W Gold Cup Quarterfinal Review
(#= Knockout seeding)
#1 Canada 1–0 #8 Costa Rica
It took 103 minutes for Canada to break the deadlock against their Central American opponent. Canada were wasteful during regulation time, with Vanessa Gilles missing a number of chances. The best chance by either side was when Alexa Herrera’s shot for Costa Rica from within the six yard box was acrobatically kicked clear by Kailen Sheridan.
After all the profligacy from open play, it was a free kick which finally beat Daniela Solera, as Evelyne Viens headed home a chip into the area.
#2 Brasil 5–1 #7 Argentina
The Seleçao strolled to a semifinal spot.
Vitória Yaya’s opener came via a bullet header, beating her defender and the goalkeeper to the spot of Bia Zaneratto’s cross from the right. Yasmim fired a daisycutter along the ground from just outside the area and it deflected off a defender to nestle in the corner. Zaneratto herself got on the scoresheet in the 52nd minute, chipping Laurina Oliveros from the penalty spot. Gabi Nunes provided her own headed finish to make it 4–0, just after the hour. To Argentina’s credit, they kept pushing to break Brasil’s shutout streak and Celeste Dos Santos scored a consolation in the 82nd minute, chipping Luciana from a long diagonal into the right back berth. Zaneratto added an exclamation point with a shot fired across Oliveros from the edge of the area into the far side netting.
#3 Mexico 3–2 #6 Paraguay
After a dominant first 45 minutes, including a go-ahead goal, Mexico faced a rejuvenated Paraguay in the second half and the result of the match ended up in the balance.
Mayra Pelayo drove into the box from the right, and a cross was finished by Jacqueline Ovalle. Pelayo and Ovalle connected again in the forty-eighth minute and an Ovalle corner was cleared to Karen Luna, who slotted the ball into the roof of the net via a deflection. Just after the hour mark, Camila Barbosa met a corner from the right and headed into the ground and through Esthefanny Barreras’s legs. Jessica Martínez had a penalty kick saved by Barreras, who got up and blocked Martinez’s rebound too. Mexico intercepted a ball in midfield and Mayor hits Bobadilla. Ovalle finished the rebound. Veronica Riveros crossed a diagonal to Rebeca Fernández, who slotted home to make it a one-goal game but Paraguay were unable to secure the tie.
#4 USA 3–0 #5 Colombia
A first half of high pressing secured the win for the US. Lindsey Horan opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Alex Morgan was felled in the area, intercepting an errant pass. Less than ten minutes of incessant pressure later, it was 2–0 as a long ball into the Colombian penalty area was flicked on by Alex Morgan and swept into the corner by Jenna Nighswonger. The third goal happened in stoppage time as Emily Fox’s interception was connected by Trinity Rodman, who squared it to Jaedyn Shaw for the finish. Rodman was fortunate to still be on the pitch at that point, having escaped a second yellow card twice in five minutes. To cap matters, Horan hit the post with a free kick. Yellow cards miraculously did not become reds and while Colombia had more possession, their potent front line was contained by the US all night.
Coming up: Semifinals
Canada v USA
Having re-settled following their shocking loss to Mexico, the US will fancy their chances but Canada have still yet to concede and Leon still leads the Golden Boot.
Mexico v Brasil
This may boil down to whether Brasil’s multifaceted attack or Mexico’s stalwart defense prevails.
