Twila Kilgore fires 'take care of business' warning to USWNT flops after shock Mexico defeat as she insists Gold Cup upset shows there are 'no easy games anymore'

The USWNT was disappointing in Monday's 2-0 defeat, its first on home soil against a CONCACAF opponent since 2000 and only its second ever to Mexico. USWNT interim coach Kilgore is confident her team can respond but she also sent a warning about what this result means about women's soccer as a whole.

Speaking after the game, Kilgore said: "I think it just shows how far the game is coming and there are no easy games anymore. And 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 in that and I think anytime you have a group that is willing to take ownership in things like this, it’s a good thing for the future of the tournament. Everything’s still on the table and we’ll be motivated, that’s for sure."

The USWNT had already secured its place in the Gold Cup quarter-finals before this loss but it now qualifies from Group A in second place, behind Mexico, and is therefore likely to receive a trickier opponent in the first knockout round.

The last time Mexico beat the USWNT was way back in 2010, in a 2-1 result in CONCACAF Women's World Cup qualifying. That victory came on home soil in Cancun and meant the U.S. had to face a play-off to reach the World Cup in 2011.

The USWNT will find out its Gold Cup quarter-final opponent once the final group stage matches have taken place on Wednesday night. The knockout games will be played on March 2 and 3.