SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras --- The CONCACAF under-20 championships finished up over the weekend in Honduras with Anteater Kiana Palacios making an immense mark on it to propel the Mexican under-20 national team to a third-place finish and a berth in the 2016 under-20 World Cup.
The sophomore started up top for the Mexican squad as they drew the U.S. to open group stage play. After falling behind early, 2-0, Mexico would reel the U.S. back in with a goal before halftime.
Palacios stepped up with a perfectly-placed header inside the left post to tie the match up at 2-2 in the 66th minute.
The Mexican defense held for the 2-2 result snapping the U.S. u20s 15-match win streak, and give a big boost to their chances of moving on.
Palacios returned to start in Monday's match vs. Haiti playing the first 63 minutes before making way for a sub. Mexico would gain the victory, 5-0, and added a 2-0 defeat of Panama without the services of Palacios to move on to the knockout rounds.
Mexico would fall in penalty kicks after going through regulation and extra time scoreless in the semifinal against Canada. Palacios had a hand in four shots including a near game-winner in the 90th minute slicing a second chance off a corner clearance just high. She would step up to the spot in the PK shootout and deliver, but Canada made the stop that mattered to pull through, 5-4, penalties.
That would set up a third-place match with host country Honduras for a chance to gain admission to the under-20 World Cup with a win. Palacios stepped up in the 40th minute with another beautiful running header to start the scoring and provide the eventual game-winner.
Mexico would add another to win 2-0 and secure a spot in the World Cup.
For her efforts, Palacios was named to the Best XI for the tournament as a central midfielder as voted on by the Techinical Study Group. She was the only member of the squad not from the U.S. or Canada squads after netting two goals, burying her PK goal in the semifinal, and consistently being one of the best players on the pitch for Mexico.
Mexico 2-2 United States
Friday, December 4
Mexico 5-0 Haiti
Monday, December 7
Mexico 2-0 Panama
Wednesday, December 9
Mexico 0 (4) - (5) 0 Canada
Friday, December 11
Mexico 2-0 Honduras
Sunday, December 13
| Group Table |
Record |
Points |
| USA |
2-1-0 |
7 |
| Mexico |
2-1-0 |
7 |
| Haiti |
1-0-2 |
3 |
| Panama |
0-0-3 |
0 |
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