Over the past 11 days, the Cayman Islands have seen the best and brightest young talent from around the CONCACAF zone challenging for three spots at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Canada 2014.

USA and Mexico claimed the first two berths on Friday and were joined last night by Costa Rica, who triumphed 7-3 over Trinidad and Tobago in a thrilling third-place play-off. The US, meanwhile, retained the continental title by beating Mexico 4-0 in the final.

USA, Mexico, Costa Rica and hosts Canada will now begin stepping up their preparations for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, which takes place between 5 and 24 August 2014.

From US Soccer

The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team defeated Mexico 4-0 to win the 2014 CONCACAF U-20 Women’s Championship in George Town, Cayman Islands.

Defender Andi Sullivan Scores Directly From a Corner Kick in Ninth Minute
USA Shuts Out All Five Opponents While Scoring 29 Goals
Savannah Jordan and Margaret Purce Tally Second-Half Goals in Six-Minute Span and USA Benefits from Stoppage-Time Own Goal
Rose Lavelle Wins Golden Ball as Tournament MVP; Goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland Wins Golden Glove; McKenzie Meehan is Co-Golden Boot Winner and USA Wins Fair Play Award
USA Now Embarks on Preparation for 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup to be Held Aug. 5-24 in Canada

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (Jan. 19, 2014) – The U.S. Under-20 Women’s National Team defeated Mexico 4-0 in the title game of the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship, putting together a patient and professional performance in front of an appreciative crowd at Truman Bodden Stadium.

Right back Andi Sullivan scored directly from a corner kick in the ninth minute, but the USA struggled to create quality scoring chances in the first half against a well-organized and committed Mexico side. The USA stepped up its attack in the second half and put the game away with tallies from Savannah Jordan and Margaret “Midge” Purce in the 59th and 68th minutes, respectively. The USA also forced Mexico into an own goal three minutes into second-half stoppage time.

This marks the USA’s fourth title in this competition, which was held as a U-19 event in its first two tournaments, and third in row. The USA and Mexico had already qualified for the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup by virtue of their semifinal wins last Friday. The U-20 Women’s World Cup will be staged in four Canadian cities from Aug. 5-24.

Costa Rica earned CONCACAF’s third and final berth to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in a match that saw the Ticas overcome a 3-1 deficit in the 70th minute to win 7-3 against Trinidad & Tobago. Costa Rica scored four goals in overtime.

Following the match, the U.S. earned a slew of awards. Midfielder Rose Lavelle was the named the tournament’s Golden Ball winner awarded to the most valuable player. Katelyn Rowland was the Golden Glove winner as the top goalkeeper and forward McKenzie Meehan shared the top scorer award with Mexico’s Tanya Samarzich as both players scored six goals. The USA also earned the Fair Play Award.

The U.S. created a couple of corner kicks in the early going and Sullivan’s service from the left side resulted in a Goal Olimpico. Her driven in-swinging cross was wind-aided, but when Mexico goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago swatted at the ball in an attempt to clear, she only partially deflected the ball as it flew inside the netting at the right post for a 1-0 lead.

The goal was Sullivan’s second of the tournament. She scored from the penalty spot in the USA’s 3-0 win against Jamaica on Jan. 11 in Group A play.

Although the USA was attacking against the wind in the second half, the Americans continued their domination of possession while continuing to defensively press Mexican into serving long ball after long ball. The USA grabbed that important second goal in the 59th minute after Stephanie Amack’s one-touch pass from the midfield rolled perfectly to Jordan in the right side of the penalty area. Jordan had a step on her defender and struck a low one-touch shot across the face of the goal, past the diving Santiago and into the lower left corner.

Jordan scored one goal in each of the five tournaments matches and was the team’s second leading scorer behind Meehan.

That goal was crusher to Mexico, and although it kept fighting, the game opened up from there. Just six minutes later Purce was the beneficiary of a lighting quick build-up down the left wing. Lavelle picked up a loose ball in midfield, sprinted into the attacking third and fed Summer Green on the left flank. Green sent in a delicate but seeing-eye chipped cross for the crashing Purce, who struck a bullet header into the lower left corner to clinch the match and the regional championship.

Mexico had a chance to end the USA’s tournament clean sheet in the final minutes, but Briana Campos’ penalty kick hit the inside of the left post before the ball was swatted away by the scrambling Rowland.

Three minutes into stoppage time, the U.S. took a four-goal lead as Mallory Weber’s cross from the left was deflected into Mexico’s net by Estefania Fuentes.

The 2014 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship marked the first time the USA has gone the entire event without allowing a goal. The U.S. surrendered one goal in the 2008 and 2012 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championships.

Additional Notes:

The USA has qualified for all seven FIFA U-19/U-20 Women’s World Cup tournaments.
The USA improved to 30-2-1 all-time in the CONCACAF U-19/U-20 Championship and holds a 15-game winning streak dating back to the opener of the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s U-20 Championship in Guatemala.
During that 15-game span, the USA has outscored its opponents 68-3.
The U.S. is now 6-0-0 all-time against Mexico in this tournament, outscoring its rival by a 21-0 margin.
The USA and Mexico led the CONCACAF field in goals with 29 and 22, respectively over their five games.
U.S. head coach Michelle French sent out the same starting lineup as she did for the 6-0 semifinal victory against T&T that qualified the USA for the U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland started in her fourth match of the tournament.
Morgan Andrews was brought in to start the second half, replacing Hill.
Margaret Purce replaced Meehan in the 62nd minute and scored six minutes later.
In the 76th minute, Mallory Weber entered the match for Summer Green.
Roccaro led the USA in minutes played for the tournament, playing all 450.
Roccaro, playing in her second U-20 cycle, is the most-capped player at this level with 27 games played.
The USA played the semifinal and final was without two forwards – Lindsey Horan, who was recalled by her professional club Paris Saint-Germain, and Makenzy Doniak, who suffered a hand injury early in the tournament and returned to the U.S. for surgery.

IN THE IMAGE: Rose Lavelle won the tournament golden ball, goalkeeper Katelyn Rowland was the golden glove winner, McKenzie Meehan was the co-goal scoring leaderand the U.S. U-20 WNT also earned the CONCACAF Fair Play Award.

For more on this story go to:

http://www.ussoccer.com/news/u-20-wnt/2014/01/140119-u20-v-mexico.aspx