CARSON — Games between the USWNT and Mexico have been called a rivalry.
But the Americans had won 40 of the 42 previous meetings, so rivalry often felt like a significant stretching of the definition. However, moments like Monday night could go a long way toward making it truly a rivalry.
Mexico, thanks to a first-half goal from Lizbeth Ovalle and a late golazo from Mayra Pelayo, handed their border rivals a 2-0 defeat in front of 11,612 at Dignity Health Sports Park.
The win is not only a seismic one across the women’s soccer landscape, but it also vaulted Mexico (2-0-1, seven points) to first place in Group A, leaving the USWNT (2-1-0, six points) in second. Both teams will advance to the quarterfinals of the 12-team tournament.
“They were bold,” Mexico coach Pedro Lopez Ramos said. “That was a spectacular match. This is great for the Gold Cup, the fans and everyone watching.”
It was the first loss by the USWNT to any CONCACAF opponent since Nov. 11, 2000, snapping an 80-match winning streak.
The first goal might have come off of a mistake, but it was deserved for Mexico. U.S. defender Becky Sauerbrunn’s failed clearance landed in Ovalle’s path and after avoiding USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, Ovalle chipped the ball from just inside the 18-yard box for the goal.
It was the first goal conceded by the U.S. to a CONCACAF opponent in 33 matches.
“I think it just shows how far the game is coming and there’s no easy games anymore. And if we don’t take care of business and we don’t execute, this is to be expected,” U.S. under interim coach Twila Kilgore said. “We’ll step up and take ownership in that and I think anytime you have a group that is willing to take ownership in things like this, it’s a good thing for the future of the tournament. Everything’s still on the table and we’ll be motivated, that’s for sure.”
Mexico nearly made it 2-0 in first-half stoppage time but Karla Nieto’s long-range blast hit the crossbar.
The Americans entered with a 16-game winning streak against Mexico that included a 65-4 aggregate score. The only previous U.S. loss was a 2-1 decision during Women’s World Cup qualifying in 2010.
It was also the first loss for the U.S. under Kilgore, who took over after the team’s dramatic exit from the Women’s World Cup last summer in the Round of 16. Emma Hayes will take over for Kilgore this spring.
Mexico, which failed to qualify for last year’s World Cup, certainly didn’t go out and sit on its 1-0 lead, continuing to press the USWNT throughout the second half. In the first minute of stoppage time, Pelayo delivered the knockout punch. Finding herself in a one-on-one situation on the left, she cut inside and unleashed a shot on target that settled into the side of the net for the 2-0 lead.
Nearly 10 minutes prior, Naeher had kept the game at 1-0 with a pair of saves on a long-range shot and a point-blank rebound.
The Americans were never able to find their footing in the match. The confidence the team had through the first two games – a 5-0 victory over the Dominican Republic and a 4-0 victory over Argentina – was put to the test by Mexico’s fearless approach.
The tide in the rivalry might have started to turn in the previous meeting. In the final of the 2022 CONCACAF Championship in Monterrey, Mexico, the Americans needed an 89th-minute goal from Kristie Mewis to seal the win.
The repercussions of the win in regards to the tournament will not be felt until Groups B and C conclude their matches.
The top two teams in each of the three groups, along with the two best third-place finishers advance to the quarterfinals. At the end of group stage play, the eight quarterfinal teams will be seeded Nos. 1-8, ranging from most points to the fewest, to determine the matchups.
Canada (Group C) and Brazil (Group B) have both won their first two games in their respective groups. Brazil concludes group play on Tuesday against Panama in San Diego and Canada wraps up Wednesday against Costa Rica in Houston.
The quarterfinals will be played on Saturday and Sunday at BMO Stadium.
In Monday’s first game, Argentina (1-1-1, four points) defeated the winless Dominican Republic, 3-0.
Daila Ippolito (30th minute), Celeste Dos Santos (76th) and Maricel Pereyra (stoppage time) scored for Argentina, which must wait to see if it advances.
