Mexico this time didn’t back down (as in the debut against Cameroon which ended in a 2-2 draw) and fought hard against Australia until dominating and defeating them 2-0, thus getting closer to qualification in Group A of the U-20 Women’s World Cup.
In the 9th minute, Soto nearly opened the scoring when the goalkeeper took a second to close in and then corrected her mark, managing to secure the ball. At the 19th minute, it was Maribel Florez who registered the first shot on goal, and what a shot it was: taking advantage of the Australian defenders’ slowness, the skillful Mexican sent a powerful shot that hung over the goalkeeper but rebelliously hit the crossbar. The Latin American team was stronger, even if it took time to reflect that on the scoreboard.
But as it is with football, Australia’s clearest chance came: an obvious handball by Esquivas, which was reviewed under the new video assistance system, resulted in a very high penalty kick from Johnson, who wasted her team’s only opportunity, and thus they went into the break. Mexico was saved.
The second half was more of the same, with the Mexicans attacking and Soto releasing a powerful shot that the goalkeeper Lincoln astonishingly leapt to save in the 54th minute.
Until justice was done at El Campín: in the 57th minute, Fátima Servín took advantage of a loose ball in the area after a corner kick, struck it home, leaving the goalkeeper with no reaction to finally open the scoring in favor of the team that played better.
The Mexicans called for a handball in the 63rd minute but lost their first chance to request a review since the referee did not see the hand that was claimed.
And at 90+1, justice was finally served on the scoreboard with a goal from Alejandra Lomelí, who had just arrived and scored with pure cleverness for the final 2-0.
Now Mexico has 4 points and temporarily leads Group A, while Australia has yet to score and is on the verge of being eliminated from the Colombian World Cup.