Concacaf W Championship: Matchday 1, Groups A&B
Matchday 1 for both Group A and B has finished and Matchday 2 (and matchday three overall) for Group A is tonight kicking off at 18:00 local (Central / UTC -5). Matchday 1 for Group A saw a not-so surprising win for the US and a surprise win for Jamaica over hosts Mexico. Group B saw massive wins for Canada and Costa Rica.
Group A, Matchday 1 (4, July)
United States|3 – 0|Haiti
The United States faced Haiti in the opener for the Concacaf W Championship, the Americans looked to solidify their rank as number one in the world, while Haiti was aiming to at least get one point. The US got the opening goal in the 16th minute when Mallory Pugh sent a low cross into the box that Alex Morgan back heeled into goal while in the midst of a jump. Seven minutes later Morgan struck again for a brace, scoring on a header from a Kelley O’Hara cross.
The introduction of VAR to the tournament for the first time came back to hurt the US not once, but twice. Shortly after a 41st minute yellow to Emily Fox and a missed penalty by Haiti’s Roselord Borgella, Borgella was initially given a red card. That red card would be called back to a yellow upon VAR review. The second VAR review that bit the US was an own goal that was called back due to offsides. The Americans would finally get their third goal when Margaret Purce corralled a loose ball in the box and sent it past Haitian keeper Lara Larco.
Mexico|0 – 1|Jamaica
A massive upset on day one of the tournament where the Reggae Girlz upset the hosts on a single goal difference. That goal saw Deneisha Blackwood send a free kick into the box and Khadija Shaw head the ball to the back post, giving Jamaica the lead. The Reggae Girlz nearly doubled the lead after Mexico’s Casandra Montero Rodríguez was called for a handball in the box and given a yellow card in the 39th minute. Havana Solaun took the penalty for Jamaica, but skied it over the goal. Mexico would never truly get out of second gear with Jamaica controlling most of the match, even though Mexico held 58% ball possession.
Group B, Matchday 1 (5, July)
Costa Rica|3 – 0|Panama
Similar to the previous matches, Costa Rica got off to a hot start fast. Raquel Rodriguez got the first goal in the 8th minute after the ball was sent in on a corner from Cristin Granados. La Sele Femenina added another goal in the 24th minute after Priscila Chinchilla sent a pass to Maria Paula Salas at the top of the box, who managed to send a low shot through traffic and into the goal on the far side.
In the second half Katherine Castillo committed a foul inside the box and after a VAR review a penalty was confirmed in addition to the yellow issued to Castillo. Costa Rican captain Katherine Alvarado stepped up to the penalty spot and sent a low shot to the right side of the keeper to make it 3–0.
Canada|6 – 0|Trinidad and Tobago
Estadio BBVA saw pure dominance by the Canadians in the biggest route of the tournament so far. The Canadians held 61% possession and had all but one of the shots against T&T. While they did dominate statistically it took a bit for the CanXNT to get going. Christine Sinclair scored the first goal in the 27th minute and seven minutes later Jessie Fleming missed a penalty.
The second half was much better for Canada, but still started slowly as it took 22 minutes of the half before Julia Grosso scored her 67th minute goal to make it 2–0. Grosso earned a brace for herself with her second goal of the night just 12 minutes later and from that point the floodgates opened wide. Jessie Fleming made up for the missed penalty with an 84th minute goal to make it 4–0. Janine Beckie made it 5–0 in the 86th minute with a shot near the penalty spot after a through ball was sent to her. Beckie then setup the next goal when she sent a pass to Jordyn Huitema who got the sixth goal at 90+1'.
Upcoming Matches
Group A, Matchday 2 (7, July)
Jamaica vs United States — Estadio BBVA, 18:00 local (23:00 GMT)
An unlikely matchday one winner in Jamaica will face the powerhouse USWNT. After the win over Mexico the tournament and FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying fate for the Reggae Girlz is in their own hands. If Jamaica can come out with even a single point they could nearly guarantee a trip to Australia and New Zealand next summer. The question is how will they play against the best and most dominant women’s side in the world.
Haiti vs Mexico — Estadio BBVA, 21:00 local (2:00 GMT)
The two losing teams from Group A’s first matchday will face each other with their hopes of knockout round and WWC qualification slipping away from both sides. Haiti lost to the US on the opening day while Mexico fell to Jamaica and will finish with the United States. A win for either side will keep them alive for one more matchday, while a loss or draw could mean the destruction of hopes for one or both sides.
Group B, Matchday 2 (8, July)
Trinidad and Tobago vs Costa Rica — Estadio Universitario, 18:00 local (23:00 GMT)
Costa Rica comes in to the match as the heavy favourites after having already defeated Panama while Trinidad and Tobago are on the back foot after a humiliating loss to Canada. With only two spots in the knockouts and WWC from this group a win can secure Panama’s trip to both. A draw will keep Trinidad and Tobago’s hopes alive into the final day while a win for the Soca Princesses would throw the entirety of Matchday 3 into chaos.
Panama vs Canada — Estadio Universitario, 21:00 local (2:00 GMT)
The second round of matches ends with Group B favourites Canada facing Panama. After a 6–0 win over Trinidad and Tobago the Canadians are in a good position to lock up a spot in the knockout stage with a win over Panama. The Panamanians will attempt to rebound from their 3–0 loss to Costa Rica, but the Canadians should have no problem waltzing into the knockout stage with a win.
