March 7 (UPI) — A wet field slowed the pace of the attack, but the U.S. women's national team overcame poor conditions and two Canadian upsets to defeat its northern neighbor in a shootout in the Gold Cup semifinals in San Diego. Ta.
With Wednesday's victory at Snapdragon Stadium, the Americans qualified to play Brazil in the final game of the Concacaf tournament.
“Games will be played in all conditions in the world,” U.S. women's interim coach Twyla Kilgore told reporters. She said: “Our situation happened to be that we had a lot of rain and there was water in the field.
“We have to find a way to get it done.”
Goaltender Alyssa Neher saved three of Canada's four attempts in the shootout. She also scored one of the Americans' three successful tries, earning her Woman of the Match honors.
“This is something we’ve been building for the past three weeks,” Naeher said. “I'm really proud of our team despite the less-than-ideal conditions, tough games, and good opponents.
“I’m really proud of this group for really digging deep and competing for 120 minutes.”
Poor field conditions gave the Americans the lead in the 20th minute. Canadian centre-back Vanessa Gill collected a long ball from the American women inside the box and attempted to pass it back to goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan.
Instead, the ball stopped in a puddle, allowing forward Jaydyn Shaw to run around defenders. Shaw finished the play with a chip shot to the right side of the net.
The Americans continued to pose a threat, but neither team scored in the first half. Canada finally tied the score in the 82nd minute when striker Jordyn Huytema beat Neher. She scored the goal by heading a lifted pass from winger Ashley Lawrence.
Neither team was able to find the back of the net as scheduled, leading to two 15-minute overtime periods. The Americans took the lead for the second time with a goal from striker Sophia Smith in the 99th minute.
Midfielder Rose Lovell set up the goal by leaping over a Canadian defender in front of the box. She used her head to send a pass to Smith, who dropped off his left hip and used his right boot to fire a shot past Sheridan and into the right corner of the goal.
However, the Canadians tied it again – and in very dramatic fashion.
The referees gave Neher a yellow card for colliding with Gilles in the penalty area and awarded a penalty that set up Canada's second tying goal.
In the 127th minute, as Neher went the other way, forward Adrianna Leon came forward and fired a shot to the right of the goal. This goal sparked a shootout.
Smith started the penalty session and beat Sheridan with a shot to the left side of the net. Neher blocked and Leon took a shot, but American midfielder Corbin Albert took the next shot and it went over the crossbar.
Neher responded with another clutch save, denying Huitema's shot. The veteran goalie then stepped up to the spot and slotted a shot into the bottom right corner, giving the Americans a 2-1 advantage.
Canadian midfielder Quinn responded by cutting into the top right corner to beat Neher.
Veteran winger Lindsay Horan drilled the next shot into the left side of the goal, setting up Neher for the final sequence. The star goalkeeper and 2019 World Cup winner bent over to pay attention to Canadian midfielder Jesse Fleming, who ran to the spot.
Neher first drifted to the left, then shuffled to the right and separated his feet, deflecting Fleming's shot off the goal and clinching victory for Team USA in the semifinals.
The U.S. women's team will play Brazil in the Gold Cup final at Snapdragon Stadium on Sunday at 8:15 p.m. ET.
“We had a lackluster team performance,” Smith said on the CBS broadcast. “It's emotional. It's been a very emotional ride for me personally since the World Cup. This is just a huge relief. I couldn't be more proud of our team.”