[ad_1]
COLUMBUS, OHIO – APRIL 9: U.S. players celebrate after defeating Canada in the 2024 SheBelieves Cup Finals at Lower.com Field on April 9, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo credit: Carmen Mandato/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — More than 19,000 fans packed Lower.com Field in downtown Columbus to watch the U.S. women’s soccer team’s thrilling 2-2 tie defeat Canada in a sudden penalty shootout. I watched the match.
Despite being in control for much of the game, the USWNT found themselves down 1-0 late in the first half, but the tide quickly turned. Star forward Sophia Smith took over, scoring the tying goal in the 50th minute and the winning goal in the 68th minute, marking her second multi-goal performance for Central Ohio.
Adriana Leon scored a spot kick for Canada in the 86th minute, tying the score at 2-2 and forcing a penalty shootout. The penalty was so dramatic that it forced sudden death, as each team had three shots in the prescribed five rounds.
American goaltender Alyssa Near saved Canada’s seventh penalty, followed by defender Emily Fox who converted the deciding penalty, ending the shootout 5-4 for the Americans.
With this victory, the U.S. women’s team achieved its fifth consecutive SheBelieves Cup title and earned its second trophy of 2024 in addition to the Gold Cup crown.
The U.S. women’s team dominated possession for the first 10 minutes, but struggled to find open passes through the middle due to Canada’s methodical defense.
The first big chance came in the 27th minute when Jaydyn Shaw juggled solo and fired a shot inside the box. Canadian keeper Kylen Sheridan stopped Shaw before he could make good contact.
American goalkeeper Alyssa Neher ran off her line into the 18-yard box but was unable to recover the ball, allowing Canada to take the lead before halftime. This allowed Canada’s Adriana Leon to score in the 40th minute with an open net.
The U.S. women’s team tied the game five minutes into the second half when Sophia Smith curled a left-footed shot from 20 yards into the bottom corner. This was her 17th goal with the Stars and Stripes.
Smith scored her second goal in the 68th minute as the U.S. women’s team mounted a great attack from the back. Substitute Trinity Rodman raced down the wing alongside Smith and slotted the ball into the box for her second goal of the night. The goal was his fifth in just two games for Columbus.
It looked like the Americans were on their way to victory, but Canada was awarded a penalty with six minutes remaining. Leon stepped up and scored a penalty kick, tying the game at 2-1. After that, the match went straight to a penalty shootout.
Canada took the lead until Neher saved two penalties and scored a goal to put the Americans back. Emily Sonnet had a chance to win the shootout in the fifth round, but her kick went over the bar. In the seventh round, Neher saved another penalty and teammate Emily Fox converted the trophy-winning penalty.
Before the game between the United States and Canada began, Brazil and Japan faced off in the third-place match. After 90 minutes, the two sides were tied 1-1, with Brazil winning 3-0 in the penalty shootout.
The United States will play Zambia in the first match of the Paris Olympics on July 25th. This summer, they will be in the same group as Germany and Australia.
[ad_2]
Source link
