With Sashenka Porras, the jewel of women’s football in Peru: the UnoxUno of a historic Sub 20 and why we can dream of our first World Cup

On your feet – or your head – falls the responsibility of being “the different one” of a Sub 20 team that invites us to dream of the South American Women of the category that is being developed in Ecuador. After a draw in the debut against Argentina, a great victory against the local team on the second date with a great performance by Sashenka and the 2-1 defeat against Paraguay last Monday; Bicolor will face Uruguay this Wednesday (4 pm / DirecTV) for the fourth day. Ours need a win against a Uruguayan team that so far has not scored points before resting on the last date.

Why can we – and should – dream of our first Women’s World Cup? 1) because the table of positions of group A allows us: we are third with 4 points, the same as Argentina (2nd) although far from the leader Paraguay (9); but we are also far from Uruguay (4th) and Ecuador (5th) who have not added any points, and the first three qualify for the next phase. 2) because the team led by Jaqueline Ucella, a member of Emily Lima’s technical team, knows what they are playing and has a clear idea of ​​their strengths and weaknesses that help make them a difficult team to defeat. And 3) because there are players with talent and projection like Sashenka Porras.

, they tell us from Alianza Lima, their club. Porras arrived at the intimate club when he was still in school and began an incredible rise. In 2022, at 17 years old, she became the youngest Peruvian to score a goal in the Copa Libertadores Femenina. That year she became two-time champion of the national tournament.

At Alianza Lima they know perfectly well the projection that Sashenka has, whom her teammates call ‘The Jewel’. That is to say, she probably has little time left in Peruvian soccer. Her next step will be to emigrate, something she seems to be already prepared for.

The safe arc and the “foreign” contribution

Lucia Arcos Her surname bears the position she chose: goalkeeper. She plays for Terraza FC in Spain and is one of the five players active abroad that Ucella called up. She has been one of the best in the tournament: she received three goals in three games and, according to data from the specialized website “365 Scores”, she made 25 saves. Security in her goal is essential and she provides it.

Emily Arevalo She is the daughter of a Peruvian father and an English mother. In 2022, after playing for Municipal and Universitario, she accepted the offer of Bristol City in England, the club where she currently works. Despite her mistake in the second Paraguayan goal, Emily’s championship has been very good, especially when she comes out playing. She almost always decides well who to give the ball to, with judgment and confidence.

The other name to highlight is that of Mine Lion, who plays for Madrid CFF in the first division of Spanish women’s football. She is 19 years old and is the owner of the Peruvian midfield. She is the one who connects the defensive game with the offensive game, in addition to having a lot of experience in knowing where to position herself to score or attack.

The other two players who play outside are the defense Taylor Vagt Florida Atlantic and the steering wheel Samantha Villavicencio of Dowtown United SC, both from the United States.

The base of Sporting Cristal

In recent years, the Women’s League was divided between Alianza and Universitario. Sporting Cristal was relegated in terms of titles. However, the work of Rime sees its fruits in these tournaments. And the club’s philosophy is to play with young footballers in the national competition.

Within this new litter are María Alejandra Espejo and Alison Buitrón, the sides of this Sub 20. Both have played all three games, being the most consistent. Mariale stands out for his tireless commitment to running throughout the game and his courage in each split, and Buitrón is a defender with a lot of output and precise passing.

In the middle, Melanie Moncada is the perfect company for Mía León. He is Peru’s oxygen ball and the one who best finds the spaces to receive. It is also Ester Diaz, the left foot with a lot of technique who can play on the wing or on the right with ease. He is an important piece in attack.

Attack of the compadres

Peru is a compact team in which everyone attacks and defends. Or at least it tries to be that. But the ones that usually step on the opposite area are Birka Ruiz and Sashenka Porras, both from Alianza Lima, and Valerie Gherson from Universitario. The compadres come together in this Sub 20 in search of giving us joy. In fact, all three scored a goal so far in the tournament. Gherson did it in his debut against Argentina, Birka in the 2-0 against Ecuador and Porras against Paraguay.

Of Sashenka was written paragraphs ago. His talent and maturity are important for the selection. Birka is a clear example that there is a lot of talent in the interior of the country. Trujillana by birth, he arrived at Alianza Lima last year after shining at Atlético Trujillo and Carlos A. Mannucci. He is 17 years old and has already played for the Under 17, Under 20 and Peruvian national team.

Valerie is the captain of the team. A 9 with a lot of grit that disputes each ball as if it were the last. She runs, scores and also scores. She is tireless, like each of her colleagues.

Of course you can dream of the World Cup in the category. There are arguments to do so. But, beyond that, it is important that this Sub 20 continues its process to continue giving us joy and placing national women’s football a little closer to professionalization. Because only with results can that last step be achieved so that they can finally achieve the goal of making a living from football, from their talent.