The U.S. women’s national team (USWNT) suffered a historic loss on Monday night, falling to Mexico 2-0 in their final W Gold Cup group stage game.
Lizbeth Ovalle opened up the scoring in the first half, putting El Tri Femenil up 1-0.
Ovalle’s goal marked the first time that the USWNT had conceded a first goal against Mexico in 17 meetings, dating back to a World Cup qualifier in November of 2010. It also ended a run of 33 straight shutouts for the USWNT in Concacaf competitions.
Trinity Rodman had a chance at an equalizer, but her shot rolled wide of the far post in the 89th minute. Mayra Pelayo would add a second a few minutes later with a long-distance strike to put an exclamation point on the win.
The loss was just the second for the USWNT against Mexico in 43 matchups. It also was the USWNT’s first Concacaf loss on home soil since 2000, breaking an 80-game unbeaten streak.
“The fact that everyone in that locker room can say they played a part in it is a big deal,” Mexico’s Diana Ordonez said afterward. “We’re just really proud but we know that we still have work to do.”
It’s the first time that Mexico had played the U.S. under coach Pedro López Ramos, who took over in 2022 after Mónica Vergara failed to lead the team to the 2023 World Cup.
He called Monday’s result his best accomplishment since taking charge in September of 2022.
“I suppose yes because of the opponent,” Lopez said. “I loved the [8-0] Dominican Republic game, I liked it a lot, but of course doing it against the United States is special. … They went out and they were bold, they were brave with the dream of playing a good game against the United States,”
“Clearly that wolf was seen today,” he continued, referring to how he described his team as a “‘wolf in sheep’s clothing” prior to the tournament. “But I insist that for us it would be of no use if in the next game we lose the [W Gold Cup] quarterfinals and we go down in history as the team that only beat the United States one day.”
“If we lose in the quarterfinals, then the beautiful win of today is useless. I hope that this is not an isolated moment.”
For the USWNT, they’ll have time to regroup before their next game, having advanced to the quarterfinals after finishing second in Group A behind Mexico.