Canada were eliminated by rivals USA at the 2020 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship following an 4-0 loss on Wednesday afternoon in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. USA scored twice in each half, with the first three goals scored following corner kicks. Mia Fishel scored twice and both Brianna Pinto and Kennedy Wesley scored once each.
“There’s no hiding from that it’s obviously a very disappointing time but I am very proud of them, they put it all on the line,” said Head Coach Rhian Wilkinson. “Today, we’re upset, and I’m very upset for our seniors who will be graduating out of the program. But, I look at the progress of our young players right now and I’m so proud of Jayde (Riviere), Julia (Grosso), and Jordyn (Huitema) that are all this age group that are with the senior team right now in France. Our youth program is for giving opportunities, learning hard lessons so that one day we watch them wearing the jersey for our Canadian senior team.”
This marks only the second time ever that Canada and USA have faced each other in an elimination match for a FIFA women’s youth tournament. Canada eliminated USA in 2010 from the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup before USA eliminated Canada this year from the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The two nations have won 12 of 14 Concacaf women’s youth championships before this year.
Across five matches, Canada posted two wins, a draw, and two losses at the 2020 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship. Canada’s nine goals were scored by Tanya Boychuk (four), Jazmine Wilkinson (two), Kaila Novak, Maya Ladhani, and Léonie Portelance. All-time, Canada have posted 62 wins, seven draws, and 18 losses in 87 Concacaf women’s youth matches since 2004 (all age groups from U-15 to U-20).
In the Concacaf Quarterfinals, USA opened the scoring in the 35‘ following a Jenna Nighswonger corner kick from the right side. Canadian goalkeeper Anna Karpenko initially punched it away, but Fishel collected the ball and scored the opener, her ninth goal of the tournament.
USA scored their second goal six minutes later, this time after a Katelyn Duong corner kick from the opposite side. Captain Naomi Girma played it to Pinto who scored her sixth goal of the tournament for the 2-0 lead.
Just before the break, Canada had their best chance following a pair of kicks from Lara Kazandjian. Her free kick to the back post nearly found Wayny Balata, but American Emily Mason cleared it. On the ensuing corner kick, Pinto was there for the clearance.
In the 54′, USA scored again off a corner kick, this time from the Duong corner headed into goal by Kennedy Wesley. In the 67′, Fishel made it 4-0 with her second goal, this time on a pass from Alexa Spaanstra.
Canada’s starting XI featured Anna Karpenko in goal, Wayny Balata, Jade Rose and Sonia Walk along the back, and Caleigh Boeckx, Lara Kazandjian, Caitlin Shaw, Samantha Chang, Kaila Novak, Andersen Williams and Tanya Boychuk from the midfield up through to the attack. In the second half, coach Rhian Wilkinson replaced Chang with Emma Regan (46’), Novak with Léonie Portelance (46’), and Williams with Jazmine Wilkinson (57’). Canada finished the match with 10 players after an injury to Portlance (85′).