USWNT - Brazil summary: score, goals & highlights, W Gold Cup Final
USWNT - Brazil, W Gold Cup final: as it happened
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Joe
Awards time!
Forget the Oscars, here are the W Gold Cup awards:
Fair Play Award: Lindsey Horan
Best Goalkeeper: Alyssa Naeher
Best Player: Jaedyn Shaw
Top scorer: Adriana Leon
Best Young Player: Olivia Smith
Full-time thoughts:
The USWNT are W Gold up champions after a Lindsey Horan header at the end of the first half was enough to see them over the line.
Brazil dominated the whole game, with their high press and quick attacks causing Kilgore's side problems all over the pitch.
Chances came and went for the South Americans who could not find the final ball or goalscoring touch and a lapse of concentration allowed Horan to head past an impressive Luciana in goal on the stroke of half-time.
The second half was much of the same, with Brazil pinning their opponents back and creating chances that were not put away.
The US managed to hold off the threats and eventually their defensive performance was enough to see them over the line.
FULL-TIME!
The USWNT are W Gold Cup champions!
CHANCE!!!! Wow, Krueger clears a dangerous cross that looked in from Yasmim. What a chance!
The USWNT are doing a great job of playing the ball high into the air as the clock ticks down.
I imagine we'll have a minute or so more due to Smith's 'injury'.
Portilho is offside as Brazil attack and a good opportunity breaks down.
The ball is rolling and Smith has made a miraculous recovery. She's back on the pitch.
The referee is keen to get Smith off the pitch but one can understand that both the player and medical staff are in no rush.
Smith is down and wants medical attention.
OVER THE BAR. Debinha curls her effort over the bar and the stadium sighs in relief.
5 added minutes.
Debinha and Yasmim are over the ball.
Shaw brings down Bianchi and Brazil have a perfectly placed free-kick, right on the edge of the box.
We are into the final minute of normal time...
The US mentality is being tested as Brazil have them pinned into their own defensive third as the clock ticks down.
USWNT change:
OFF: Dunn
ON: Krueger
CHANCE. Geyse almost flicks the cross into the goal at the back post but it flashes past the goal as the USWNT all stand still.
Fox is booked for a foul and Brazil have a free-kick on the left corner of the box. Yasmim is over the ball.
The US are holding their defensive shape well as Brazil probe.
We're into the final 10 minutes and the Brazilians need to find a spark from somewhere...
Brazil changes:
OFF: Sampaio, Bia
ON: Bianchi, Debinha
It's the right call, Williams was a yard offside. But it was a terrible mix up from the Brazilian defence, who failed to communicate and saw a loose ball roll on the edge of the box.
OFFSIDE!!!!
This is sustained pressure from Brazil who have their opponents pinned back into their defensive third.
Geyse sends a dangerous ball from left to right that is cleared behind by Dunn.
CHANCE. The ball lands at the feet of Williams inside the box but it's such a a surprise that she doesn't react and Thais sweeps away.
Tarciane gives away a foul near the left corner flag and the US have a great chance to whip the ball into Luciana's area.
Dunn goes down inside her own box and Geyse is penalised for a push as she gets in behind.
Luciana races out to collect a pass through the lines aimed towards Shaw.
USWNT changes:
OFF: Coffey, Rodman
ON: Shaw, Purce
Naeher catches Yasmim's whipped shot towards the near post from a tight angle.
Brazil win a free-kick on the right side of the box. Another good chance to threaten the goal.
CHANCE. Adriana takes on the shot as she spins on her heel and the ball whizzes wide.
Brazil's changes have at least allowed them to push the USA back line towards their own goal. They win a corner.
It's one former Madrid CFF forward for another:
OFF: Gabi Nunes
ON: Geyse
Brazil haven't been half as threatening in this half. Geyse could be the answer. I'd hate to play against her.
Ex-Barcelona forward Geyse is getting ready to come on for Brazil...
CHANCE. Smith is played in behind and bursts away. Thais does superbly well to chase her down and get a foot in front of the shot.
We've had an hour of football.
Not a great day for Morgan, who failed the threaten the goal and nearly got herself a red card...
USWNT change:
OFF: Morgan
ON: Smith
Morgan arguably gets away with one there are she obviously pushes Tarciane at the back.
Yaya comes on and immediately skips past her marker in the middle before playing out to Adriana on the right, who can't keep the ball in play.
Brazil switch things up:
OFF: Duda Santos
ON: Vitoria Yaya
Brazil appear to be finding their feet over the last few minutes and have pushed forward 10 yards.
Morgan goes into the book for a trip on Antonia. Boos ring around the ground.
Brazil are certainly not as comfortable as they were in the first half: they're rushing around the pitch and lack that attacking fluency we saw before the break.
We're back underway and Horan is soldiering on.
It looks like an arm/shoulder injury to Horan, who is still on the floor.
Luciana leaps high to catch Coffey's corner. Horan, meanwhile, is down in the box.
A mix up at the back gives the USWNT the ball and they win a corner.
It's another nervy start to the half with both teams focussed on avoiding mistakes.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY!
Gabi Nunes gets the ball rolling...
Changes at half-time for the USA:
OFF: Lavelle
ON: Williams
Horan leading the line for the USA
She has certainly made the difference when it has mattered!
The fans are enjoying themselves!
The crowd has been in fine voice all throughout the game so far!
Let's hope for just as much entertainment in the second period.
Half-time thoughts:
Well, incredibly, the USWNT have the lead at the break, with Horan's header in stoppage time the difference on the scoreboard.
It's not been a good game at all for Kilgore's side, who have been outclassed by Brazil in all areas of the pitch.
Mistakes have forced the US into making fouls and mistiming passes, with Brazil's press causing issues for the North Americans.
However, despite the Brazilian chances, the US are ahead thanks to Captain Fantastic, who headed home just before the break.
HALF-TIME!
Horan's header gives the US a slim lead at the break.
We've got 2 added minutes.
Rodman plays back up the line to Fox, who clips a cross towards the far post. Of course it's Horan who rises highest to head the ball across goal and watch it drop into the far corner.
HORAN
Luciana races off her line to collect a long ball from the blue back line. That's all they've got at the moment, the US, a hit and hope long punt up the pitch.
The biggest cheer of the day so far comes as Rodman is sent chasing a long ball down the right, but Thais does well to clear away and silence the crowd.
A venom-laced ball rolls tantalisingly across the USWNT goal mouth, but there is no yellow shirt to smash home from close range. The home side survive.
SAVE. Luciana saves the near post header. It came off Horan in the end.
Duda Santos is getting told of by the referee. Coffey is in there too, of course.
Horan is down in the box before the corner is taken by Lavelle.
Horan wins a corner for the USWNT...
We're back underway and Duda Santos is back on after being given some magic spray on her ankle.
Duda is still receiving treatment...
Duda Santos is down after another late challenge from Coffey, who has made a few of those so far today.
Mistakes are coming again and again for the USWNT, who can't seem to string a series of passes together.
All of their 'chances' are coming from high turnovers, not well-designed play, and they continue to misplace simple balls in the middle of the park and are tackling very late.
Davidson gets a vital touch on Yasmim's early cross that is aimed towards Gabi Nunes. Brazil, whose energy levels had seemed to have dropped slightly, just remind their opponents that they're still awake.
CHANCE. Luciana beats Morgan to the ball played in behind by Albert.
Morgan, again, rushes things when she gets the chance and doesn't wait for Rodman to make the move ahead of her before sliding an ultimately misplaced pass through the Brazil defence.
That was fun, we're back underway now.
Two footballs on the pitch alarm!
Coffey leaves a leg in on Duda and gets a big talking to from the referee.
The ball is cleared and lands with Duda, who *ahem* doubts about shooting first time. She takes a touch and slices a poor effort well wide.
Yasmim to take...
Portilho dances and prances down the right wing where eventually Davidson clips her heel, bringing her down by the right corner flag.
The USWNT win a corner after they come at Brazil with Rodman, who plays a far post cross towards Lavelle, that's headed behind.
OVER THE BAR. Portilho takes the ball on the edge of the box and goes for the shot first time.
She lifts her effort just too high and it drops onto the top of the goal.
Duda's cross from deep is poor, and weakly poked towards the front post, where it's cleared by Horan.
It's mistakes galore here and Coffey eventually loses out to Zaneratto, who goes down and wins a free-kick in the middle third.
Horan runs out of room down the right channel as Coffey slips her in. That's better play from the US, who won the ball back high up the pitch.
CHANCE. Naeher gets her pass out from the ball all wrong at it lands with Gabi Nunes on the edge of the box.
The former Madrid CFF striker smashes a driven effort towards goal that is always rising and fizzes over the bar.
Morgan rushes her shot after Duda loses out in her own half. I'd have thought the experienced striker would've been calmer as she took the loose ball on the edge of the box.
Morgan slides the ball behind Brazil's defensive line towards Rodman but the young forward is miles offside.
Well, the USWNT have certainly been second best in the opening stages... Brazil are popping the ball around like they're the home side.
The entire stadium held their breath as the ball fizzed just past the top corner...
SAMPAIO HITS IT INCHES WIDE OF THE GOAL
Duda Santos and Sampaio are over the ball...
Gabi Nunes goes down on the edge of the box and the referee has given a free-kick to Brazil. A huge chance for the South Americans here, just to the right side of the 'D'.
CHANCE. Gabi Nunes almost wriggles her way into the goal through a wobbly USWNT defence. Naeher races out of goal and dives on the ball like a kitten on a ball of wool.
The first shot of the game comes from a very ambitious Antonia, who goes for goal from a ludicrous distance. It sails over the bar.
Naeher steps out and collects a low cross from the right as Brazil work the ball well down the wing. Warning signs for Dunn, perhaps.
Gabi Nunes, a name Spanish Liga F fans will recognise, pulls back Horan in the middle as the captain looks to break through into the attacking third.
Both sides are struggling to keep possession as nervous passes are missing their targets.
A couple of long balls either way are collected by both goalkeepers. It's a nervy opening, with both teams eyeing each other up and down.
It's Tarciane, Thais and Silva in a back-three for Brazil.
AND WE'RE OFF!
Two of the world's best teams go head to head for the W Gold Cup.
Honduran Melissa Borjas is the referee for the game today.
Tatiana Guzmán is the VAR official.
We've got Sandstorm by Darude absolutely belting out of the speakers at Snapdragon Stadium... kick-off can't come soon enough.
National anthem time!
A lovely rendition from the Brazilians; the same goes for the USA. Two fine songs.
THE PLAYERS ARE IN THE TUNNEL
We're almost ready to go!!!
We've got a pre-game show going on now
It's the Vamos song, I'm told.
Alex Morgan reacts after win over Canada in San Diego
Here's what the veteran had to say following the USWNT's semi-final victory.
The votes are coming in!
Remember, ahead of kick-off we've got a live poll that you can vote on and say who you'll think will win
20 MINUTES TO GO!
If you've just joined us, here is reminder of the XIs:
USWNT: Naeher; Dunn, Davidson, Girma, Fox; Horan, Lavelle, Coffey, Albert; Morgan, Rodman
BRAZIL: Luciana; Yasmim, Tarciane, Thais, Antonia; Sampaio, Santos, Zaneratto, Adriana; Gabi Portilho, Gabi Nunes
Warmups underway!
The two teams are on the pitch preparing themselves physically and tactically for kick-off!
Girma's on her home turf
The Wave player is playing at her home stadium tonight, which will surely be an advantage, even if it's an intangible one.
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WHERE IS EMMA HAYES?
I didn't want to shout. The English manager has agreed a deal to take over the USWNT, but she is not on the bench for the W Gold Cup.
On November 14 2023, Hayes was named as the new head coach of the USWNT.
In a statement, the US Soccer Federation said that they have “appointed Emma Hayes as the 10th full-time head coach in U.S. Women’s National Team history. Hayes, 47, the long-time head coach for Chelsea FC, one of the most successful women’s teams in Europe, started her coaching career in the United States at the dawn of the millennium and more than two decades later will take the helm of the USWNT.”
In their statement announcing the change, US Soccer said that “Hayes will finish the 2023-24 Women’s Super League season in England and then join the U.S. team officially two months prior to the start of the 2024 Olympics.” In the meantime, the interim head coach will be Twila Kilgore.
BRAZIL XI REVEALED:
It's a strong XI for the Seleçao Feminina as they look to make it 6 wins from 6 in their so far sensational tournament performance.
Pre-game quotes:
I’m always motivated by winning and I am results-driven but it isn’t without enjoying the journey. As much as I have been able to win major tournaments in the past, that is a high that you only get for a short period of time.
You work so hard to be able to attain that over and over again. Most people are only able to do that once or twice in their career.
I’ve been fortunate enough to be in a good amount of finals on both the winning and losing side. My drive is just my passion for football and always wanting to be on that winning side.
History is on the side of the USA
Brazil have it all to do if they are to break the USA's sensational run of final victories.
Get involved!
We've got a poll up and running ahead of kick-off. You can vote on who you think will win and also don't forget to drop a score prediction in there!
USWNT bench:
Dahlkemper, Nighswonger, Sauerbrunn, Williams, Shaw, Purce, Smith, Moultrie, Sonnett, Murphy, Krueger, Campbell.
USWNT STARTING XI
It's a strong XI from Kilgore ahead of the final, with Horan captaining the side.
Brazil in traditional colours
The South Americans will be in their iconic yellow kit for the night.
W Gold Cup top scorers chart:
Here's how things look in the top scorer table ahead of kick-off. Unless something utterly amazing happens, it will be Adriana Leon who ends the tournament with the award.
1 · Adriana Leon (Canada) - 6
2 · Jacqueline Ovalle (Mexico) - 5
3 · Jaedyn Shaw (USA) - 4
4 · Jordyn Huitema (Canada) and Jessica Martínez (Paraguay) -3
A sneak peak into the locker room!
The USWNT will be wearing their blue strip for the game today!
USWNT vs Brazil: head to head
The USA and Brazil have played 39 times in total with the U.S. leading the overall series 31W-5D-3L.
The last time the two sides faced each other was in February 2023, in the SheBelievesCup, with the USWNT winning 2-1.
The USA have won each of its last six games against Brazil.
Here's how you can watch the game on TV or on your streaming device.
How Brazil made it here:
Unlike their opponents, Brazil have a perfect 5 out of 5 record in the tournament.
They beat Puerto Rico and Colombia 1-0, before crashing past Panama, putting five unanswered goals past them.
Argentina were up next and Brazil battered them 5-1 before surprise package Mexico stood before them in the semi-finals.
However, the experienced Brazil side beat them convincingly, eventually winning 3-0 and making it to the final.
The road to the final:
The USWNT were put into Group A and duly beat Dominican Republic 5-0 and Argentina 4-0; they lost against Mexico in their final group match, with their neighbours getting a shock 2-0 victory.
Colombia were no match for the side as they beat them 3-0 but Alyssa Naeher was the star as the USWNT edged past Canada on penalties in the semi-final after a hard-fought 2-2 draw.
The US must maintain their focus today against a seriously tough opponent.
Suspensions:
We also saw no red cards in the previous round for either of our teams so there are no suspensions to talk of.
Team news:
We've got two fully fit squads ahead of the game today!
How things look ahead of kick-off:
The 35,000capacity stadium in San Diego California is the host venue for today’s showpiece game.
Opened in 2022; it is the home of San Diego Wave FC has held various events such as the 2023 NWSL Championship game and matches involving Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund in the men’s game.
Welcome!
Hello and welcome to the AS USA live coverage of the USWNT against Brazil in the W Gold Cup final!
It’sJoe here today to guide you through the action as it unfolds.
Kick-off is at 7.15pm ET and 4.15pm PT.