Played Friday January 17 2014 Truman Bodden Sports Complex, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Semi Finals Under-20 Women’s Championship

Mexico 3  Costa Rica 1

USA 6  Trinidad 0

To be played Sunday January 19  Truman Bodden Sports Complex, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Third Place Under-20 Women’s Championship 4:00PM

Trinidad & Tobago v Costa Rica

Final Under-20 Women’s Championship 7:00PM

USA v Mexico

U.S. qualifies for seventh straight FIFA U-20 WC

Stephanie Amack (#16) earned Player of the Match honors for her performance in the United States’ 6-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago in a 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship semifinal on January 17, 2014, in George Town, Cayman Islands. (Photo: Mexsport)

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands – The United States continued its streak of qualifying for every FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup on Friday, defeating Trinidad & Tobago 6-0 in the semifinals of the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex.

In addition to earning a trip to Canada 2014, the two-time defending tournament champion advanced to Sunday’s final, where it will meet Mexico.

Trinidad & Tobago still has a hope of progressing to the seventh FIFA event, but it must overcome Costa Rica in the match for third place, also on Sunday.

Stephanie Amack continued her strong play with a convincing performance in the middle of the field. The Stanford University freshman scored two goals and was involved in much of the Americans’ effective build-up play. Defensively, she did well to keep the ball in front of her and demonstrated keen positioning when marking.

The U.S. went ahead in the 13th minute with a goal crafted from a combination of precision and composure. Andi Sullivan delivered a left-sided cross to the far post that Katie Naughton intelligently headed across the face of the goal. McKenzie Meehan was there to head home from three-yards out.

Savannah Jordan made it 2-0 in the 27th minute, extending her scoring streak to four straight games. A clever ball from Rachel Hill allowed the University of Florida standout to surge into the box and fire a shot past goalkeeper Keri Myers.

Six minutes later, Amack added to the U.S. advantage. An attempt from Sullivan hit off Myers’ feet and rebounded to Amack, who found the back of the net from 16-yards out.

The Americans put the game out of reach six minutes before the interval. Sullivan struck an impeccable free kick from 40 yards that Amack obligingly nodded in at the right post.

Myers prevented the U.S. from increasing its lead eight minutes into the second half, reacting quickly to block Mallory Weber’s effort from 12-yards out off a deft touch pass from Amack.

Meehan completed her brace in the 65th minute, following another well-worked sequence. Weber sent a cross from the right that found the head of Summer Green, who headed on for Meehan. The Boston College forward completed the play by converting with a header of her own from the edge of the six-yard box. She is now level with Mexico’s Tanya Samarzich with a tournament-best six goals.

Weber stamped the final scoreline with four minutes left in normal time, hammering in Meehan’s re-direction off a short right-sided cross from Margaret Purce.

The U.S. extended its tournament-record winning streak to 14 games.

Player of the Match presented by CONCACAF’s Technical Study Group: Stephanie Amack (USA)

Mexico qualifies for FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup

Mexico celebrates after scoring in its 3-1 win over Costa Rica in a 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship semifinal on January 17, 2014, in George Town, Cayman Islands. (Photo: Mexsport)

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands – Mexico broke a half-time stalemate by scoring two goals in the second half to defeat Costa Rica 3-1 on Friday and advance to the final of the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship, as well as earn a ticket to the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

The Tricolor, which qualified for its sixth World Cup in seven attempts, will contest the tournament final on Sunday against the winner of the second semifinal later in the evening between the two-time defending champion United States and Trinidad & Tobago. Costa Rica will square off against the looser in the match for third place to decide the confederation’s last qualifier for the FIFA event in Canada.

On a rainy afternoon at the Truman Bodden Sports Complex, Fabiola Ibarra broke a 1-1 deadlock in the 67th minute, exquisitely firing a left-footed free kick from 30-yards out on the right wing over goalkeeper Mariela Vasquez.

Six minutes later, Jessica Valadez netted an insurance goal. Vasquez punched away a Jazmin Aguas corner kick, only to see the ball head straight to Valadez, who left-footed it home from eight-yards.

In two all-time CONCACAF Under-20 meetings, Mexico had not beaten Costa Rica outright. Early on, the Central Americans looked like continuing that streak as Melissa Herrera crashed a left-sided corner kick off the far post in stunning fashion.

On their next solid chance, however, the Ticas would go ahead. Shortly after Mexico goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago bobbled a long-distance effort by Gloriana Villalobos, Jazmin Elizondo struck. The imposing Krista Chavarria shrugged off a defender as she dribbled down the left wing and crossed beautifully for the 19-year-old forward to bounce a header into the back of the net.

In the 32nd minute, Paloma Zermeño leveled the score with what was arguably the goal of the tournament. Paulina Solis delivered a diagonal cross from the left wing towards Zermeño, who gained separation from her marker and moved towards the pass. The 18-year-old then instinctively flicked the ball with the outside of her right foot into the back of the net.

With two minutes left in the opening half, Mexico’s Jaqueline Rodriguez sent a right-sided cross over everyone to a waiting Carolina Jaramillo. The forward had time, but could not get enough power on the shot, ultimately rolling the ball into Vasquez’s hands.

The 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup will be held in Canada, August 5-24.

Player of the Match presented by CONCACAF’s Technical Study Group: Karla Nieto (Mexico)