History was made Monday night at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., but not the kind the U.S. women's national team wants to celebrate.
For Mexico, however, it was a significant result that will send shockwaves throughout the football world.
The USWNT lost to Mexico for just the second time in 43 games, falling 2-0 in Concacaf W Gold Cup group stage play. Additionally, the loss was the USWNT's first on home soil against a Concacaf opponent since 2000, ending an 80-game unbeaten streak (78 wins, two draws). The last time Mexico beat the USWNT was in November 2010 during Concacaf World Cup qualifying.
Mexican Lizbeth Ovalle scored the opening goal in the 38th minute. U.S. defender Becky Sauerbrunn's attempt to clear the ball bounced off Ovalle, who regained possession, dribbled around goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and fired the ball into the net. Ovalle's goal was the USWNT's first clean sheet against a Concacaf opponent in 33 games.
In the 89th minute, Trinity Rodman narrowly missed the USA's chance to equalize, but her shot went wide of the far post.
Just moments later, Mexico secured their historic victory when Mayra Pelayo scored the decisive goal with a superb long-range shot in the second minute of stoppage time.
“Not only Concacaf, but the whole world continues to raise its level. It helps all leagues around the world and Mexico is definitely a product of that with their league,” USWNT forward Alex Morgan said after the loss. “Concacaf is not what it was 14 years ago when we last lost to Mexico.”
This was the first loss for the USWNT under interim coach Twila Kilgore, who took over after the team's disappointing performance at the World Cup last summer. Emma Hayes will take over for Kilgore later this spring.
With the win, Mexico – which did not qualify for the 2023 World Cup – wins Group A, while the United States finishes second. At the start of the game on Monday evening, both teams had already secured a place in the quarterfinals of the first-ever Concacaf w Gold Cup.
The USWNT had outscored its opponents 9-0 in its last two W Gold Cup games, defeating the Dominican Republic 5-0 and Argentina 4-0 to secure a spot in the next round of the tournament.