Penalty kick sends Mexico through to under-17 final

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay Captain Nicole Perez’s first-half penalty sent Mexico to the final of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup with a 1-0 win Wednesday that consigned Canada to the third-place match.

Spain defeated New Zealand 2-0 in the earlier semifinal at Estadio Charrua.

The Canadian women will meet New Zealand on Saturday in the consolation final before Spain and Mexico face off to see who joins France, Japan, South Korea and North Korea (twice) on the list of under-17 world champions.

“It’s about getting over this tomorrow,” said Canada coach Rhian Wilkinson. “Tonight I’m going to let them be sad, because it hurts for sure.”

Canada’s previous best finish at the U-17 tournament was seventh in 2008 and 2012.

Despite the loss, Wilkinson’s team has at the least matched the fourthplace finish by the Canadian senior team at the 2003 Women’s World Cup.

The only Canadian team to do better — male or female — at a FIFA world championship is the 2002 squad, featuring a 19-year-old Christine Sinclair, that finished runner-up to the U.S. at the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Championship on Canadian soil.

The Mexicans proved to be a welldisciplined, hard-working team that stayed solid in defence after going ahead in the 25th minute. At the other end, they hit the woodwork twice.

Canada had 59 per cent of possession but failed to test Mexican goalkeeper Jaidy Gutierrez, outshot 18-7 (5-0 in shots on target).

After winning a free kick, Canada captain Jordyn Huitema appeared to be bundled down by Felicia Escobar in the penalty box in the 22nd minute when the ball came in from the set piece. Referee Anastasia Pustovoytova was unmoved, however.

The Russian did see a penalty at the other end when Canadian defender Maya Antoine, who had given the ball way with a poor touch, brought down the speedy Alison Gonzalez as she raced towards the by-line. A distraught Antoine was yellow-carded on the play.

Perez cooly slotted home the penalty into the corner with goalkeeper Anna Karpenko rooted to the spot. It was the match’s first shot on target.

The Canadians began to build possession and Huitema scored what looked like the equalizer in the 38th minute after pouncing on a poor Mexican pass and beating Gutierrez. But the goal was waved off with Akindoju ruled to have bodied a defender to the ground to allow her captain a clear path to goal.