Mexico, Dominican Republic seeking goals as Group A returns

MIAMI, Florida – Group A returns to the limelight at the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup with the second matchday for its four teams on Friday at Dignity Healthy Sports Park in Carson, California.

Dominican Republic vs. Mexico

Two teams in search of their first goals will meet to start the day, as the Dominican Republic square off with Mexico.

The Dominican Republic fell to the United States 5-0 in their opener on Tuesday, but certainly held their own against the four-time Women’s World Cup champions for a large portion of the match.

The same attacking spirit in which they showed in the Prelims against Guyana will be something that the Dominican Republic will try to display against El Tricolor. The lone previous meeting between the two nations came in Concacaf Women’s Olympic Championship Qualifying in 2012 in what was a 7-0 win for Mexico.

Players like Kathrynn Gonzalez, Lucia Marte, Brianne Reed and Paloma Pena will be out to help the cause. Gonzalez scored the lone goal in the Prelims win versus Guyana, while Marte had six ball recoveries against the U.S. Reed played 21 passes and made seven clearances, while GK Pena made five saves.

Mexico emerged with a 0-0 draw versus Argentina in their opening match in what was a frustrated evening for El Tricolor, which included a missed penalty by Rebeca Bernal.

Still, Mexico have the talent to kickstart their attack with players like Bernal, plus Maria Sanchez and Greta Espinoza. Sanchez took three shots against Argentina, while Espinoza completed 49 passes and had two ball recoveries.

GK Esthefanny Barreras was solid in net, registering a clean sheet with a save and one clearance, plus 26 completed passes.

Argentina vs. United States

The U.S. will be aiming to make it two wins from two matches against Argentina in Friday’s nightcap.

The U.S. enjoyed a successful outing on Tuesday, downing the Dominican Republic 5-0. Two of the stars of that affair were Olivia Moultrie and Midge Purce.

Moultrie, in her first start with the USWNT, bagged a brace on nine shots, while Purce was a never-ending source of playmaking and chance-creating, as she served up two assists from 21 passes.

Adding to the goal-scoring exploits among others were Lynn Williams and decorated striker Alex Morgan. Williams had a goal on eight shots, three of them on target, while Morgan coolly converted a late second half penalty, finishing with a goal and three shots in just 24 minutes of action.

In previous encounters between the two nations, the U.S. were 6-0 winners in the past SheBelieves Cup, plus three wins in three matches in the Pan American Games and a 7-0 win in a 2014 friendly.

Argentina will try to change their fortunes and look to Camila Gomez Ares and Yamila Rodriguez to score their first goal against the U.S. Gomez Ares had two shots in the opening 0-0 draw with Mexico, while Rodriguez finished as the trop scorer with six goals at the 2022 Copa America Femenina.

DF Miriam Mayorga and GK Laurina Oliveros will also be key. Mayorga had four ball recoveries and two clearances against Mexico, while Oliveros made a save and five clearances.