United States U-20 Women's National Team 6, Dominican Republic 0 2020 Concacaf Women's U-20 Championship

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (March 6, 2020) – The U.S. National Women's Under-20 Team has secured a place in the 2020 FIFA Women's Under-20 World Cup in Costa Rica and in Panama with a dominant 6-0 victory over the Dominican Republic in the semi-finals of the Concacaf U-20 Women's Championship.

With a blistering start that saw two goals from midfielder Brianna Pinto in the first four minutes, the United States was essentially on track for a World Cup ticket before five minutes. Pinto added one more to complete his hat trick while goals by strikers Mia Fishel and Trinity Rodman also helped the United States qualify for their 10th consecutive World Cup at U-19 / U-20 level. .

The United States will play the final of the 2020 Concacaf 2020 Women's U-20 Championship against the winner of Friday's second semi-final between Mexico and Haiti. The final kick off at Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez is scheduled for 1 p.m. AND Sunday March 8. The match will be broadcast live on Concacaf Go, Concacaf Facebook, Concacaf YouTube and TUDN Xtra.

Fishel's goal was her 11th in the tournament, most for an American player in a Concacaf qualifying tournament at this level. Kelly Wilson scored nine goals in three games in the 2002 FIFA U-19 Women's World Cup qualifiers. Kerri Hanks had nine goals in the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Cup qualifiers.

Legendary Michelle Akers holds the record for most goals ever for a US WNT senior player in a Concacaf qualifying tournament when she scored 11 in the FIFA Women's World Cup qualifiers 1991. With one more goal, Fishel will tie the all-ages record for the USWNT in a qualifying tournament, albeit in more games than its predecessors due to the format change for this year's competition. Summer Green holds the record for all ages, scoring 12 goals in the 2012 Concacaf U-17 Women's Championship.

The semi-final featured a rematch against the Dominican Republic after the home team beat Jamaica 2-1 in the quarterfinals to earn their place in the final four. DR's advance to the semi-finals in front of his home fans represents his best performance to date in a Concacaf tournament.

U.S. head coach Laura Harvey made seven changes to the starting lineup that beat DR 4-0 in its second game of the tournament. The addition of Rodman proved to be impactful, as the attacker played a role in the first three goals in 14 minutes, totaling two assists and one goal.

The United States threatened from the opening whistle, hitting the woodwork moments after kickoff before Pinto scored 84 seconds from the match when Rodman found her all alone at the start 39; inside the area of ​​six meters for the first goal of the match. The United States doubled their lead almost instantly, once again, Rodman finding Pinto. This time it was a center far from the right wing as Pinto crashed a volley home ten yards away.

The United States did not slow down with the first lead. Rodman added a goal and Pinto completed his hat trick as the United States took a 4-0 advantage in the 21st minute. With three goals in the first half, Pinto brought his total to nine during the tournament, tied for second in scores ever scored by an American player in a Concacaf qualifying tournament at this level.

The second half saw more of the same from the United States, who scored their fifth goal of the game thanks to Fishel in the 56th minute. In the 62nd minute, Rodman bagged his splint and capped the score on a nice turn at the top of the surface before crushing a shot in the upper left corner.

The United States only allowed three shots in total, two on goal, while ahead of the DR 22-3. Claudia Dickey clinched the shutout on goal, her fourth in the tournament when the United States has yet to concede in the competition. With the shutout, Dickey equalizes Katelyn Rowland for the most shutouts by an American player in a single Concacaf U-20 women's championship.

Next on the calendar: The United States will face the winner of the semi-final on Friday afternoon between Mexico and Haiti in the final of the Concacaf U-20 women's championship. The final kick off at Estadio Olimpico Felix Sanchez is scheduled for 1 p.m. AND Sunday March 8. The match will be broadcast live on Concacaf Go, Concacaf Facebook, Concacaf YouTube and TUDN Xtra.

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Summary of goal scoring:

USA – Brianna Pinto (Trinity Rodman), 2nd minute: After hitting the woodwork inside the first minute, Rodman entered the right wing, struck a sliding DR defender and played a center in the six-yard box. Pinto connected with Rodman's center on a skillful header in front of goalkeeper Nayelis Lopez for the first goal. USA 1, DOM 0

USA – Brianna Pinto (Trinity Rodman), 4th minute: Moments later, Rodman chipped a ball to the post furthest from the right wing and Pinto punted a volley back ten yards. USA 2, DOM 0

USA – Trinity Rodman (Jenna Nighswonger), 16th minute: Rodman dodged several defensemen just outside the upper left corner of the penalty area, then dribbled in the center to make room before hitting a 19 yard low shot in the lower left corner. United States 3, DOM 0

USA – Brianna Pinto (Mia Fishel), 21st minute: Pinto completed his hat trick in just over 20 minutes while Fishel beat a defender to the end line on the right side and chipped a cross in the middle. The unmarked Pinto encountered the cross with a powerful head in the left side of the net. USA 4, DOM 0

USA – Mia Fishel, 56th minute: Rodman did well to prevent the ball from crossing the baseline on the right side as it crossed it in the middle. Fishel touched the ball to beat the defender and shot. Her first shot was blocked, but she clung to the rebound and sent another try in the upper left corner of the goal with the outside of her right foot. United States 5, DOM 0

USA – Trinity Rodman (Mia Fishel), 62nd minute: Fishel had a throw-in on the left wing, shielded a DR defender from the ball and turned to lead in the middle before playing a pass to Rodman up the penalty area . Rodman received the pass from Fishel, ran towards goal as she let the ball pass and then broke her shot in the upper left corner at 12 yards to complete the score. United States 6, DOM 0

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• The United States has kept a clean sheet in six consecutive games, a record at this tournament. In 2014, the United States allowed no goals in the Concacaf Women's U-20 five-game championship.

• Brianna Pinto's nine goals are good for third place in the tournament behind teammate Mia Fishel (11) and Melchie Dumornay (13).

• Fishel and Pinto have scored 20 combined goals, the most of two teammates in this tournament.

• Forward Sophia Smith made her first start to the tournament, but had to leave in the 27th minute and will be assessed by team medical staff. Samantha Meza had to leave the match in the second half due to an injury and is also under evaluation.

• Eleven players scored for the United States at the 2020 Concacaf Women's U-20 Championship: Mia Fishel (11), Brianna Pinto (9), Trinity Rodman (5), Summer Yates (3), Katelyn Duong, Sierra Enge, Shae Holmes, Rebecca Jarrett, Samantha Meza, Alexa Spaanstra and Kennedy Wesley.

• Fourteen players scored an assist for the United States during the tournament: Rodman (6), Spaanstra (5), Yates (4), Duong (3), Naomi Girma (3), Fishel (2) , Holmes (2), Jarrett (2), Maycee Bell (1), Brianna Martinez (1), Meza (1), Jenna Nighswonger (1), Pinto (1), Wesley (1).

• The result marked the 34th shutout of the United States at this tournament and the 22nd time with five or more goals.