USWNT Recap: United States 3 - 0 Colombia
The U.S. punches their ticket to the Concacaf W Gold Cup Semifinal!
The United States Women’s National Team returned to action Saturday evening as they squared off against Colombia in the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup Quarterfinal.
Interim head coach Twila Kilgore and the U.S. entered Saturday’s quarterf
inal after securing second place in Group A following a 5-0 win over the Dominican Republic, a 4-0 win over Argentina, and a 2-0 loss to Mexico.
Kilgore made six changes to the lineup that fell short against Mexico in the group stage finale. Alyssa Naeher made her 100th cap for the U.S. as she started in net behind the backline of Jenna Nighswonger, Tierna Davidson, Naomi Girma, and Emily Fox. Sam Coffey, Lindsey Horan, and Korbin Albert comprised the midfield, while Jayden Shaw, Alex Morgan, and Trinity Rodman provided the attack.
Colombia nearly got on the board in the ninth minute, thanks to Linda Caicedo. Caicedo drove up the left flank before sending the ball across the field to a wide-open Catalina Usme. Thankfully, Naeher was alert to the ball as she sprinted off her line and scooped the ball before Usme could capitalize.
A golden opportunity came the United States’ way in the 10th minute after the head referee pointed to the spot and awarded the U.S. a penalty. It all started when Lindsey Horan sprung a ball forward into the box. Alex Morgan attempted to run onto the ball, but Jorelyn Carabali fouled Morgan inside the box.
After an extended pause due to Colombia attempting to play mind games, the captain stepped to the spot, looking to give the U.S. an early lead. Horan drilled the ball past Natalia Giraldo and into the bottom-right corner as the U.S. took a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute.
The United States netted a phenomenally executed team goal in the 22nd minute. It all started with Girma lobbing the ball into the box from the midfield line.
Morgan headed the ball to a dashing Nighswonger open on the left side of the net. Nighswonger ran onto the ball and struck it to the bottom-right corner to give the US a 2-0 lead.
Caicedo nearly reduced the U.S. lead to one in the 32nd minute, as she wound up a shot from distance that had potential to find the back of the net. That was until Naeher stretched out and got a hand to the ball.
After two near chances earlier in the half, Shaw got herself on the board in first-half stoppage time. It started with Fox sending a ball forward to Rodman, who darted up the right flank. Rodman immediately sent the ball centrally to Shaw, who immediately tapped the ball past Giraldo to give the United States a 3-0 lead entering halftime.
Twila Kilgore made one change before the second half began as Midge Purce replaced Rodman. Another change came in the 57th minute as Rose Lavelle came on for Shaw.
An astonishing miss came Alex Morgan’s way in the 69th minute following a U.S. free kick. It started with the free kick finding Horan on the right side of the box and she then headed the ball centrally to an open Morgan just yards out from goal. Morgan looked set to add another goal to her extensive resume but put too much on the shot as it sailed over the bar and out of play.
A pair of substitutes came in the 72nd minute as Olivia Moultrie and Sophia Smith replaced Albert and Morgan. The final U.S. substitution came in the 83rd minute as Emily Sonnett came on for Horan.
It was a contentious meeting between both nations as the match ended with 30 fouls committed and seven yellow cards administered. Despite the intensity, Kilgore and the United States were able to go out there and make up for the disappointing loss to Mexico in the group stage finale, as they booked their ticket to the Concacaf W Gold Cup Semifinal with a 3-0 win over Colombia.
The United States will travel 124 miles south, as they’ll face Canada inside Snapdragon Stadium in San Jose, California, on Wednesday, March 6th at 10:15 PM, as both nations will look to book their trip to the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup Final.