History was made Monday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, but not the sort that the U.S. women’s national team will want to celebrate.
For Mexico, however, it was a momentous result that will send shockwaves around the soccer world.
The USWNT lost for just the second time in 43 matchups with Mexico, falling 2-0 in the Concacaf W Gold Cup group stage game. In addition, the defeat represented the USWNT’s first on home soil against Concacaf opposition since 2000, breaking an unbeaten streak of 80 games (78 wins, two draws). The last time Mexico defeated the USWNT was in November 2010 during Concacaf World Cup qualifying.
Mexico’s Lizbeth Ovalle scored the opening goal in the 38th minute. U.S. defender Becky Sauerbrunn’s attempt to clear the ball bounced off Ovalle, who regained possession, dribbled around goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and chipped the ball into the net. Ovalle’s goal was the first conceded by the USWNT to a Concacaf opponent in 33 matches.
Trinity Rodman just missed a chance for the U.S. to equalize in the 89th minute, but her shot rolled wide of the far post.
Just moments later, Mexico secured its historic victory when Mayra Pelayo added the game-clincher in the second minute of stoppage time with a stellar long-distance strike.
“Not only Concacaf, but the whole world is continuing to raise its level. It’s helping with all the leagues around the world, and Mexico is definitely a product of that with their league,” USWNT forward Alex Morgan said after the loss. “Concacaf is not what it was 14 years ago when we had our last lost to Mexico.”
This was the first loss for the USWNT under interim coach Twila Kilgore, who took over after the team’s disappointing performance in last summer’s World Cup. Emma Hayes will take over for Kilgore later this spring.
With the victory, Mexico — which did not qualify for the 2023 World Cup — wins Group A, while the U.S. finishes second. Entering Monday night’s game, both teams already had clinched advancement to the quarterfinals of the first-ever Concacaf w Gold Cup.
The USWNT had outscored its opponents 9-0 in its previous two W Gold Cup games, defeating the Dominican Republic 5-0 and Argentina 4-0 to secure its spot in the tournament’s next round.