MIAMI, Florida – Familiar foes Mexico and Puerto Rico will open up the action in Group A of League A of the Road to W Gold Cup on Friday night at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
For Mexico, it is a long-awaited return to Concacaf competition since their frustrating fourth-place finish in their four-team group at the 2022 Concacaf W Championship on home soil.
Legendary goalscorer Charlyn Corral is back in the fold for El Tricolor, as is the dynamic Houston Dash duo of MF Maria Sanchez and FW Diana Ordonez.
Rising star and attacking midfielder Natalia Mauleon could well see some significant minutes. The Club America player was a member of the Mexico team that finished as runners-up at the 2018 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup and at the 2022 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship in the Dominican Republic.
Mexico is plenty familiar with Puerto Rico after having played the Boricuas in 2022 Concacaf W Championship Qualifying. In that April 2022 contest in Toluca, Mexico emerged with a commanding 6-0 victory.
Puerto Rico will be out to turn the tables and will be relying on a crop of young players that have made headway in recent Concacaf Youth Women’s National Team tournaments.
There is also captain Nickolette Driesse, who scored three goals for her country in 2022 CWC Qualifying. Jill Aguilera, who plays in the NWSL with the Chicago Red Stars, is another player who can make the difference.
Officials Mexico vs Puerto Rico
REF: TATIANA GUZMAN (Nicaragua)
AR1: IVETT SANTIAGO (Cuba)
AR2: MIJENSA RENSCH (Suriname)
4TH: SAPHIRE STOCKMAN (Costa Rica)
