’s Estefania Gonzalez Cintron hammering in a free kick from distance for a 1-0 lead.
Bryana Pizarro then doubled the lead, 2-0, in the 41’ by calmly converting a penalty, before Gonzalez Cintron completed her brace in the 72’ to nail down the 3-0 victory with another right-footed rocket on a free kick.
The day in Santo Domingo then closed with Mexico topping El Salvador, 5-1.
Mexico raced off to a 1-0 lead in the 13’ through Maritza Maldonado, followed by Natalia Mauleon scoring two straight goals in the 35’ and 45+1’, the second on a well-struck right-footed shot that chipped El Salvador GK Andrea Dada.
El Salvador came out with a purpose to start the second half and a magical touch and finish from Victoria Sanchez in the 52’ pulled the Cuscatlecas to within 3-1.
But Mexico would wrestle back control and scores from Carol Cazares in the 81’ and Kinberly Guzman in the 84’ rounded out the 5-1 scoreline for El Tricolor.
