University of North Carolina Athletics
Photo by: U.S. Soccer
Dahlien Scores In 2-0 Win Over Morocco At FIFA U20 World Cup
September 5, 2024 | Women's Soccer
CALI, Colombia – Current North Carolina women's soccer junior Maddie Dahlien scored deep into stoppage time to propel the United States U20 Youth National Team to a 2-0 win over Morocco in its second game of the 2024 FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in Cali, Colombia, on Wednesday night.
Dahlien, along with former UNC stars Savy King and Ally Sentnor, 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.
A forward with a knack for creative finishes, Dahlien tallied the USA's second goal in the 96th minute when she pounced on a mistake in the back. It was her fifth international goal in her 10th cap.
In the game's final seconds, Morocco relaxed on a throw-in deep in its own half and Dahlien, who'd entered just a few minutes earlier, took advantage. She stole the ball from Siham Bouhouch, dribbled toward goal and side-footed a low shot between the goalie and the right post.
Wearing the captain's armband, Sentnor started the match, as did King. Dahlien replaced Sentnor at the end of regulation with King then donning the captain's band after logging a full game. The full box score can be found here.
Dahlien's goal could prove to be critical for Team USA. The goal put the U.S. ahead of Paraguay on goal difference (+1 to 0), which is the first standings tiebreaker. The top two finishers in each of the six, four-team groups will advance to the single-elimination Round of 16, along with the four best third-place sides.
A win or a tie in the Group C finale will ensure the U.S. advancement to the Round of 16. Team USA is in Group C along with Spain, Paraguay and Morocco. The stars and stripes take on Paraguay in the third Group C match on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m. ET.
Sentnor, a forward and team captain, is the USA's most-capped player and top scorer with 18 caps and nine international goals. Fellow forward Dahlien has scored five times in her 10 appearances while King has 14 caps as a defender.
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 vs. Paraguay, 7 p.m. ET
Knockout Rounds
Wednesday, Sept. 11 – Round of 16, TBD
Thursday, Sept. 12 – Round of 16, TBD
Saturday, Sept. 15 – Quarterfinals, TBD
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.
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.
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.
Stay up to date with UNC women's soccer by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Dahlien, along with former UNC stars Savy King and Ally Sentnor, 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.
A forward with a knack for creative finishes, Dahlien tallied the USA's second goal in the 96th minute when she pounced on a mistake in the back. It was her fifth international goal in her 10th cap.
In the game's final seconds, Morocco relaxed on a throw-in deep in its own half and Dahlien, who'd entered just a few minutes earlier, took advantage. She stole the ball from Siham Bouhouch, dribbled toward goal and side-footed a low shot between the goalie and the right post.
Maddie Dahlien doing what she does best!!!
— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) September 5, 2024
Pouncing on the back line! #U20WYNT
🎥 » @TelemundoSports
pic.twitter.com/R9AayIgV1A
Wearing the captain's armband, Sentnor started the match, as did King. Dahlien replaced Sentnor at the end of regulation with King then donning the captain's band after logging a full game. The full box score can be found here.
Dahlien's goal could prove to be critical for Team USA. The goal put the U.S. ahead of Paraguay on goal difference (+1 to 0), which is the first standings tiebreaker. The top two finishers in each of the six, four-team groups will advance to the single-elimination Round of 16, along with the four best third-place sides.
A win or a tie in the Group C finale will ensure the U.S. advancement to the Round of 16. Team USA is in Group C along with Spain, Paraguay and Morocco. The stars and stripes take on Paraguay in the third Group C match on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m. ET.
Sentnor, a forward and team captain, is the USA's most-capped player and top scorer with 18 caps and nine international goals. Fellow forward Dahlien has scored five times in her 10 appearances while King has 14 caps as a defender.
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 vs. Paraguay, 7 p.m. ET
Knockout Rounds
Wednesday, Sept. 11 – Round of 16, TBD
Thursday, Sept. 12 – Round of 16, TBD
Saturday, Sept. 15 – Quarterfinals, TBD
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.
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.
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.
Stay up to date with UNC women's soccer by following the Tar Heels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Women's Soccer
Midfielder/Forward
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