Canadians get physical but drop final to U.S.
It doesn’t take much to reignite the rivalry between the Canadian and American women’s soccer teams.
Both countries had already qualified for next summer’s Women’s World Cup prior to kickoff. Wednesday night’s CONCACAF final in Frisco, Texas, was for regional bragging rights and little else.
The result was a tense physical affair that saw the No. 1-ranked Americans beat the fifth-ranked Canadians 2-0, thanks to a second-minute goal from midfielder Rose Lavelle and a late dagger by Alex Morgan.
The introduction of striker Nichelle Prince for midfielder Julia Grosso was the only change Canadian coach Kenneth Heiner-Moller made to the team that beat Panama in the semifinals, while American coach Jill Ellis went with the same starting 11 that beat Jamaica on its way to the final. It was Ellis’ first-string lineup, employed in four of five games in the tournament.
The U.S. had scored in the first 10 minutes of every match and came flying out of the gate again, with Lavelle beating Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé from the top of the box into the bottom corner.
Canada struggled to string together any lengthy possessions early on a rainy night at Toyota Stadium. They did try to throw their weight around and disrupt Americans with their physicality, including standout battles between Allysha Chapman and Tobin Health and Janine Beckie and Kelley O’Hara down the left side.
Brampton centre back Kadeisha Buchanan had Canada’s best chance when she nearly squeaked a header just inside goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher’s back post. But in the end the Canadians lagged in clear-cut chances, outshot 12-3.
Morgan’s late goal, a tap-in off a cross by Lindsey Horan in the 89th minute, was perhaps deserved based on the run of play, but should have been called back as replays showed the striker was a yard offside when she took the shot. The controversial goal was Morgan’s seventh to win the Golden Boot race.
Both teams will compete in the World Cup in France next summer, along with third-place Jamaica — which beat Panama on penalties earlier in the day.