Argentina bounce back with 8-0 win over Benin at Under-20 Women's World Cup

Argentina's Under-20 women's team responded to its opening defeat in emphatic fashion, crushing Benin 8-0 at the Under-20 Women's World Cup and putting itself in a strong position to reach the round of 16.

Julia Vinhas opened the scoring in the 16th minute, heading home after Benin goalkeeper Larissa Saizounou came out uncertainly. Mercedes Diz doubled the lead in the 32nd minute with a left-footed shot from outside the area, and Annika Paz made it 3-0 before halftime with a header that bounced off the post and into the net.

Argentina continued to dominate after the break. Diz scored again three minutes into the second half, then Paz took over the match. She scored three goals in six minutes to complete a four-goal performance and become the standout player.

Paz's first goal in that run came after Saizounou saved her penalty, with the forward converting the rebound. She then deflected a shot by Dolo Delgado for Argentina's sixth and scored the seventh after another rebound from a Delgado effort. Julieta Aguilar completed the 8-0 scoreline 10 minutes before the final whistle.

Paz, who came through River Plate's youth system and signed with Inter Milan through June 2027, was the match's decisive figure. Argentina, coached by Christian Meloni with Clarisa Huber as assistant, will play Mexico on Friday at 1 p.m. at Arena Katowice. To advance, the team must finish in the top two of Group A or rank among the tournament's four best third-place teams. Argentina qualified for the tournament after finishing third at February's South American championship in Paraguay.