USWNT wins first W Gold Cup, defeats Brazil 1-0 | Top Vip News

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By Meg Linehan, Steph Yang, Jeff Rueter, Tamerra Griffin

The United States won the first CONCACAF W Gold Cup trophy, defeating Brazil 1-0 on Sunday night in San Diego. USWNT captain Lindsey Horan scored the game-winning goal just before halftime.

After a comfortable loss to regional rivals Mexico in the group stage of the tournament, the USWNT capped their Gold Cup performance with three valiant performances in the knockout stages: first against Colombia in the quarterfinals, then a wild semifinal against Canada in the rain that required penalty kicks to resolve and finally Brazil in the final.

In the end, the Gold Cup provided solid preparation for the USWNT heading into this summer’s Olympic Games, not only because it could mimic the rhythms of a tournament but because of the quality of the games.

After the victory over Canada, interim head coach Twila Kilgore praised her team’s mentality, saying, “These moments are really critical to moving forward toward important events.” It’s impossible to know yet what the USWNT will look like heading into this summer’s Paris Olympics, but the Gold Cup proved to be a much more valuable test, and an indication of the higher quality in CONCACAF, compared to the 2022 qualifiers. before the 2023 World Cup. Mug.

The goal of the winning USWNT team

As first-half extra time approached, it was going to take something special to break up what had become a cagey matchup. Bypassing his short options, midfielder Sam Coffey played a tremendous long ball towards the right wing, overcoming the last two Brazilian defensive lines and setting up Trinity Rodman to run towards the ball in space.

Just like Wednesday, the Snapdragon Stadium field betrayed Rodman. Instead of being swallowed up by a cynical puddle, her dribble swayed on the ground, forcing her to stabilize her progress before the baseline and reassess thereafter. He found Emily Fox with a close-range recirculation, and the Arsenal winger sent a cross to the far post, where Horan was only too eager to add another emphatic headed goal to his growing collection of dunks.

“It was a great team goal,” Coffey said after the game. “I think we love the goals that come from the mentality that we play for ourselves: winning loose balls, winning 50/50, those first and second (balls). I couldn’t have worded it better myself.”

In one of the few major tests left between now and the Olympics, the sequence should help show Coffey’s value to this team. A straight USWNT is a more dangerous USWNT, and having a midfield that can do the defensive work skillfully while making breakthrough distribution from deep is invaluable. Coffey’s role in starting the sequence couldn’t have come at a better time in that regard, particularly against another team that qualified for the tournament in Paris.

Meanwhile, Horan continues to add reasons to the list of reasons why she is so vital to the USWNT in this cycle. There was much ceremony when she inherited the 10 shirt and became the de facto penalty taker. Perhaps just as significant is her new role as a reliable aerial threat in the box from both set pieces and crosses during the course of the game, something that made Julie Ertz a supernova at the 2019 World Cup. The goal capped what has been a strong tournament for the United States captain, and the final forced her to play multiple midfield roles at different stages.

It was a little strange not to see forward Jaedyn Shaw or defender Jenna Nighswonger starting against Brazil after both had such strong tournaments, with Shaw ultimately receiving the honor of player of the tournament. Shaw finally entered the final game in the 71st minute for Coffey, but as a number 10. However, that should be more of an argument for Shaw as a starter, given her versatility on the field. If he is also going to play as a midfielder, he needs more time with regular starter Horan.

It seemed like the United States was more committed to absorbing the strong Brazilian pressure in the first half, which would then allow them to put together a high-energy second half. But it’s also never really been the American way: to bide your time that way. Still, at this point in the tournament, and especially after that grueling game against Canada, it’s a valid strategy, and we saw it pay off in the first half. Brazil was mostly limited to long-range shots outside the box and the United States took their opportunity and made the most of it on Horan’s goal.

At the same time, it’s become pretty clear that Nighswonger and Shaw are starters. Nighswonger in particular, given the pool of left-backs currently available. Crystal Dunn has lost a bit of speed and her best position is still midfield anyway, so it would be great to see her switch to center and have Nighswonger really step into the role and be able to continue to cultivate a relationship with whoever she is. she consolidates the left central defender position (probably Tierna Davidson at this point) and with Shaw as left winger. That will be one of the key relationships going forward for this team and, despite the burden, it is important to develop those relationships as much as possible as quickly as possible if they are focused on Olympic success.

More than a trophy

The trophy is obviously the highlight of the tournament, but fans should be encouraged by the way this group made it through the Gold Cup Round of 16. Last summer, the USWNT couldn’t recover from a disappointing group stage, and came to life too late in their eventual elimination in the round of 16. After a surprising 2-0 loss in this tournament’s group final against Mexico, a less determined team could have suffered the same.

Instead, the USWNT took control of their matchup against Colombia from the opening whistle and never relinquished control. They came out ahead in miserable conditions against eternal rival Canada. And on Sunday they maintained their determination against a cautious Brazilian team and beat them at their own game. Navigating the group with that variety of approaches is particularly impressive.

Additional remarks

  • Morgan’s physicality in this game was decisive in the first half before essentially getting her into foul trouble in the second. Horan’s goal probably wouldn’t have happened without Morgan also making the same run and getting his body behind a defender to set up a screen. After the win, Horan spoke about Morgan’s contribution to the goal: “I yelled at Alex to leave it because I knew he was in the goal and so… I gave him a second assist for that.”
  • While goalie Alyssa Naeher reclaimed her reputation as the coldest goalie America has, it was still a shame not to see more goalie rotation in a tournament that both Kilgore and the players have talked about as important moving forward. simulates Olympic conditions and against highly competitive opponents.
  • In the meantime, the bottom line must be established. Fox, Davidson, Naomi Girma and Nighswonger formed a convincing defensive unit, which is nice to see. Let at least one line feel somewhat established without having to force the “let’s see” phase during SheBelieves or even the June friendlies.

(Top photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

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