The world of soccer was shocked on Monday when the US women’s national soccer team lost shockingly, 2-0, to Mexico in the Concacaf W Gold Cup group stages.
The unexpected outcome, which was sealed off by a fantastic goal from Mayra Pelayo-Bernal, marks just the second time Mexico has defeated the US in 43 games; the only other triumph occurred in 2010.
The US, who came in second in Group A behind La Tri, nevertheless advances to the tournament’s quarterfinals despite its loss.
Many had predicted that the soccer powerhouse from the United States would go undefeated in the group after winning its opening two games handily against the Dominican Republic and then Argentina, but at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, an impressive Mexico team had other ideas.
As a result of their World Cup disappointment the previous year, the US is actually rebuilding, and they made seven changes from the starting lineup against Argentina on Friday. That doesn’t lessen the significance of Mexico’s victory, though.
The world of soccer was shocked on Monday when the US women’s national soccer team lost shockingly, 2-0, to Mexico in the Concacaf W Gold Cup group stages.
The unexpected outcome, which was sealed off by a fantastic goal from Mayra Pelayo-Bernal, marks just the second time Mexico has defeated the US in 43 games; the only other triumph occurred in 2010.
The US, who came in second in Group A behind La Tri, nevertheless advances to the tournament’s quarterfinals despite its loss.
At Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, an impressive Mexico team disagreed with the widespread expectation that the US, a soccer juggernaut, would go undefeated in the group after winning its opening two games handily against the Dominican Republic and then Argentina.
After losing the World Cup to Argentina the previous year, the US is actually rebuilding, and they made seven changes from the starting lineup on Friday in their 4-0 victory over Argentina. It doesn’t, however, lessen the significance of Mexico’s victory.
Even though Karen Luna had just finished an incredible cross-field pass, Pelayo-Bernal still had a lot of work ahead of her.
Pedro Lopez, the coach of La Tri, expressed his pride in his team but noted that his team cannot rest content with simply defeating the United States.
According to ESPN, he told reporters, “I insist that, for us, it would be of no use if in the next game we lose the quarterfinals and we go down in history as the team that only beat the United States one day.”
The elimination matches take place over the weekend, so neither Mexico nor the US will know who they will face in the quarterfinals.