Canada were eliminated by rivals USA at the 2020 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship following an 0:4 loss on Wednesday afternoon in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. USA scored twice in each half, with the first three goals scored following corner kicks. Mia Fishel scored twice and both Brianna Pinto and Kennedy Wesley scored once each.
“There’s no hiding from that it’s obviously a very disappointing time but I am very proud of them, they put it all on the line,” said Head Coach Rhian Wilkinson. “Today, we’re upset, and I’m very upset for our seniors who will be graduating out of the program. But, I look at the progress of our young players right now and I’m so proud of Jayde (Riviere), Julia (Grosso), and Jordyn (Huitema) that are all this age group that are with the senior team right now in France. Our youth program is for giving opportunities, learning hard lessons so that one day we watch them wearing the jersey for our Canadian senior team.”
This marks only the second time ever that Canada and USA have faced each other in an elimination match for a FIFA women’s youth tournament. Canada eliminated USA in 2010 from the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup before USA eliminated Canada this year from the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The two nations have won 12 of 14 Concacaf women’s youth championships before this year.
MATCH CENTRE, QUOTES & PHOTOS
Across five matches, Canada posted two wins, a draw, and two losses at the 2020 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship. Canada’s nine goals were scored by Tanya Boychuk (four), Jazmine Wilkinson (two), Kaila Novak, Maya Ladhani, and Léonie Portelance. All-time, Canada have posted 62 wins, seven draws, and 18 losses in 87 Concacaf women’s youth matches since 2004 (all age groups from U-15 to U-20).
In the Concacaf Quarterfinals, USA opened the scoring in the 35‘ following a Jenna Nighswonger corner kick from the right side. Canadian goalkeeper Anna Karpenko initially punched it away, but Fishel collected the ball and scored the opener, her ninth goal of the tournament.
USA scored their second goal six minutes later, this time after a Katelyn Duong corner kick from the opposite side. Captain Naomi Girma played it to Pinto who scored her sixth goal of the tournament for the 2-0 lead.
Just before the break, Canada had their best chance following a pair of kicks from Lara Kazandjian. Her free kick to the back post nearly found Wayny Balata, but American Emily Mason cleared it. On the ensuing corner kick, Pinto was there for the clearance.
In the 54′, USA scored again off a corner kick, this time from the Duong corner headed into goal by Kennedy Wesley. In the 67′, Fishel made it 4-0 with her second goal, this time on a pass from Alexa Spaanstra.
Canada’s starting XI featured Anna Karpenko in goal, Wayny Balata, Jade Rose and Sonia Walk along the back, and Caleigh Boeckx, Lara Kazandjian, Caitlin Shaw, Samantha Chang, Kaila Novak, Andersen Williams and Tanya Boychuk from the midfield up through to the attack. In the second half, coach Rhian Wilkinson replaced Chang with Emma Regan (46’), Novak with Léonie Portelance (46’), and Williams with Jazmine Wilkinson (57’). Canada finished the match with 10 players after an injury to Portlance (85′).
CANADA SOCCER’S WOMEN’S EXCEL PROGRAM
Canada Soccer’s Women’s Excel Program brings together the best with the best at the national youth level from the U-14 to U-20 age groups. The program delivers an aligned talent structure that produces more gold-medal standard players that progress to the Women’s National Team. Across Concacaf, FIFA, and other youth competitions, players develop the Women’s Excel Program Playing Model and benefit from invaluable tournament expertise.
Additionally, Canada Soccer’s most talented U-14 to U-18 players are offered a specialised daily training environment through the Women’s Excel Centres. The program delivers Canada Soccer’s national curriculum through a two-tiered talent system, with three Excel Super Centres in British Columbia, Ontario, and Québec supported by smaller Regional Excel Centres positioned across the country.
Already graduated from Canada Soccer’s Women’s Excel Program, Julia Grosso, Jordyn Huitema and Jayde Riviere are all in action with Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team at the Tournoi de France which overlapped the 2020 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship. The three players, who have all featured at previous Concacaf and FIFA youth tournaments, are helping Canada prepare for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games.
CONCACAF WOMEN’S UNDER-17 CHAMPIONSHIP
Beyond the U-20 tournament, the Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship runs 19 April to 3 May and the Concacaf Girls’ Under-15 Championship takes place in early August. The 2020 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship will feature up to seven matches across 15 days after which three Concacaf nations will qualify for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup India 2020.
Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Youth Teams have won four Concacaf youth titles: the 2004 and 2008 Concacaf Women’s Under-20 Championship, the 2010 Concacaf Women’s Under-17 Championship, and the 2014 Concacaf Girls’ Under-15 Championship. Canada have qualified for seven editions of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup (including a silver medal at Canada 2002) and all six editions of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup (including a fourth-place finish at Uruguay 2018).
CANADA WNT RETURN HOME IN APRIL
Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team will come home this Spring when they face Australia in Vancouver on Tuesday 14 April. The home international soccer match will provide Canadian fans will an opportunity to see their favourite players live in action at BC Place (19.30 local kickoff).
Tickets to the Canada-Australia match are on sale now starting as low as $20 via Ticketmaster.ca (or by calling 1.855.985.5000), with complete information available via CanadaSoccer.com/tickets. Group discounts of up to 30% off the regular price are available for orders of 10 or more tickets using the Group Order Form. A special Me+3 ticket package can be purchased directly via Ticketmaster.ca.
Canada are two-time Olympic bronze medal winners (2012 and 2016) and two-time Concacaf champions (1998 and 2010). Canada have qualified for seven consecutive editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ (1995 to 2019) and four consecutive editions of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament (2008 to 2020). At Rio 2016, Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team were the first Canadian Olympic team to win back-to-back medals at a summer Olympic Games in more than a century.
MEDIA CONTACT / CONTACT MÉDIAS
Brad Fougere
Corporate Communications | Gestionnaire, Communications corporatives
bfougere@canadasoccer.com
m. +1 613.299.1587
Richard Scott
National Teams Program | Programme des équipes nationales
rscott@canadasoccer.com
m. +1 613.818.0305