Panama City, Tuesday 6 March 2012.– The defending champion United States completed its perfect run through the first round of the CONCACAF Under-20 Women's Championship with a 6-0 victory over host Panama on Tuesday.
Maya Hayes had her third and fourth goals of the tournament, and Angela Di Bernardo and Julie Johnston both had their second to lead the Americans to a third straight victory by a combined 18-0.
Micaela Capelle and Sam Mewis also scored for the United States, which will play Mexico in the first semifinal on Friday. Panama, which like the Americans already had clinched a knockout round berth with two earlier victories, will play Canada in the nightcap of the doubleheader.
The winners will qualify for the U-20 Women's World Cup in Japan August 19-September 8. The losers will play off in the third-place game immediate before the final for a third and final berth from CONCACAF.
The United States controlled from the start and dominated throughout, outshooting Panama 25-0. Panama's closest effort was a 35-meter free kick by Marta Cox in the 12th minute that went well high and wide.
The Americans repeatedly tested Panamanian keeper Anyuri Montenegro, hitting the post twice in the first half in addition to taking 15 shots.
Capelle finally put the United States ahead in the 29th, racing down the right flank, beating defender Astrid Diaz around the corner and lofting a ball from near the byline that floated over Montenegro and skipped off the underside of the crossbar.
Lindsey Horan, who scored three in a 6-0 win over Guatemala, tormented Montenegro with repeated chances - including a right-footed effort off the crossbar in the 35th, before Di Bernardo doubled the U.S. lead less than a minute before halftime.
Di Bernardo curled in a corner that was deflected back. She corralled it and dribbled into the area before striking a low roller that - with Horan lurking near the net - squirted through Montenegro's legs.
The United States continued their onslaught in the second half, taking a 3-0 lead in the 53rd when Johnston took a wide ball from Hayes, had one touch and shot high over Montenegro.
Hayes scored her first six minutes later, turning on Diaz at the 18 and dribbling into the area before beating Montenegro between her and the near post.
Mewis kneed in a corner floated to the backpost by Di Bernardo in the 69th and Hayes completed the scoring in the 78th by running onto a through ball and beating Montenegro unchallenged.
The result was the 17th time in 26 matches at the CONCACAF championship that the Americans have scored four goals or more. For Panama, which will make its first appearance in the knockout round on Friday, it was the worst loss in the confederation tournament - qualifying or finals, in eight matches, since a 6-0 loss to Canada in 2006.
*With information from the CONCACAF
0 Comentarios