Alex Morgan, U.S. Win Gold Cup Semifinal Over Canada on Penalty Kicks
Former Cal star Alex Morgan was in the starting lineup for Thursday's semifinal Concacaf Gold Cup game against Canada, but she was not on the field when the United States won the tense, wet game on penalty kicks at drenched Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.
Brazil, which defeated Mexico in the other semifinal, will be the United States' opponent in Sunday's final in San Diego. The question now is whether Morgan will be in the starting lineup for that game. She was not much of a factor before being replaced in the 72nd minute, leaving her on the sidelines for much of the excitement.
U.S. goalie Alyssa Naeher was nearly the goat of Thursday's match. With the U.S. leading 2-1 Canada was awarded a penalty with just seconds left in extra time as she collided with Canada's Vanessa Gilles in the penalty box when both players were vying for a long ball sent into the box. The referee initially called nothing, but after a video review, Canada was awarded a penalty, and Adrianna Leon converted to tie the game at 2-2 just a second or two before the final whistle ended the second 15-minute extra period.
But Naeher turned out to be the hero. Not only did she save three of Canada's four penalty-kick opportunities, but Naeher also converted a penalty kick of her own to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead in the penalty-kick phase.
After Lindsey Horan converted her penalty kick to give the U.S. a 3-1 lead in the fourth round, Naeher stopped Jessie Fleming's fourth-round attempt to end the match, giving the U.S. a 3-1 win in the penalty-kicks stage.
It also gives the U.S. a record of 54 wins, 7 draws and 4 losses against Canada, although Canada eliminated the U.S. from the Olympics in 2021 in Tokyo.
Thursday's penalty shootout had started with a converted penalty by Sophie Smith, who looked like she was going to be the hero of the game. She converted a goal nine minutes into the first 15-minute extra period to give the U.S. a 2-1 lead. But the controversial penalty awarded to Canada tied it.
Until the closing excitement, the weather had been the story.
The game started in a downpour, and although the rain stopped early in the first half, the artificial turf was completely soaked, with puddles everywhere and players unable to do much more than slog through the water.
The water made it virtually impossible to dribble or advance the ball on the ground as players sloshed around, as seen in the twitter video below.
The Americans' first goal was a direct result of the wet conditions. Canada's Gilles was sending a ball back to her goalie in what seemed like a routine play. But the wet field simply stopped the ball halfway to the goaltender. It was picked up by Jaedyn Shaw, who knocked it past the goaltender, who had come out to take the pass.
Although the field was in better condition in the second half, that first-half goal looked like it would carry the U.S, to victory, until Canada's Jordyn Huiteman knocked header into the goal in the 82nd minute to tie the game 1-1 and send it to extra time.
Morgan is still fighting for a spot on the U.S. team for this summer's Olympics in Paris. She has made headway in that regard in this Gold Cup event. Morgan was not on the original U.S. roster for the Gold Cup but was added to the team as an injury replacement just hours before the Americans' first match in this event. She came on as a substitute in the first game, and has been a starter in the four games since. She has scored two goals in the tournament.
Whether she starts on Sunday and how she performs if she plays will impact whether she makes the U.S. Olympic roster. Morgan addresses that issue in the video below.
Cover photo of Jaedyn Shaw slugging through the wet by Ray Acevedo, USA TODAY Sports
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