USA defeats Canada to win SheBelieves Cup

Alyssa Naeher made three saves in the penalty shootout and Emily Fox scored the winning goal in the seventh round of spot kicks as the United States defeated Canada in the SheBelieves Cup final on Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio.

After 90 minutes tied 2-2, the Americans won the shootout 5-4 with help from Neher, who dove to her right to deny Evelyn Vian and set up the Foxes for the win.

– Stream on ESPN+: La Liga, Bundesliga and more (US)

The United States has won the SheBelieves Cup championship five years in a row and seven of the tournament’s nine years.

Sophia Smith scored in the 50th and 68th minutes to bring the USA back from a 1-0 deficit, countering Adriana Leon’s goal in the 40th minute. Canada tied the game at 2-2 in the 86th minute when Leon kicked a foul from Crystal Dunn and converted a penalty kick.

On March 6, the United States and Canada faced each other in the semifinals of the Concacaf World Gold Cup in San Diego, and after a 2-2 tie, the United States won 3-1 in a penalty shootout. Neher was also one of the heroes of that victory.

A team effort led to a goal for the Americans, creating a 2-1 lead. The U.S. absorbed Canadian pressure and Lindsey Horan started the counter. She sent a pass to Jadyn Shaw, who split the defense with a ball to Trinity Rodman on the left side. Rodman strode through the pass to Smith as Smith broke behind the defense.

Before that, Smith scored the equalizer with a shot into the bottom left corner from just outside the box from a Shaw set-up.

Smith’s goal was his first in two years since his hat trick against Uzbekistan in Columbus.She scored 18 goals in 46 games for the U.S. national team.

Leon gave Canada the lead in the 40th minute. Neher ran off his line to try to win the ball at the top of the box, but Canada’s Deanne Rose beat a defender and collided with Neher. Rose managed to pass the ball to Leon at the penalty spot for the opening goal.

The game was the last for interim U.S. coach Twila Kilgore before Emma Hayes, who is currently wrapping up her coaching stint with England’s Chelsea, takes over as head coach in May.

Kilgore had an 11-1-2 record while coaching the U.S. women’s team.