U.S. Wins 2012 CONCACAF U-20 Women's Championship

The U.S. rallied for a pair of goals in the final 12 minutes to defeat Canada by a score of 2-1 to win the 2012 CONCACAF U-20 Women's Championship. The U.S. fell behind early when defender Crystal Dunn turned the ball over deep in her own end and Canada's Jenna Richardson beat U.S. keeper Bryane Heaberlin with a low driven shot to the back post for a 1-0 lead. It was the first goal the U.S. surrendered in the tournament in five matches. Canada took that lead all the way into the 79th minute, but eventually the U.S. broke through when Maya Hayes fought through the Canadian defense to win a cross from Kealia Ohai and tucked the equalizer into the corner of the net. Ten minutes later it was Ohai again making things happen when her cross in the match's final minute deflected off a Canadian defender and substitute Chioma Ubogagu got to the loose ball first and knocked it in for the game winner. The U.S. has now won two straight U-20 CONCACAF Championships and three of the past four.

Meanwhile, Mexico won yesterday's third place game over Panama by a score of 5-0 meaning they'll join the U.S. and Canada at the U-20 World Cup in August. Mexican striker Natalia Gómez-Junco, a freshman at the University of Memphis, scored a pair of goals giving her a tournament-high six. The U.S.'s Hayes was the tournament's second leading scorer with five goals.