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Mexico beat the United States for the second time in its history, with goals from Lizbeth Ovalle and Mayra Pelayo for a 2-0 victory Monday night in the Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup.
The United States entered the match 40-1-1 against its continental rival, with its only previous loss coming by a 2-1 decision during qualifying for the 2010 Women’s World Cup.
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It was the United States’ first loss under interim coach Twila Kilgore, who took over after the team’s dramatic elimination from the Women’s World Cup last summer in the round of 16. Emma Hayes will replace Kilgore this spring.
Mexico, which failed to qualify for last year’s World Cup, finished atop Group A in the Gold Cup, while the United States came in second. Both teams advanced to the knockout round.
“They came out and were bold, they were brave, with the dream of playing a good game against the United States,” Mexico coach Pedro López Ramos said through an interpreter.
Ovalle, who plays for Tigres, put Mexico ahead in the 28th minute at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. Becky Sauerbrunn tried to defend Ovalle but she kicked the ball. Ovalle then launched a shot over goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and two defenders and into the net.
It was the first goal conceded by the United States to a Concacaf opponent in 33 games.
“I think this shows how far the game is coming and that there are no easy games anymore. And if we don’t take care of business and execute, that’s to be expected,” Kilgore said. “We’ll step up and take responsibility for that, and I think any time you have a group that’s willing to take responsibility for things like this, it’s a good thing for the future of the tournament.
“Everything is on the table and we will be motivated, that’s for sure.”
Sauerbrunn took full responsibility for the goal, both on the field and later in the locker room.
“As a veteran, you have some tough days at the office and tonight is definitely a tough day,” he said. “But luckily, you’ll have another day at the office and that’s what you do with it.
Mexico almost scored again in first-half stoppage time, but Karla Nieto’s long-range shot hit the crossbar.
Kiana Palacios had a good chance to give Mexico the lead, but her shot hit defender Abby Dahlkemper and deflected.
Pelayo scored from distance in extra time and Mexico’s players celebrated wildly on the field.
“If we lose in the quarterfinals, then today’s beautiful victory is useless,” said López Ramos. “I hope this is not an isolated moment.”
The United States saw the success of its teenagers in the first two games of the tournament. Olivia Moultrie, 18, scored two goals in a 5-0 win over the Dominican Republic, and Jaedyn Shaw, 19, scored a pair in a 4-0 win over Argentina.
But Mexico played surprisingly hard and the United States couldn’t recover after conceding that first goal.
“I would say in 2010, in that game, playing in Cancun, that stadium, I think we were all a little surprised by the result of the World Cup qualification,” said Sauerbrunn, who played in that loss 14 years ago. “I would say tonight that we never take any opponent for granted. I think they had a game plan and they executed it better than we had. So that’s all on us.”
This is the first Women’s Gold Cup, created to provide women’s teams in the Concacaf region with more competitive matches. Twelve teams played group stage games in three cities: Carson, San Diego and Houston.
Argentina beat the Dominican Republic 3-0 earlier Monday in Group A at Dignity Health Sports Park.
The teams will be reseeded after the group stage, so Mexico and the United States will have to wait to find out their opponents in the quarterfinals.
“The fact that everyone in that locker room can say they played a role in this is a big deal,” Diana Ordóñez said afterward. “We are very proud, but we know we still have work to do.”