Mia Fishel strikes again as U.S. U-20 women clinch spot knockout stage spot in World Cup qualifying

• by Mike Woitalla  @MikeWoitalla, Feb 24, 2020

Mia Fishel, who scored four goals in the USA's opening win over Cuba, scored in the 4th and 8th minutes of Monday's 4-0 win over host Dominican Republic that clinches a spot in the knockout round of Concacaf U-20 Women’s Championship, from which two teams will qualify for the 2020 U-20 World Cup.

The UCLA forward opened the scoring with an assist from UNC's Brianna Pinto, who had won the ball in midfield. Pinto, who struck twice against Cuba, beat goalkeeper Nayelis Lopez from close-range after a pass across the middle from UVA's Rebecca Jarrett, for the USA"s only second-half goal. Jarrett had scored the second U.S. goal with an assist from UNC's Maycee Bell. Pinto and Stanford's Kennedy Wesley combined to set up Fishel's second goal.

U.S coach Laura Harvey made six starting lineup changes from the squad that opened against Cuba. U.S. goalkeeper Julia Dohle, who started in place of Claudia Dickey, was called on for only one save while Lopez made seven. The USA took 19 shots; the Dominicans managed three.

NEXT UP: The USA faces Honduras, which lost to the Dominican Republic (7-0) and Cuba (6-1) and in its final Group C game on Wednesday, Feb. 26. The round of 16 begins on Saturday for the USA. Because U-20 World Cup is being hosted by two Concacaf nations that receive automatic bids, Costa Rica and Panama, only the finalists from this tournament will qualify. If as expected the USA wins Group C, it will face Saint Lucia -- one of four teams that moved directly into the knockout stage from qualifying play between Concacaf's lowest ranked teams.

Feb. 24 in Santo Domingo
USA 4 Dominican Republic 0. Goals: Fishel 4, 12, Jarrett 8, Pinto 65.
USA -- Dohle; Mason, Bell, Enge, Wesley (DellaPeruta, 55); Nighswonger (Duong, 52), Pinto, Spaanstra (Yates, 73); Jarrett, Fishel, Meza.
Dominican Republic -- Lopez; Ureña, Victoria, Asenjo, De Jesus, Garcia, Perez (Cabrera, 72), Oviedo (Santos, 85), Colon, Dionicio, Pacheco (Clase, 30).