5 years ago, at this time, another edition of the World Cup was held in its U-20 category, which unlike the main event, takes place every two years, but despite being a World Cup Smaller given the age restriction, it is still a dream scenario for many footballers and a vital part in the process of becoming professionals.
Said World Cup that we will talk about in particular is that of Papua New Guinea in 2016. Mexico managed to qualify after beating the Honduran team in the match for third place in the CONCACAF World Cup in 2015, thus obtaining its ticket together with Canada and The United States who qualified directly after reaching the final.
Thus, in November 2016 the great stage arrived for those directed by Christopher Cuéllar, who had to his credit one of the best generations of Mexican soccer players that we have had and that today, the vast majority of these players are referents of the League MX Women.
Rebeca Bernal, Kiana Palacios, María Sánchez, Katty Martínez, Annia Mejía and Belén Cruz are some of the names that appeared in a complete list of 23 players who had the dream of transcending, and ironically, over the years, the goal it was fulfilled.
In the group stage, Mexico faced South Korea, Germany and Venezuela, closing with six points, the result of two victories against the South Koreans and Venezuelans and one defeat against the Germans.
It should also be noted that during the group stage, Kiana Palacios, current forward for América, finished with 3 goals scored, just a couple less than the 5 scored by Brazilian Gabi Nunes, who was proclaimed champion of individual scoring.
Thus, with a good performance and a lot of motivation, Mexico was measured in the quarterfinals against the staunch rival and the great power of women’s soccer: the United States. Although it was not being the best tournament of the North Americans, the quality and the physical form of the United States is of the first level and in the end that, combined with a bit of good luck was what ended up catapulting one of the most painful defeats of the Tri. Feminine
And we say painful because that morning of November 25, several of us stayed up to enjoy the meeting. An extremely even meeting and that Mexico dominated for lapses of the same.
It would be at minute 67 when María Sánchez would collect a free kick in a fantastic way to put Tri up, and thus, as the minutes passed, victory felt closer.
All this ended when an Ally Watt goal at minute 81 returned equality to the scoreboard and then, like a bucket of cold water, Kelcie Hedge appeared on the last play of the game at minute 93 to give him an agonizing victory for hers.
Thus, Mexico finished the World Cup in a very hard way, but in the end, the reward came for this young group of footballers who have achieved success at the individual and group level, since many of them are league champions, scoring champions and with experience in leagues. foreign.
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