El Tri's dream is over. Mexico will not be heading to the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, after a 1-0 loss to the USA confirmed its fate on Monday night in Monterrey at Estadio Universitario.
Kristie Mewis' tap-in from close range in the 89th minute decided the match. The goal was marred by a VAR replay that showed Emily Sonnett to be in an offside position, but the referee opted not to overturn the strike.
Goal by @KristieMewie! 🇺🇸 1-0 for @USWNT#CWC pic.twitter.com/YnNi7KxyoP
— Concacaf W (@ConcacafW) July 12, 2022
In a startling turn of events, Mexico finished the 2022 CONCACAFW tournament without scoring a single goal but with two red cards to its name. Substitute Jacqueline Ovalle was sent off on Monday after she committed a reckless lunging tackle on Rose Lavelle in the second half against the USA; while last Thursday, center back Greta Espinoza was dismissed against Haiti for denying Melchie Dumornay a goal-scoring opportunity.
Having missed out on the 2019 World Cup in France, this is the second consecutive World Cup that Mexico has now failed to qualify for. It will be the third time in El Tri's history that it endures an eight-year period without a World Cup berth (1991-1999, 2003-2011).
In front of 22,522 fans - by far the biggest crowd of the CONCACAFW tournament so far - Mexico was buoyed by a scintillating atmosphere. Drums, songs, and cheers helped deliver easily El Tri's most spirited 90 minutes of the competition, albeit it has been a low bar this July.
The Mexico players' agreed. "I am proud of the whole team tonight," said Mexico goalkeeper Itzel González. "I have no words, it was our best performance of the tournament."
However, amongst the positive support was some negative feedback. Perhaps the evening will be remembered most for how it opened and how it closed: With a cacophony of boos for head coach Monica Vergara.
Speaking to the media after the defeat to the USA, Vergara spoke mostly about the future and the importance of supporting the young players coming through the Mexican system.
"There are already preparation games planned to continue working with this generation, she said. "This is for future generations, it is the development of women's soccer. We need to continue trusting these generations, I personally assume this responsibility."
Reggae Girlz head Down Under
Across the city, at the Estadio BBVA, Jamaica won 4-0 over Haiti. Trudi Carter opened the scoring, Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw scored a brace either side of halftime, and Drew Spence added the fourth for Lorne Donaldson's team.
⚽ 🇯🇲 Khadija Shaw shoots from outside of the box and doubles @jff_football's lead! 2-0.#CWC pic.twitter.com/AgUBZpUORT
— Concacaf W (@ConcacafW) July 12, 2022
That result confirmed the Reggae Girlz' place at next summer's tournament. It will be the second consecutive World Cup in a row to feature the Caribbean nation. Jamaica will also join the USA in the semifinals of the CONCACAFW tournament.
Haiti's World Cup journey is not over just yet. Even with a defeat, Le Rouge et Bleu will travel to New Zealand in February 2023 to compete in the intercontinental playoffs.
Curler from Schmidt
Earlier on Monday, Canada cruised past Costa Rica 2-0 and Panama squeaked past Trinidad & Tobago 1-0 to close out Group B play. Before a ball was kicked, Canada and Costa Rica had already clinched the two semifinal spots in the CONCACAFW and the two automatic World Cup berths.
Therefore the most crucial goal of the night fell to Marta Cox. The Costa Rican forward's cool finish just before halftime was enough to give the Canalwomen a shot at making it to next summer's World Cup via the playoffs.
The goal of the day fell to Canada's Sophie Schmidt. The Houston Dash midfielder was sent on by Bev Priestman on the hour and just nine minutes later doubled Les Rouges' lead. It was the fourth Canada goal scored by a substitute during the group stages.
Teammate Adrianna Leon seemingly did all she could to get in the way of the shot, but Schmidt's clean curling effort whizzed into the net and past Daniela Solera unobstructed.
GOAL! Sophie Schmidt gives us a 2 goal lead after only 9 minutes on the pitch! 🍁#WeCAN @ConcacafW pic.twitter.com/HAK0M7pMvS
— Canada Soccer (@CanadaSoccerEN) July 12, 2022
Schmidt's goal also meant she became just the third-ever Canadian to score in three different decades for the national team. "I feel old," she said, when asked about what it meant to her to achieve that feat after the match. "It's pretty awesome, I'm so lucky and honored to represent my country as much as I have."
Up next:
Thursday, July 14:
USA vs. Costa Rica, 7 p.m ET - CBSSN and Paramount +
Canada vs. Jamaica, 10 p.m. ET - CBSSN and Paramount +