Also in today’s roundup, Karina Leblanc has a new job in Concacaf, and Denmark has a sudden retirement
Qualify for the U-17 @FIFAWWC: ✅
Win @Concacaf Championship: ✅MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. pic.twitter.com/N02BExJJ4G
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@ussoccer_ynt) June 13, 2018
After an extensive rain delay, the U-17 USWNT took on Mexico in the Concacaf Championship match in Bradenton, Florida on Tuesday. The match had back-and-forth action throughout, with Mexico taking the lead twice, but the U.S. ultimately prevailed 3-2, taking the 2018 Championship.
Both teams (along with third-place Canada) had already qualified for the U-17 Women’s World Cup in Uruguay at the end of the year, but they came into the match wanting to put a strong punctuation on their respective qualifying campaigns. Mexico took the lead first, after a rough tackle in the box in the 32nd minute resulted in a penalty from the spot. The lead didn’t last long, however, as the US equalized off a corner kick in the 35th.
The first half would end with another Mexico lead, when a slow back-pass from the U.S. defense left keeper Angelina Anderson on her own, and Mexican forward Nayeli Diaz pounced to end the half 2-1.
The second half started quickly and positively for the Americans, and they equalized a second time in just the 46th minute from a strike from Sunshine Fontes off a cross from Kate Weisner, and the U.S. completed the full comeback in the 76th minute, off of another corner kick, ultimately followed through by Maya Doms.
Karina Leblanc named head of women’s soccer for Concacaf
I am very much looking forward to this next chapter with Concacaf. Being the young girl from Dominica that never had the opportunity to play football/soccer until I moved to Canada, I know and… https://t.co/p85qMQEr9o
— Karina LeBlanc (@karinaleblanc) June 12, 2018
It was announced yesterday at the 33rd Concacaf Ordinary Congress in Moscow that Karina Leblanc, Olympic bronze-winning former goalkeeper for the Canada Women’s soccer team had accepted a new position within Concacaf, as the head of women’s soccer. Leblanc’s playing career included 110 appearances for Canada, three Pan-Am Games, two Olympics and five FIFA World Cups, and she will officially be starting work on August 1st.
Of her new role, Leblanc had to say “in our region, we have no reason why we shouldn’t be the number 1 region around the world. We already have two of the top five (FIFA ranked teams, in the U.S. and Canada respectively) but it’s making sure all 41 countries in the women’s game (are) improving in all aspects”.
Denmark goalkeeper Stina Lykke announces international retirement
Førstemålmand Stina Lykke stopper på landsholdet https://t.co/fx4Qmez8gP pic.twitter.com/IJuK71AInt
— DR Sporten (@DRSporten) June 12, 2018
Immediately following Denmark’s 5-1 victory over Hungary in World Cup Qualifying on Tuesday, starting goalkeeper Stina Lykke announced her decision to step away from the international game. In a post-game interview, Lykke alluded to injury that had been plaguing her for some time, but that she had tried to continue for as long as possible in the Denmark squad for the love of the game.
“There is a life after football, and I would like to be active too. I’m never tired of playing at the national team, it’s the coolest in the world. I wish everyone could try it, but I’m one of the lucky ones. I have enjoyed it 81 times, and I am so proud of that”, Lykke said after the match, “There’s never a good time, but I have to listen to my body.”
Denmark currently sits in second place in their World Cup Qualifying group, tied with first-place Sweden on points, but relegated to second due to a head-to-head tiebreaker. They will continue their road to qualifying on August 30th against Croatia.
