USWNT 0-2 Mexico: Twila Kilgore’s side miss out on top spot in group at CONCACAF W Gold Cup as stunning last-gasp Mayra Pelayo strike seals shock defeat in Los Angeles

Mexico secured its second ever win over the USWNT on Monday night to snatch top spot in CONCACAF W Gold Cup Group A. 

Twila Kilgore’s USA side knew that a point in Los Angeles would be enough to finish top of the group after winning their opening two fixtures at this year’s tournament.

But they endured a miserable evening at Dignity Health Sports Park, where Mexico scored in the closing stages of each half to head into the knockout stages as group winners.

Lizbeth Ovalle opened the scoring seven minutes before the interval, lobbing the ball superbly over USWNT goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher after dispossessing Becky Sauerbrunn on the edge of the box.

Mayra Pelayo sealed the win for Mexico with a stunning strike in stoppage time in LA

Twila Kilgore’s USA side now head into the knockout stages of the tournament as runners-up

Mexico nearly doubled the lead at the end of the first half when Nieto sent a strike off the bar.

USA’s best chance of the night came when Trinity Rodman’s saw an effort cleared off the line by Mexico’s Greta Espinoza with 12 minutes to play.

Naeher then made back-to-back saves on Mayra Pelayo and Jasmine Casarez in the 86th minute to keep the hosts in match.

Yet as they huffed and puffed in search of an all-important equalizer, in the end the USWNT were undone by an outstanding long-range strike from Pelayo at the death, which condemned them to a second ever defeat to Mexico.

In the second minute of stoppage time, Pelayo advanced to the edge of the box, cut inside on her right foot and unleashed a looping effort over Naeher and into the back of the net. 

The victory snapped Mexico’s 16-match losing streak to the U.S. since a 2-1 win in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Women’s World Cup qualifying event in Cancun, Mexico, on Nov. 5, 2010.

The quarterfinals are Saturday and Sunday in Los Angeles. The top two teams in the three groups and the two best third-place finishers will be reseeded at the completion of the group stage on Wednesday.