May 13, 2001
GUASAVE, Mexico - The U.S. Women's Under-21 National Team defeated the full Mexican Women's National team for the second time in three days, getting two goals from Abby Wambach and one from Devvyn Hawkins to register a 3-1 victory on a warm night at the Guasave 89 Stadium.
Unlike the 2-1 victory last Friday in which the USA did not score until midway through the second half, the Americans got on the board early. In just the 10th minute, Hawkins lofted a pass over the defense to Wambach, who brought the ball down and then calmly popped it over onrushing Mexican goalkeeper Linnea Quinones and into the net.
The USA made it 2-0 in the 24th minute when Katie Barnes, the scorer of both U.S. goals two days ago, got free down the right sideline and then cut hard inside on the dribble. She chipped a pass over the Mexican back line that put Wambach in a footrace with Quinones. The 5-foot-11 U.S. forward beat Quinones to the ball just outside the penalty box and got a foot on it to flick it over the leaping goalkeeper and into the open net.
The USA made it 3-0 just before halftime as Barnes fed Alyssa Ramsey inside the penalty box. Ramsey posted up her defender with her back to goal, and then first-timed a pass back to Hawkins, who hit a screamer into the lower right corner from 18 yards out.
"The team played especially well in the first half and overall played well in the two games, but we didn't play a complete 90 minutes in either match," said U.S. head coach Jerry Smith, who picked up his first two international wins. "To play Mexico in Mexico in front of two great crowds was challenge, but we got two victories against a very good and very well coached Mexican team. We're happy with our overall results, but we still need to get better at this level."
Midfielder Erin Misaki had two great chances in the first 10 minutes of the second half, but hit both shots wide.
Wambach was denied a hat trick on a questionable call in the second half. She smacked a shot off the crossbar and then knocked in her own rebound, but was inexplicably called for offside.
Mexican forward Iris Mora once again caused the USA the most trouble and it was she that drew the foul for a penalty kick in the 80th minute after she fell to the ground following a bump from U.S. captain Catherine Reddick. Maribel Dominguez slotted the penalty kick into the lower left corner past U.S. goalkeeper Liz Wagner, who had little to do on the evening in her first international match for the U-21s.
The score would have been higher if not for another excellent match from Quinones, a San Diego State junior who has played some of her best games against the United States. She made 13 saves and denied the USA on breakaways and point blank shots at least a half dozen times.
Mexico finished the game with 10 women after Dominguez was ejected in the 85th minute for throwing an elbow at U.S. defender Jena Kluegel, who was cautioned for the altercation that preceded the red card.
The U-21s will hold a training camp in June at the Arco U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. before Smith picks his team for the Nordic Cup in July. The USA has won three of the last four Nordic Cup tournaments, which serves as the top competition in the world for U-21 women.