A wet loss was still worthwhile
‘This team feels like it’s taken a step forward,’ Canada coach says after U.S. wins semifinal
Jessie Fleming did everything but score from the penalty spot in the CONCACAF W Gold Cup semifinal.
Sadly the 25-year-old from London, Ont., was not the only one. American goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher stole the show in Wednesday’s penalty shootout on a waterlogged pitch at San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium, stopping spot kicks by Fleming, Adriana Leon and Jordyn Huitema while converting a penalty of her own.
The second-ranked Americans won the shootout 3-1 after 10thranked Canada rallied twice to force extra time and the shootout.
Fleming was the last Canadian shooter, walking away from goal disconsolately as the Americans rushed to mob Naeher. But the Canadian captain had no reason to hang her head. She drove the Canadian team all game.
“For me, Jessie the whole tournament has been immense,” Canada coach Bev Priestman said. “It’s probably the things lot of people don’t see … her leadership. She led by example in every yard she covered on that pitch.”
While the Americans prepare to face No. 1 Brazil in Sunday’s final, the Canadian women will return to their clubs with next month’s She-Believes Cup their next international assignment. Canada will open against Brazil while the host Americans face No. 8 Japan. The two winners will meet in the final while the loser square off for third place.
The Paris Olympics come in late July, with Canada looking to defend its Tokyo title.
The Canadian women have gone 9-1-1 (Wednesday’s penalty shootout loss is officially counted as a draw) since their disappointing exit after the group stage of last summers FIFA World Cup in Australia. They have outscored their opposition 28-4 and posted eight shutouts.
The hope is Priestman will have the injured Janine Beckie, Nichelle Prince, Desire Scott, Jayde Riviere and Sydney Collins heathy and available for the Olympics. Young guns Simi Awujo, Jade Rose and Olivia Smith put up their hands at the tournament.
“This team feels like it’s taken a step forward. We’re on our way. We know where we need to get to,” Priestman said.
As for Wednesday’s soggy conditions that turned the first half into a farce, both Priestman and U.S interim coach Twila Kilgore echoed each other in saying the pitch was unplayable, forcing them to throw out their game plans in the first minute.
Canadian centre back Vanessa Gilles, who was involved at both ends as the game wore on, was seen wringing water out of jersey in the first minute or so. Gilles also showed her bravery, taking an unwitting punch to the head from Naeher as both went for a ball in the air, earning the 127th-minute penalty that Leon converted to force the shootout.
“I’m just super proud of the players. I couldn’t ask any more from them,” Priestman said.
While Canada won penalty shootouts to dispatch Brazil and Sweden at the Tokyo Olympics, Naeher was too good in San Diego.
“It’s penalties,” Priestman said. “We were on the good side of them before. We were on the bad side of them (Wednesday).”