Epic Comeback Gives U.S. A Spot In FIFA U20 Semifinals – University of North Carolina Athletics

Team USA scored two stoppage time goals in under 90 seconds – the equalizer being from Ally Sentnor after a Maddie Dahlien assist – to force the game into penalty kicks after nearly 130 minutes of play. The stars and stripes went on to win the penalty shootout, 3-1, in Cali, Colombia. 

The comeback for the ages secured Team USA’s spot in the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup semifinals, which will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 5:30 p.m. ET against North Korea.

Dahlien and Sentnor, along with 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 found the late equalizer for the U.S. in the 90+9th minute, just seconds away from elimination and less than 90 seconds after Jordann Dudley’s goal. Dahlien dribbled toward the endline and hit a cross that deflected off the foot of a German defender. Sentnor beat goalkeeper Rebecca Adamczyk to the ball at the near post and knocked it in with her right knee.

The equalizer from Sentnor!! #U20WYNT

🎥 » @TelemundoSports

pic.twitter.com/g0RjyH1Da5

— U.S. Soccer YNT (@USYNT) September 16, 2024

Sentnor then went on to convert the United States’ first penalty kick attempt. The U.S. won the shootout, 3-1, after two Germany misses and one save. 

Sentnor is the USA’s most-capped player and top scorer with 21 caps and 12 international goals. Four of those 12 goals have come in a World Cup, with three being in this tournament. 

Dahlien, who has seen valuable minutes off the bench in all five World Cup games thus far, subbed in during the 74th minute. She has six international goals and one assist in 13 USYNT caps. Two of those goals came during group stage play earlier this tournament. 

King has started all five matches in Colombia, logging a full game against Germany in the quarterfinals. She now has 17 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, and made it to the quarterfinals after a win over Concacaf rival Mexico. The team will now face North Korea on Wednesday, Sept. 18, at 5:30 p.m. ET in the first semifinal.   

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 vs. North Korea, 5:30 p.m. ET

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.

A recap of Game Four 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.