Meet the queens of CONCACAF.
While there have been several CONCACAF tournaments, most if not all of them with World Cup and Olympic berths on the line, this was the first edition of the W Gold Cup. The United States had a up-and-down tournament, but when all was said and done after 90 minutes on Sunday evening, there was the US on the winning podium, hoisting another trophy, as they won the Gold Cup against a still formidable Brazil side, getting the 1-0 win at Snapdragon Stadium.
“I don’t know if there is any particular meaning about it being the first, but I think more like it being the first with this team since the World Cup, it just feels incredible,” US head coach Twila Kilgore said.
It was the captain Lindsey Horan that delivered the heroics for the US, as her goal just before halftime uplifted the US after Brazil spent a good amount of time on the US side of the field. Both teams also held up in much better weather and more importantly, much better pitch conditions.
“I love games like this,” US midfielder Jaedyn Shaw said.” I actually like a bit of pressure, its fun and it adds a little bit extra, and I’m really happy that we were able to win this tournament.
The US edged ahead right before halftime. Sam Coffey won a ball at the halfway circle, then sent a pass that sprung Trinity Rodman down the right side. Rodman got a touch on the ball and also just managed to keep the ball from crossing the endline, Rodman passed to Emily Fox, who then sent a long cross into the penalty area, the ball looked like it was intended for Alex Morgan, and Morgan herself got into shooting position. The ball actually sailed over her, but Horan was at the right place at the right time, as she headed a ball past keeper Luciana far post.
Early on, it was Brazil that were the aggressors. Brazil spent a lot of time is the USA’s half of the field and got plenty of shots at the USA’s goal, with its best chance coming in the 11th minute, as they had a free kick from about 23 yards out, Duda Sampaio took the set piece well, curling a ball over the USWNT wall, but it just missed the near post.
Brazil kept the pressure on. Gabi Portilho pressured US keeper Alyssa Naeher to rush a pass in the 14th minute, Portilho actually got a piece of the ball, and Sampaio beat Coffey to the loose ball. Sampaio quickly passed Gabi Nunes, who touched into the penalty area, and seeing Naeher scrambling to get back, Nunes tried to take advantage, but she rushed the shot, and the ball sailed well over goal. Then in the 22nd minute, a fortunate bounce allowed Portilho to get behind the US defense and chase the ball into the penalty area, Portilho sent a dangerous ball at goal, but it hit the top netting instead.
The US defense stepped up its game in the second half, as they clamped down on the Brazilian attack. Brazil’s only two chances in the second half came on set pieces, the first in the 84th minute, as they went short on the free kick, Debinha sent a ball into the penalty area, Geyse flicked a header towards goal, but it missed the far post. The next set piece, in stoppage time, was closer to goal, and Debinha took the shot herself, but sent it over the framework.
The W Gold Cup win caps off a roller coaster of a tournament for the USWNT. With the sting of the early exit from the last World Cup still fresh in its memories, the US looked to the first edition of this tournament to redeem themselves. Its first two games went about the way you’d expect, with the US getting two wins and plenty of goals to boot. However, then came another shock result, and once again, the US was on the wrong end, as Mexico delivered a 2-0 upset, the first time the US had lost to a CONCACAF side on its home turf and only the second time the USWNT had lost to Mexico. The US recovered with a 3-0 win on the quarterfinals, then came a rather interesting semifinal matchup with rival Canada in a rain-soaked match in which both teams were literally slipping and sliding on the wet pitch. Both teams went back and forth, ultimately going to a shootout, and US keeper Alyssa Naeher singlehandedly won it for the US, denying three penalties and even scoring one herself to advance the US to Sunday’s final.
“I’ve been with this team for almost 15 years, and you go through wins and losses, you go through early exits and major wins along the way, and I feel that something important to remember about this team is the mentality and the never say die kind of fight that this team has,” Alex Morgan said “Even though there was a bit of a dip in 2023, we’re looking to come back with a vengeance.”