Photo by: U.S. Soccer
Three Tar Heels Clinch Bronze With Team USA At FIFA U20 World Cup
September 21, 2024 | Women's Soccer
BOGATÁ, Colombia – The United States U20 Youth National Team is bringing home some hardware from the 2024 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup, securing bronze after a 2-1 win over the Netherlands in the third-place match on Saturday night at Estadio El Campin in Bogatá, Colombia.
With the bronze medal, Team USA saw its best finish at the U20 World Cup since winning the tournament in 2012.Â
Including this year, the U.S. has been relegated to the bronze medal match four times in 11 editions of the FIFA World Cup for this age group. This is the second time the USA has earned the bronze medal, joining the 2004 squad.Â
Current North Carolina junior Maddie Dahlien, along with former UNC stars Savy King and Ally Sentnor, were representing the red, white and blue. Dahlien was one of 12 college players on the U.S. U20 roster while Sentnor and King made up two of the eight pros currently playing in the National Women's Soccer League.Â
Sentnor scored the USA's first goal in the 10th minute. The U.S. was on the attack but lost possession, but miscommunication between two Dutch defenders allowed Gisele Thompson to gain control of the loose ball. Then a failed tackle allowed the ball to land at Sentnor's feet at the top of the box, who uncorked a right-footed strike to the near post.
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Despite Team USA's game-winner being ruled an own goal in the 199th minute, Dahlien played a crucial role in it. Dahlien dribbled down the left flank and sent a cross into the box, which deflected off a defender and rolled into the lower right corner.Â
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Wearing the captain's armband all tournament, Sentnor is the USA's most-capped player and top scorer with 23 caps and 13 international goals. Five of those 13 goals have come in a World Cup, with four being in this tournament.Â
Dahlien, who saw valuable minutes off the bench in all seven games, subbed in during the 75th minute in the bronze medal match. She has six international goals and one assist in 15 USYNT caps. Two of her goals came during group stage play earlier this tournament, with her assist coming in the quarterfinals. Â
King started all seven World Cup matches in Colombia and was a key piece of Team USA's backline. She now has 19 caps as a defender.
The U.S. advanced to the Round of 16 after placing second in Group C standings during stage play. The team then made it to the quarterfinals after a win over Concacaf rival Mexico, and advanced to the semifinals after an epic comeback win over Germany.
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 def. Germany, 2-2 (3-1 PKs)
Wednesday, Sept. 18 – Semifinals: Korea DPR def. USA, 1-0
Saturday, Sept. 21 – Bronze Medal Match: USA def. Netherlands, 2-1
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.
A recap of Game Four can be found here.
A recap of Game Five can be found here.
A recap of Game Six can be found here.
Dahlien, King and Sentnor were all part of the Concacaf qualifying roster in 2023 that secured the USWYNT's spot in the U20 World Cup. Already with prior World Cup experience is King who was on the U17 roster and Sentnor who played on another U20 squad, both in 2022.Â
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.
With the bronze medal, Team USA saw its best finish at the U20 World Cup since winning the tournament in 2012.Â
Including this year, the U.S. has been relegated to the bronze medal match four times in 11 editions of the FIFA World Cup for this age group. This is the second time the USA has earned the bronze medal, joining the 2004 squad.Â
Current North Carolina junior Maddie Dahlien, along with former UNC stars Savy King and Ally Sentnor, were representing the red, white and blue. Dahlien was one of 12 college players on the U.S. U20 roster while Sentnor and King made up two of the eight pros currently playing in the National Women's Soccer League.Â
Sentnor scored the USA's first goal in the 10th minute. The U.S. was on the attack but lost possession, but miscommunication between two Dutch defenders allowed Gisele Thompson to gain control of the loose ball. Then a failed tackle allowed the ball to land at Sentnor's feet at the top of the box, who uncorked a right-footed strike to the near post.
Â
A second look at Ally Sentnor's third #U20WWC goal 👀🙌
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) September 21, 2024
🎥 » @TelemundoSports
pic.twitter.com/IA93Bd9yJl
Despite Team USA's game-winner being ruled an own goal in the 199th minute, Dahlien played a crucial role in it. Dahlien dribbled down the left flank and sent a cross into the box, which deflected off a defender and rolled into the lower right corner.Â
Â
FINAL | USA 2-1 NED
— Equal Time Soccer (@EqualTimeSoccer) September 22, 2024
Minnesotan @maddiedahlien comes off the bench's and earns the winning goal for the @USYNT to clinch the bronze medal in the #USWYNT U20 World Cup. pic.twitter.com/e5z0bjHS0k
Wearing the captain's armband all tournament, Sentnor is the USA's most-capped player and top scorer with 23 caps and 13 international goals. Five of those 13 goals have come in a World Cup, with four being in this tournament.Â
Dahlien, who saw valuable minutes off the bench in all seven games, subbed in during the 75th minute in the bronze medal match. She has six international goals and one assist in 15 USYNT caps. Two of her goals came during group stage play earlier this tournament, with her assist coming in the quarterfinals. Â
King started all seven World Cup matches in Colombia and was a key piece of Team USA's backline. She now has 19 caps as a defender.
The U.S. advanced to the Round of 16 after placing second in Group C standings during stage play. The team then made it to the quarterfinals after a win over Concacaf rival Mexico, and advanced to the semifinals after an epic comeback win over Germany.
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 def. Germany, 2-2 (3-1 PKs)
Wednesday, Sept. 18 – Semifinals: Korea DPR def. USA, 1-0
Saturday, Sept. 21 – Bronze Medal Match: USA def. Netherlands, 2-1
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.
A recap of Game Four can be found here.
A recap of Game Five can be found here.
A recap of Game Six can be found here.
Dahlien, King and Sentnor were all part of the Concacaf qualifying roster in 2023 that secured the USWYNT's spot in the U20 World Cup. Already with prior World Cup experience is King who was on the U17 roster and Sentnor who played on another U20 squad, both in 2022.Â
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.
Players Mentioned
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