Current:Home > InvestUSWNT defeats Brazil to win inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup -ProgressCapital
USWNT defeats Brazil to win inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup
View
Date:2025-04-17 02:29:04
At various points in the Concacaf W Gold Cup, the U.S. women’s national team didn’t appear to have the juice to win in an increasingly competitive regional landscape.
Once the world’s most feared team, the USWNT has looked like a diminished force in recent years. That trend continued at the Gold Cup, particularly in a stunning group-stage loss to Mexico.
But the USWNT kept grinding through this tournament, beating Colombia and Canada in the knockout stage to reach Sunday’s final against Brazil. And though it hardly put together a vintage performance at Snapdragon Stadium, the U.S. managed to do what it has so many times over the years: win a title.
Lindsey Horan scored the game’s only goal just before halftime, giving the USWNT a 1-0 win in the final of the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup.
It was exactly what the USWNT needed in a transition tournament — coming off a disastrous World Cup, coached by an interim in Twila Kilgore, and looking ahead to the Olympics this summer under Emma Hayes.
After a first half that was low on quality and scoring chances from both sides, Horan came through with a clutch goal just before the break.
Trinity Rodman caught up to a long ball and held it up well, finding Emily Fox with a backward pass from the end line. The Arsenal right back floated up a deep cross and Horan simply ran past her marker to head home at the back post.
For a team that had won all five of its Gold Cup games and scored 15 goals in the process, Brazil offered precious little to threaten the USWNT’s goal.
The Seleção controlled possession in the game but struggled to connect passes in the final third throughout. Even as the game entered its closing stages and the USWNT dropped into a more defensive posture, there was little goal threat from the South Americans.
Two late set-piece chances were the best Brazil could get, but neither — including a free kick in perfect goalscoring range from Debinha — produced a shot on target.
Ultimately the final whistle blew with Alyssa Naeher not facing a single shot on target. The USWNT only had three, but it only needed a header from its captain to see out the title.
veryGood! (31)
Related
- How effective is the Hyundai, Kia anti-theft software? New study offers insights.
- From elected official to 'Sweatshop Overlord,' this performer takes on unlikely roles
- 'Hot Dog' wins Caldecott, Newbery is awarded to 'Freewater'
- 'Fleishman Is in Trouble' is a Trojan horse for women's stories, says Lizzy Caplan
- Paris Olympics live updates: Quincy Hall wins 400m thriller; USA women's hoops in action
- Police are 'shielded' from repercussions of their abuse. A law professor examines why
- We love-love 'Poker Face', P-P-'Poker Face'
- Shlomo Perel, a Holocaust survivor who inspired the film 'Europa Europa,' dies at 98
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- Doug Emhoff has made antisemitism his issue, but says it's everyone's job to fight it
Ranking
- Vance jokes he’s checking out his future VP plane while overlapping with Harris at Wisconsin airport
- Hot and kinda bothered by 'Magic Mike'; plus Penn Badgley on bad boys
- This tender Irish drama proves the quietest films can have the most to say
- Ke Huy Quan wins Oscar for best supporting actor for 'Everything Everywhere'
- Judge says Mexican ex-official tried to bribe inmates in a bid for new US drug trial
- 'All the Beauty in the World' conveys Met guard's profound appreciation for art
- Is 'Creed III' a knockout?
- And the Oscar for best international film rarely goes to ...
Recommendation
A steeplechase record at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Then a proposal. (He said yes.)
San Francisco Chinatown seniors welcome in the Lunar New Year with rap
Before 'Hrs and Hrs,' Muni Long spent years and years working for others
K-pop superstars BLACKPINK become the most streamed female band on Spotify
Breaking debut in Olympics raises question: Are breakers artists or athletes?
Whatever she touches 'turns to gold' — can Dede Gardner do it again at the Oscars?
'All Quiet' wins 7 BAFTAs, including best film, at U.K. film awards ceremony
Russian fighter jet damages US Reaper drone with flare over Syria: Officials