ALAJUELA, Costa Rica – Mexico won by the score of 4-0 for the second consecutive game at the FIFA U-17 Women's Cup, defeating China on Wednesday at the Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto.
That result, combined with Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over Colombia later in the day, sealed the CONCACAF champion a spot in the competition’s quarterfinals. Mexico and Nigeria – both with six points from their opening two games – will meet on Sunday to decide the Group D winner.
A pair of goals in each half at the home of Alajuelense propelled the prolific Mexicans to a comfortable triumph, registering a significant advantage in shots attempted, 17-9.
Rebeca Bernal gave Mexico a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute, converting from the spot after Ruyi Wan fouled Janae Gonzalez the penalty area.
In the 42nd minute, Gonzalez scored her second goal in as many games. Indecision by the Chinese in their own box allowed a loose ball to bounce into the path of the 17-year-old, who knocked it home with her right foot from eight-yards.
Mexico went up 3-0 in the 65th minute as goalkeeper Shimeng Peng pushed Gabriela Martinez’s header from a corner kick off the left post and over the goal line.
With three minutes left in normal time, Gonzalez played a superb pass into the left side of the box for Belen Cruz. The talented 15-year-old midfielder ran on to the ball and calmly chipped it over the charging Peng from six-yards out to make it 4-0.
