University of North Carolina Athletics

Photo by: U.S. Soccer
USA To FIFA U20 World Cup Quarterfinals, Sentnor Scores In Round Of 16
September 12, 2024 | Women's Soccer
CALI, Colombia – The United States U20 Youth National Team had a dramatic 3-2 victory over Concacaf rival Mexico in the Round of 16 on Wednesday night to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2024 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in Cali, Colombia. Former North Carolina star Ally Sentnor scored in the contest.
The U.S. has now been one of the World Cup's last eight teams for the first time since finishing fourth in 2016 in Papua New Guinea. The U20s went out in the group stage in 2018 and 2022 (the 2020 tournament was canceled), when the competition featured only 16 teams.
Sentnor, along with current UNC standout Maddie Dahlien and former UNC star Savy King, are vying for gold at the FIFA U20 World Cup. Dahlien is one of 12 college players on the U.S. U20 roster while Sentnor and King make up two of the eight pros currently playing in the National Women's Soccer League.
Wearing the captain's armband, Sentnor gave the stars and stripes a 2-1 lead in the 27th minute. Pietra Tordin controlled the ball, occupied a couple defenders and slipped a pass backward to Sentnor, who dribbled left to set up her shot from about 25 yards out. Sentnor's well-struck blast swerved quite a bit, landing in the back of the net.
Sentnor is the USA's most-capped player and top scorer with 20 caps and 11 international goals.
Dahlien, who has seen valuable minutes off the bench in all four World Cup games thus far, subbed in during the 74th minute. She has six international goals in 12 USYNT caps. Two of those goals came during group stage play earlier this tournament.
Anchoring the USA's back line, King has started all four matches, logging 101 minutes against Mexico in the Round of 16. She has 16 caps as a defender.
Dahlien, King and Sentnor were part of the Concacaf qualifying roster in 2023 that secured the USWYNT's spot in the U-20 World Cup. Already with World Cup experience is King who was on the U-17 roster and Sentnor who played on the U-20 squad, both in 2022.
The U.S. advanced to the Round of 16 after placing second in Group C standings during stage play. The team will now face the winner of the Germany-Argentina match on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 8 p.m. ET.
Team USA Schedule
Group Stage
Sunday, Sept. 1 – Spain def. USA, 1-0
Wednesday, Sept. 4 – USA def. Morocco, 2-0
Saturday, Sept. 7 – USA def. Paraguay, 7-0
Knockout Rounds
Wednesday, Sept. 11 – Round of 16: USA def. Mexico, 3-2
Saturday, Sept. 15 – Quarterfinals: USA vs. Germany/Argentina, 8 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Sept. 18 – Semifinals, TBD
Saturday, Sept. 21 – Bronze medal match, TBD
Sunday, Sept. 22 – Gold medal match, TBD
A recap of Game One can be found here.
A recap of Game Two can be found here.
A recap of Game Three can be found here.
All matches of the tournament will be broadcast in English on the FOX Sports family of networks and online on FoxSports.com with corresponding authentication and in Spanish on the Telemundo networks.
Several former Tar Heels who have represented Team USA in past FIFA U20 World Cups have gone on to represent the full USWNT. Those players include Yael Averbuch, Amber Brooks, Lori Chalupny, Crystal Dunn, Kendall Fletcher, Emily Fox, Ashlyn Harris, Tobin Heath, Meghan Klingenberg, Allie Long, Casey Nogueira, Kealia Ohai, Heather O'Reilly, Amy Steadman and Lindsay Tarpley.
Stay up to date with UNC women's soccer by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
The U.S. has now been one of the World Cup's last eight teams for the first time since finishing fourth in 2016 in Papua New Guinea. The U20s went out in the group stage in 2018 and 2022 (the 2020 tournament was canceled), when the competition featured only 16 teams.
Sentnor, along with current UNC standout Maddie Dahlien and former UNC star Savy King, are vying for gold at the FIFA U20 World Cup. Dahlien is one of 12 college players on the U.S. U20 roster while Sentnor and King make up two of the eight pros currently playing in the National Women's Soccer League.
Wearing the captain's armband, Sentnor gave the stars and stripes a 2-1 lead in the 27th minute. Pietra Tordin controlled the ball, occupied a couple defenders and slipped a pass backward to Sentnor, who dribbled left to set up her shot from about 25 yards out. Sentnor's well-struck blast swerved quite a bit, landing in the back of the net.
Sentnor is the USA's most-capped player and top scorer with 20 caps and 11 international goals.
🎯🎯🎯🎯 #U20WYNT
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) September 12, 2024
🎥 » @TelemundoSports
pic.twitter.com/Iw0ODX50tU
Dahlien, who has seen valuable minutes off the bench in all four World Cup games thus far, subbed in during the 74th minute. She has six international goals in 12 USYNT caps. Two of those goals came during group stage play earlier this tournament.
Anchoring the USA's back line, King has started all four matches, logging 101 minutes against Mexico in the Round of 16. She has 16 caps as a defender.
Dahlien, King and Sentnor were part of the Concacaf qualifying roster in 2023 that secured the USWYNT's spot in the U-20 World Cup. Already with World Cup experience is King who was on the U-17 roster and Sentnor who played on the U-20 squad, both in 2022.
The U.S. advanced to the Round of 16 after placing second in Group C standings during stage play. The team will now face the winner of the Germany-Argentina match on Sunday, Sept. 15, at 8 p.m. ET.
Team USA Schedule
Group Stage
Sunday, Sept. 1 – Spain def. USA, 1-0
Wednesday, Sept. 4 – USA def. Morocco, 2-0
Saturday, Sept. 7 – USA def. Paraguay, 7-0
Knockout Rounds
Wednesday, Sept. 11 – Round of 16: USA def. Mexico, 3-2
Saturday, Sept. 15 – Quarterfinals: USA vs. Germany/Argentina, 8 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Sept. 18 – Semifinals, TBD
Saturday, Sept. 21 – Bronze medal match, TBD
Sunday, Sept. 22 – Gold medal match, TBD
A recap of Game One can be found here.
A recap of Game Two can be found here.
A recap of Game Three can be found here.
All matches of the tournament will be broadcast in English on the FOX Sports family of networks and online on FoxSports.com with corresponding authentication and in Spanish on the Telemundo networks.
Several former Tar Heels who have represented Team USA in past FIFA U20 World Cups have gone on to represent the full USWNT. Those players include Yael Averbuch, Amber Brooks, Lori Chalupny, Crystal Dunn, Kendall Fletcher, Emily Fox, Ashlyn Harris, Tobin Heath, Meghan Klingenberg, Allie Long, Casey Nogueira, Kealia Ohai, Heather O'Reilly, Amy Steadman and Lindsay Tarpley.
Stay up to date with UNC women's soccer by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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