Penalty drama as USA set up Gold Cup final with Brazil
USA goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher went from villain to hero in minutes after giving away a penalty in the last minute of extra-time but then saving three spot kicks in the shoot-out. The dramatic finale came at the end of a game which had been played in farcical conditions for the opening 45 minutes.
Brazil comfortably beat Mexico 3-0 in the earlier semi-final in San Diego before a torrential downpour brought the USA-Canada clash into doubt. There were large patches of standing water across the field at Snapdragon Stadium and once the game got underway it was almost impossible to play normal football on the surface.
With the ball stopping in the water and players sliding around, Mexican referee Katia Garcia went to the sideline for discussions with officials but the game continued in monsoon-like conditions. Inevitably when the opening goal came, the conditions had a major influence on it - Vanessa Gilles' ill-advised back-pass stopped dead in a puddle and Jaedyn Shaw pounced on it and slotted home.
At half-time ground staff did their best to push the water off the field but there was a delay to the start of the second half with the rain having caused problems with the referees communication equipment. As the half progressed, the surface did improve but the quality of the game did not with the USA continuing to play route one direct football.
Canada had a big appeal for a penalty turned down after Jessie Fleming went down under challenge from Tierna Davidson.
But eight minutes from the end of normal time, Canada drew level thanks to a powerful header from Jordyn Huitema who rose superbly to angle home a cross from Ashley Lawrence. The game went into extra-time and the USA got themselves in front with Rose Lavelle's glancing header
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