USWNT boss after rare Mexico defeat: No 'easy games' anymore - ESPN

Interim United States women's national team coach Twila Kilgore stated that her side faces «no easy games anymore» after a stunning 2-0 loss to rival Mexico in a Concacaf W Gold Cup group stage clash Monday.

«It just shows how far the game is coming and there's no easy games anymore,» Kilgore said after the USWNT's first defeat to Mexico since 2010. «If we don't take care of business and we don't execute, this is to be expected. We'll step up and take ownership of that.»

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It was just the second time Mexico has beaten the USWNT, and it comes after the Americans' disappointing run at last summer's Women's World Cup that resulted in a round-of-16 exit. Since Kilgore took over as interim coach after the World Cup, the USWNT was undefeated through eight games until the defeat to Mexico.

Heading into the match, the U.S. had a lopsided lead in the Concacaf rivalry, with a 40-1-1 record.

Monday's result meant Mexico topped Group A with seven points, while the USWNT finished second with six points. Argentina finished third with four points, and the Dominican Republic was last with no points.

«I think they had a good game plan, I think we had a good game plan. Simply, they just executed theirs better than ours,» Kilgore said. «Part of that does have to do with intensity but generally can be measured by things like tempo with the ball, but also defensive things like winning first tackles and winning second balls.»

Both Mexico goals — scored by Lizbeth Ovalle and Mayra Pelayo — came from restart moments, an area Kilgore said her side must improve.

«First goal came from a goal kick and [we] probably should have taken care of the first ball, should have taken care of the second ball,