Canada 0 vs. 1 USWNT summary: stats and highlights | CONCACAF W CHAMPIONSHIP
The United States Women’s National Team lifted the CONCACAF W Championship after defeating Canada from Monterrey, Mexico on Monday night. Alex Morgan had the game winner from the spot in the 78th minute.
USA looking for Olympic revenge in final
Both sides came into the title match as deserving finalists after sweeping through the group stages and and semifinals. In fact, both teams had an identical goal differential in group stages, scoring nine and conceding none. Once in the Semis the US and Canada defeated their opponents 3-0 to get to the Monday championship match.
The US wasn’t just looking for their ninth CONCACAF W Championship trophy to add to the case, they were looking to avenge the semifinal loss in the Tokyo Olympics.
Both teams came into the final without conceding a single goal in the first four games, but each team came out creating chances early in the first half. Nichelle Prince was the danger point for the Canadian in the opening 45 minutes. She continued to create trouble on the left side, breaking through defenders and testing US keeper Alyssa Naeher. Canada’s best chance of the first half came form the boot of Prince, who broke into the area and had her shot deflected up and off the crossbar.
US with lions share of chances in first half
The US side opened the first half with 10 shots, but many failed to find the target. Alex Morgan had an early chance to put the opener on the board but missed wide. Lindsey Horan had another chance when she turned on a half volley but missed the target by a mater of inches. Mallory Pugh had a clear chance off of a four vs. two counter, but Pugh couldn’t hit the target either.
The USWNT’s best chance came in stoppage time when Sofia Huerta whipped a ball across the area, and Sofia Smith couldn’t knock home the opener as Canada keeper Kailen Sheridan came out on top in the goal line scramble.
The pace of play slowed out of the halftime break. The defense tightened on both ends as much of the first twenty minutes was played in the middle third. Alex Morgan and Sofia Smith broke the game open with the first chance of the second 45 when Morgan played Smith into the box on a through ball. Smith touched the pass around the keeper, but couldn’t steer the shot on the empty net goalward.
Morgan gets game winner, wins Golden Ball
After that the US took control continually pressing, but Canada’s sturdy back four held tough. The lone mistake Canada made was a needless foul inside the box by Allysha Chapman on Lavelle who was running away from goal.
Morgan stepped to the spot, and slotted it past Sheridan who played so well all night but guessed wrong on the penalty. USA would hold on as Canada’s desperation efforts never worried Alyssa Naeher.
Morgan was named the Best Player of the Tournament after scoring three goals in the tournament.
This was the USWNT’s ninth CONCACAF W Championship ever, and 17th major title. Not only do they hoist the trophy, but they have punched their ticket to the Olympics in 2024.
THE USWNT ARE YOUR 2022 CONCACAF W CHAMPIONS!!
Canada defended so well for so long, but a cheap penalty gave Alex Morgan the chance to decide the game from the spot, and the veteran goal scorer made no mistake on the long goal of the match.
Canada were the Olympic champions in Tokyo after defeating the US in the semis, but the USWNT avenge their loss in the final.
The United States will add another trophy to their cabinet and book their ticket to the 2024 Olympics.
IT'S ALL OVER!!! THE UNITED STATES WOMEN'S NATIONAL TEAM ARE CONCACAF W CHAMPIONS!!!
`Grosso with the final touch of the game smacks a shot on frame, but Naeher with the save and that will do it!
Another corner for the US side, and that will run some valuable seconds off the clock.
USA with a corner kick, and they will be in no rush to take this. Just three minutes remaining in stoppage time.
Lavelle takes a shot from the back, and she stays down after the clash in the air. As she walks off the pitch after getting medical attention the fourth referree flashes there will be five minutes of stoppage time.
Huietma with a half chance on the arial attack, but some tight defending from the US made the headed effort nearly impossible for the Canadian.
Lawrence recieves the ball from Grosso on the left side of the area, her cut back opened up space and she had the option to pass or shoot. He took it herself but sailed the effort high.
Five minute to go from the Estadio BBVA.
Flemming skips one of the terf from long range. Wasn't an easy save for Naeher, but she saw it the whole way and wrapped it up without a rebound.
Disappointing end to a promising counter from Canada. Giles had a chance to nod a header on frame, but got the dynamic all wrong.
You could feel the pressure just turn up a notch from the US side, but Canada was holding their lines. It's a pity for the Canadians to give up a cheap penalty after defending so well.
Morgan steps to the spot and buries the penalty as the keeper guessed left, Morgan went right. USA lead 1-0 after the penalty.
PENALTY!!! Out of nowhere Lavelle is tripped in the box when she was running away from goal. Chapman with a needless clip of the legs inside the area! Penalty for the US in the 76th!!!
Things are getting tense as the US team is starting to pressure higher and higher up the pitch. So far Canada's defense is holding strong as they continute to pinch in a bit tighter later in the game.
Sullivan settled with a touch and teed up a rip from outside the area. Great pace behind that strike, but just needed a bit more direction to beat Sheridan.
Horan on the free kick was looking for the top corner, but sent it sailing.
Canada with a rare second half surge into the area, but Lawrence rolled her cross attempt into the arms of the US keeper.
Lavelle with a strike from the top of the area, but Sheridan saw it the whole way.
Sullivan played a ball into the box that was deflected by Lavelle, and the deflection just sailed over the head of Smith waiting on the back post with an empty net!
Morgan played Smith in behind the defense with a perfectly weighted ball. Smith took a touch around the keeper at the top of the area, but couldn't turn the shot on goal.
Smith with a lovely turn at the top of the area, but the shot was one of the easiest Sheridan has had to deal with all night.
Riviere can't continue, and is swapped out by Chapman.
Giles with a brave challenge in on Smith, but paid the price as she went to ground. Smith's left foot landed on the midfielder's shoulder and she stays down after getting stepped on.
Julia Grosso and her three goals come off the bench and into the match for Canada. Canada now has two of the top three goal scorers in the tournament on the pitch.
Riviere limps off the pitch after a charge up into the area that came out empty.
There's a different pace of play in this second half. There's a lot of play in the middle third of the pitch, and not many chances being created in the opening eight minutes after the break.
Smith whips one through the small area and Canada's defense is there again with the clearance to concede a corner, which skied the mass of bodies waiting in the box.
The second half is underway from Monterrey, Mexico! We have 45 minutes to decide a winner here from Estadio BBVA.
The US side had 10 shots in the first half and three on target, but none of them looked as likely to end as a goal as Smith's stoppage time scramble that was stifflied by Sheridan. Canada had 4 shots, 2 on goal with Prince being the center of the attack for the Canadians.
We are done with one half. The scoreboard says 0-0, but there has been plenty of action and plenty of chances on both ends.
Two minutes of stoppage time in the first half.
Smith on the line in a scramble for the loose ball, and some how it stays out! Sheridan works a miracle after a fantastic ball into the small area from Huerta.
Clearance from Sheridan finds Horan who runs on to the ball just out side the box, but her shot was disappointingly wide.
Lavell from the end line to the back post and Smith was waiting, but a brilliant header away from Riviere to keep the opening goal of the game off the board.
Horan starts the counter with a cheeky nutmeg and takes it box to box. The lay off to Pugh was perfect, but Pugh pushed the shot high.
Beautiful defending from Buchanon who did well to anticipate Morgan's ball across the box and then recovered in time to body Morgan off the ball. It looked like the ball rolled over the end line but no flag was raised for a corner.
Fantastic run almost the length of the pitch from Pugh who used her pace to stay ahead of the chasing pack and put a stong shot on goal, but Sheridan makes the diving save!
Smith takes it all on her own after cutting to the top of the box and just cut her near post effort to much. Again the US are in postion, but having trouble hitting the target.
So far both defenses have given up chances, but at the moment neither team has tested the keeper too much. Canada have come the closest to scoring after that deflection on the Prince shot.
MOrgan on the left side from the end line popped one into the heart of the box, but it was Sheridan who came up with the tip to extinguish the danger.
Flemming pulls the trigger from outside the area. The shot was alway rising, but Flemming doesn't need much space to score. She's tied for top scorer with three goals on the tournament.
Prince again creating all kinds of trouble for the US defenders. She split two defenders on the left side and her shot was deflected but popped up and hit the crossbar. The US catch a break there, but will be concerned with out dangerous Prince looks on the left.
PUgh was involved in a clash with Riviere and twisted her ankle in the challenge. She is getting taped up on the touchline at the moment looking like she is coming back in.
Horan with her back to goal on a half chance, turned well on the half volley but the effort just inched wide.
This is what's on the line tonight from Monterrey. Canada has one in their trophy case, the US is looking for number nine.
Second corner of the match for the US, and it results in an easy header sent away by the Canadian defense.
Prince again on the left side, getting into the box again, but again the effort lacked a bit of sting to really test Naeher.
Prince cuts in and puts a slow roller on frame that didn't trouble Naeher. That was Canada's first charge up the pitch.
Horan found a ball right on her laces after a half clearance led to another chance for the US. Horan's shot was blocked by a wall of Canadian defenders.
Smith with a strong bit of dribbling at the top of the area and sprayed it to the left side where Morgan was waiting with a one touch effort that went glancing wide.
There are quite a bit of fans in the stands at the Estadio BBVA, which hasn't been a common occurance in this competition. Many of them sound like they are cheering for Canada.
Smith with a half chance from a tight angle early on. She had her work cut out to beat the keeper, and went with power from the right side. Canada's keeper was up to the task in the first minute.
We are underway from the Estadio BBVA!! In 90 minutes we will have a winner of the CONCACAF W Championship winner and that team will book their ticket to the 2024 Olympics.
The trophy has been brought out, both teams are out of the tunnel. The national anthems are being played, and we are just minutes away from kickoff from Mexico.
Experience is on the United States' side
The US side has won 16 major titles including 8 CONCACAF W Championships. Canada has won just three major trophies
Tonight's Odds
The USWNT is paying -120 to win straight up tonight. I like the US side show their experience in big games and bring home the title tonight.
Defense wins championships
Neither team has allowed a goal in the first four matches of their run to the Finals. Not only are both side’s back four perfect up until to this point of the tournament, but each team has scored 12 goals, for an average of 3 a game.
World Cup 2023 booked, winner gets Olympic bid
Canada and USWNT already secured their World Cup 2023 births when they finished tops in their respective groups. Jamaica and Costa Rica were the other CONCACAF sides to qualify to the World Cup in New Zealand and Australia. Haiti and Panama finished third in their groups, which doesn’t get them an automatic bid to the World Cup, but they still have a chance if they can get through the 10-team inter-confederation playoff.
Jessie Flemming leads the front line for the Canadian National Team, but Julia Grosso will start on the bench. Both women have scored three goals in the tournament, which is tied for the lead with Bunny Shaw of Jamaica
Jessie Flemming leads the front line for the Canadian National Team, but Julia Grosso will start on the bench. Both women have scored three goals in the tournament, which is tied for the lead with Bunny Shaw of Jamaica
The USWNT's Starting XI for tonight's CONCACAF W Championship. Alex Morgan is up top with Becky Sauerbrunn patrolling on the back line.
Last time out Canada
Canada has had a very similar path to the final, scoring 9 goals in the group stages, without conceding a goal. After securing nine points in the three group stage matches, the Canadians met Jamaica in the Semis. Jessie Fleming scored the opener in the 18th minute, and then Allysha Chapman doubled the advantage with the 2-0 in the 64th. Adriana Leon added the 3-0 in the 76th minute in a night where Canada peppered 33 shots, and 11 on target against the Reggae Girlz.
Last time out USA
Coach Andonovski’s side is coming off of a convincing win over Costa Rica in the Semifinal on Thursday night. Emily Sonnet opened up the scoring in the 34th minutes for her first international goal ever. Mallory Pugh pushed the match out of reach with a goal right before the stroke of halftime to bury the Costa Rican’s coming out of the break. Ashley Sanchez put the nail in the coffin with a goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time to secure the 3-0 semifinal win.
How they got here Canada
Canada had a similar sweep through the Group Stage in the other table. They crushed Trinidad and Tobago 6-0 with a brace from Julia Grosso, and then a lone goal from Grosso against Panama in the 64th minute secured the 1-0 win. Jessie Flemming and Sofie Schmidt wrapped up the Group Stages with a 2-0 win over Costa Rica to reach the Semis with nine out of nine points.
THe US team has had no trouble scoring in the first four games of this competition. They have scored a total of 12 goals and are averaging three a game.
How they got here: USA
The USWNT swept through Haiti, Jamaica and Mexico in the Group Stages. They opened up with a 3-0 win over Haiti thanks to a brace from Alex Morgan. Sofia Smith then opened the second game against Jamaica with two goals before the ten minute mark, getting the Stars and Stripes off to a hot start in a match they would win 5-0. Kristie Mewis had the lone goal in the 89th minute to secure the US side’s win over Mexico to make it a perfect nine of nine in Group Stages.
We are live from Mexico
Hello everyone and welcome to the Estadio BBVA for tonight’s matchup between North American rivals for the CONCACAF W Championship. Both USA and Canada are justified finalists after cruising through Group Stages and the Semifinals.
Canada vs. USWNT live
The CONCACAF W Championship is on the line tonight as the top teams from Group A and Group B square off tonight from Monterrey, Mexico. AS English will have you covered with live stats, scores, analysis and highlights from pregame to kickoff to post game.