United States goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher, left, celebrates with teammates at the end of the penalty shootout in a CONCACAF Gold Cup women’s soccer tournament semifinal match against Canada, Wednesday, March 6, 2024, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher made three saves and converted a penalty herself in a shootout after a rain-soaked 2-2 draw with Canada on Wednesday night, earning the United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) a spot in the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup final.
The United States advanced 3-1 on penalties and will play Brazil in the title game on Sunday evening. Brazil defeated Mexico 3-0 in the earlier semifinal match.
The game was a sloppy mess with standing water on the field at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium from heavy rain in San Diego. The players had difficulty with control. Canada’s Vanessa Gilles twisted the front of her soaked jersey to squeeze out some of the rainwater.
Afterward, U.S. coach Twila Kilgore was asked whether the game should have been played.
“Probably not. But those decisions aren’t my decisions,” she said. “If the referees make those decisions, and the game goes on, it’s our job to figure out how to win.”
Jaedyn Shaw scored in the 20th minute. A Canada defender tried to send the ball back to goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan, but it stopped on the waterlogged field and Shaw ran up on it and scored.
Shaw is the first USWNT player to score in each of her first four starts.
Jordyn Huitema tied it up in the 82nd minute with a header that was beyond Naeher’s reach.
Smith broke the stalemate in the 99th, falling to her knees in celebration before she was mobbed by her teammates. But Naeher collided with Gilles in the 120th minute and Canada was awarded a penalty, which Adriana Leon calmly converted to tie the match at 2.
Naeher had two saves to open the shootout and then converted on a penalty of her own. She stopped Jesse Fleming with a final…
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