MIAMI, Florida – The 2023 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship in the Dominican Republic concludes on Sunday with a pair of decisive encounters in the Final and Third Place Match.
The action at the Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez in Santo Domingo gets started with Canada taking on Costa Rica in the Third Place Match with the winner securing the third and final ticket to the 2024 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup.
Both sides narrowly fell in their semifinal contests, Canada losing 2-1 to Mexico on a goal in second half stoppage time, while Costa Rica’s comeback bid against the United States came up just short in a 2-1 final.
At the CWU20 level, Canada lead the all-time series between the two nations with four wins and a defeat, the last meeting being in 2018 when Canada emerged victorious 3-1.
Olivia Smith and Nyah Rose have been the leaders for the Canadian side in the tournament. Smith has three goals in the team’s four matches, while Rose has three assists.
Costa Rica will counter with the 2023 CWU20’s leading scorer Sheika Scott, who converted a penalty against the U.S. in the semifinal for her fifth goal of the tournament.
The Ticas are also bolstered by GK Genesis Perez, who had 20 saves during the group stage and backed that up with a sensational performance against the U.S.
Canada would advance to their ninth U20 Women’s World Cup with a win, while Costa Rica are pursuing a fourth appearance.
The second match of the day at the Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez will pit the U.S. against Mexico in the Final.
It marks the fourth straight time in which the U.S. and Mexico will face off in the CWU20 Final. Mexico were winners in 2018, while the U.S. captured the crown in 2020 and 2022.
Ally Sentnor and Madeline Dahlien each have four goals to head up the scorers list for the U.S. and Sentnor tops the tournament in shots taken with 13.
Mexico will counter with a dynamic duo of Maribel Flores and Hailey Gordon, who have three and two goals, respectively, in the tournament. Alice Soto, who was the hero in the semifinal win versus Canada with her dramatic late strike, has been the primary playmaker with three assists.
The U.S. will be aiming for their third straight title and eighth overall, while Mexico are seeking their second.
Head-to-head statistics between USA vs MEX and CRC vs CAN
