USWNT Recap: United States 2 (3) - Canada 2 (1)
USWNT Recap: United States 2 (3) - Canada 2 (1)
Despite atrocious field conditions, the US book their ticket to the W Gold Cup Final following a shootout victory over Canada!
Twila Kilgore and the United States Women’s National Team returned to action Wednesday night as they squared off against Canada in the Concacaf W Gold Cup semifinal.
The U.S. entered Wednesday's semifinal after securing a 3-0 victory in a feisty affair against Colombia. On the opposite side, Canada came into the match following a 1-0 win over Costa Rica thanks to a 103rd-minute goal from Evelyne Viens.
Kilgore rolled out an unchanged lineup for the U.S. as Alyssa Naeher started in goal behind the backline of Jenna Nighswonger, Tierna Davidson, Naomi Girma, and Emily Fox. Samantha Coffey, Korbin Albert, and Lindsey Horan comprised the midfield, while Jaedyn Shaw, Alex Morgan, and Trinity Rodman provided the attack.
Concerns about the pitch arose just before the game even started. The field at SnapDragon Stadium resembled a splash pad more than a viable playing surface.
Conditions were bad to the point where head referee Katia Itzel García paused the game just minutes in to inform the fourth official and Concacaf officials about the conditions and to see if the game could continue. Despite García’s appeal, the match continued.
The United States nearly found the net in the 11th minute when Canada’s Simi Awujo lobbed the ball back into Canada’s defensive half. Rodman turned on the jets as she darted onto the open ball and found herself one-on-one with Kailen Sheridan. Pitch conditions ended the chance as the ball hit a puddle, and Rodman lost possession.
Those field conditions led to a golden opportunity in the 20th minute. Canada’s Vanessa Gilles attempted to send a pass back to the keeper, but her pass hit a puddle and abruptly stopped about halfway between the two. Shaw pounced on the opportunity as she ran onto the open ball. Sheridan darted off her line, attempting to elude danger, but Shaw beat her to the ball and sent the ball over her and into the net to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead!
Shaw’s goal etched her name into the USWNT history book as she became the first player to net goals in each of their first four starts.
Field conditions continued to plague both sides as neither side generated much offense through the opening 45 as the U.S. entered the locker room at half up 1-0. While both sides were reconvening, the grounds crew were hard at work squeegeeing the pitch, attempting to disperse the stagnant water.
Kilgore made two changes before the start of the second half as Lynn Williams and Casey Kruger replaced Shaw and Nighswonger.
Weather again caused issues before the second half began, as the falling rain caused the referee’s communication system to malfunction. The second half eventually started after changing the equipment.
Another change came in the 64th minute as Sophia Smith came on for Rodman. Rose Lavelle entered the match in the 72nd minute as she replaced Morgan.
Canada kept their Concacaf W Gold Cup final hopes alive as they found the equalizer in the 82nd minute. Adriana Leon got onto the ball and cut it to Ashley Lawrence on the right side of the box. Lawrence crossed the ball centrally as Jordyn Huitema leapt over Fox and headed the ball past Naeher to level the game at one apiece.
The final U.S.change came in the 85th minute as Emily Sonnett replaced Coffey.
Neither side put themselves ahead in the closing minutes as this Concacaf W Gold Cup Semifinal headed to extra time.
A near chance for Canada in the 92nd minute as Olivia Smith sent a ball forward to Evelyne Viens inside the box. Luckily Davidson swooped in and tackled the ball away from Viens before she could capitalize on the opportunity.
The tide turned in the US’ favor in the 99th minute as they found the go-ahead goal. Lavelle got under the ball and headed the ball to Smith, darting toward goal. Smith got onto Lavelle’s header and slotted it past the keeper and into the back of the net.
With the seconds ticking down, Jade Rose lobbed the ball into the box, looking to help get Canada level and keep their hopes alive. Vanessa Gilles tracked the ball perfectly as she attempted to head the ball, but all she got was a collision with Naeher.
Controversy arose as the referee halted play while the Video Assistant Referee reviewed the play for a potential foul on Gilles. Katia Itzel García went to the monitor. After reviewing the footage, García awarded Canada a penalty kick while Naeher received a yellow for the foul.
Adriana Leon stepped to the spot with the world on her shoulder as she needed to convert to keep Canada’s hopes alive. Leon found the equalizer for Canada as she sent her shot to the bottom right corner while Naeher dove in the opposite direction.
Deadlocked at two apiece upon the conclusion of extra time, this drama-packed Semifinal gained another chapter as the game headed to a penalty shootout.
Smith stepped to the spot to get things going for the USWNT. Despite Sheridan diving in the right direction, Smith’s penalty evaded her reach and sailed into the net to give the U.S. a 1-0 lead.
We got a keeper versus keeper matchup to start the third round as Alyssa Naeher stepped up to the spot. She put the work in defensively, and now she looked to help on the offensive side as she curled a shot to the bottom-right corner. Sheridan dove in the right direction, but not far enough as Naeher slotted the ball past her and in the net to give the US a 2-0 lead.
Jessie Fleming stepped up to the spot, looking to extend the shootout to a fifth round and keep Canada’s hopes alive. Fleming attempted to send a shot to the left side of the net, but Naeher again was all over the stop as she made the save and won the shootout for the USWNT.
Terrible field conditions, back-and-forth scoring, and a dramatic penalty, this Concacaf W Gold Cup Semifinal had it all. Yet Twila Kilgore and the USWNT stood tall as they secured their spot in the competition’s final, where they’ll face CONMEBOL side Brazil on Sunday, March 10th, at 8:15 PM ET.