US beats Brazil in tight final to win inaugural Women’s Gold Cup
SAN DIEGO — Lindsey Horan scored on a header in first-half stoppage time and the United States went on to beat Brazil 1-0 on Sunday to win the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup.
The United States lifted the trophy regardless of being shocked by a loss to Mexico within the group stage of the event. It was the primary ladies’s Gold Cup, created to carry groups within the area extra significant competitors.
“It was a difficult game. Brazil challenged us in a different way,” Horan mentioned. “I’m really, really proud of us finding a way to get a goal and finishing out the game and getting a trophy.”
It was the fourth time that the United States confronted Brazil in a event ultimate. The Americans additionally gained the earlier three, together with the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.
The recreation drew a sellout crowd of 31,528 to San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium, a report crowd for a CONCACAF ladies’s match.
Horan scored simply moments into stoppage time with a header off a well-placed lofted go from Emily Fox. It was Horan’s third objective of the event, her earlier objectives had been from the penalty spot.
Lynn Williams practically scored a second for the United States within the 79th minute however the play was offside. Casey Krueger headed out a harmful Brazilian cross within the ultimate moments.
Brazil outshot the United States 12-7 and at instances appeared the extra dominant group.
“It’s not always pretty, and this was a game that we just grinded through.” defender Crystal Dunn mentioned. “We got the job done and that’s the most important.”
The United States was upset in the group stage of the event by a 2-0 loss to Mexico — simply the second loss within the 43-game collection.
The Americans rebounded with a 3-0 win over Colombia within the quarterfinals, earlier than advancing to the ultimate on penalties after a rain-soaked 2-2 draw with Canada within the semifinals.
“That was a crazy tournament, but finished strong,” ahead Alex Morgan mentioned. “That’s what mattered. So many players coming up big time.”
Brazil, which was certainly one of 4 CONMEBOL groups within the event, had gained every of its 5 matches within the event, together with a 3-0 victory over Mexico within the semifinals, scoring 15 objectives.
The Brazilians allowed simply two complete objectives within the group’s first aggressive event beneath coach Arthur Elias, who took over for Pia Sundhage after Brazil didn’t get out of the group stage on the summer time’s Women’s World Cup.
“The American players are very strong physically speaking and I believe that we had a great performance during the game,” Elias mentioned via a translator after the sport. “We had chances to score goals today. The U.S. had some strengths that we were able to stop, but they were very well prepared as well to play our team today.”
Likewise, the United States was enjoying its first event beneath interim coach Twila Kilgore, who assumed her function after the U.S. parted methods with coach Vlatko Andonovski following the group’s early exit from the World Cup.
The United States employed Emma Hayes because the group’s coach, however she is concluding the season with Chelsea within the Women’s Super League.
“I’m just so happy for the team,” Kilgore mentioned. “This is a team and a program that will always have attention and expectations on it. We always say that pressure is a privilege and it is, but it’s another thing to walk the walk.”
Both Brazil and the United States have certified for this summer time’s Olympics in France.
