Match reports – Inside World Football

USA beat Brazil to win inaugural W Gold Cup in San Diego

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 02:44:21 +0000

March 11- The USA beat Brazil 1-0 in front of 31,528 screaming fans in the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego to win the inaugural W Gold Cup. It was an exciting climax to three weeks of international football that saw the women’s game take another major step forward on and off the pitch.

A Lindsey Horan headed goal in added time at the end of the first half broke the deadlock between two evenly matched teams.

Naeher’s penalty heroics end Canada’s dreams and send US into W Gold Cup final

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 13:54:16 +0000

March 7 – It was a night of high drama in the second semi-final of the W Gold Cup at the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.

The US overcame Canada 4-1 on penalties after the Canadians had equalised in the minute of added time at the end of extra time. The US hero was goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher who saved three of Canada’s spot kicks and scored her own penalty to send her country into the final on Sunday against Brazil.

Brazil head into W Gold Cup Final with 3-0 win over 10-player Mexico

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 13:24:43 +0000

March 6 – Brazil beat Mexico 3-0 to head into the W Gold Cup final with goals from Antonia, Adriana and a precocious backheel from Yasmim on a wet early evening at the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.

Mexico, a goal down, had to play most of the last hour with 10 players against a Brazilian team that has grown in confidence and effectiveness as this tournament has progressed.

It was a tough evening for a Mexican side who produced one of the surprise results of the W Gold Cup with a 2-0 group win over the US,

US muscle out Colombia 3-0 and head to San Diego for Canada showdown

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 07:12:54 +0000

February 3 – In a bad tempered quarter final, particularly in the first half, the USA beat Colombia 3-0 in the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles. The US now move on to face Canada in the semi-finals in San Diego on Wednesday.

After having been picked apart by Mexico in their final group game, this result went a long way to re-establishing the USA’s reputation against a nation that excelled at the 2023 World Cup and pushed Brazil close in their group at the W Gold Cup a week ago.

Mexico take the hard route to Brazil semi-final with 3-2 win over Paraguay

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 00:35:11 +0000

March 3 – In an entertaining quarter final at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, Mexico dominated and then only just managed to scrape past a brave Paraguayan challenge 3-2 that in the second half pushed the Mexicans to the brink of disaster.

Two goals from Jacqueline Ovalle secured the win that in the end was far from straightforward as Paraguay, as they had done in qualifying for the quarter finals, saved their best for last.

Zanaretto brace as Brazil cruise past Argentina into semis

Paul Nicholson — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 08:05:40 +0000

March 2 – Brazil turned on the style for a 5-1 win over Argentina at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles to secure their semi-final spot in San Diego next week where they will face either Mexico or Paraguay.

A brace from Bia Zanaretto powered the win which would have been a lot more but for goalkeeper Laurina Oliveros’s commanding performance. Argentina scored a late consolation goal, but Brazil scored their fifth in added time as if to emphasise their dominance.

Extra-time drama sees Canada squeeze past Costa Rica to the W Gold Cup semi-finals

Paul Nicholson — Sun, 03 Mar 2024 03:16:46 +0000

March 2 – It took extra time, but Canada eventually dispatched Costa Rica 1-0 in a one-sided quarter final that saw the Canadians throw everything they had at Costa Rica’s defence and their outstanding goalkeeper Daniela Solera.

To get to that point though it took the save of the match from Canada’s Kailen Sheridan in added time to keep the Canadians from suffering a shock defeat.

In the end it was their inspirational captain Jessie Fleming who drove them into the semi-finals later this week in San Diego,

Last gasp Paraguay grab quarter final slot with Martinez hattrick in 3-2 win over El Salvador

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 13:00:03 +0000

February 28 – A Jessica Martinez hattrick saw Paraguay through into the quarter finals of the W Gold Cup, coming from behind to beat El Salvador 3-2 in added time in the Shell Energy Stadium in Houston.

Paraguay went into the final game in Group C needing a point to qualify for the next round but with eight minutes left looked to be going home.

El Salvador had taken a 2-1 lead and Paraguay went from being a point ahead of Costa Rica to being behind them on goal difference.

Canada brush Costa Rica aside to head into quarter final draw as top ranked nation

Paul Nicholson — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 12:25:46 +0000

February 28 – Canada beat Costa Rica in the Shell Energy Stadium in Houston in their final group game of Group C to secure qualification ahead of Brazil for the quarter finals as the top ranked nation.

They will now face Costa Rica again as the eight ranked qualifier on Saturday in Los Angeles. Having finished third in the group Costa Rica were on the same points, goal difference and number of cards as Puerto Rico.

Brazil turn on the style to top Group C with a 100% record

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 12:02:17 +0000

February 28 – Brazil made it three wins out of three as they topped Group B at the W Gold Cup with a 5-0 win over Panama.

On a chilly evening at the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego Brazil strolled, sometimes swaggered, through Panama’s defence. They have yet to concede a goal and certainly haven’t scored as many as they would have liked, but against Panama they matched fluidity with goals, even so 5-0 still flattered Panama.

Colombia secure quarter final slot. Parsimonious Puerto Rico look set to join them

Paul Nicholson — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 12:00:38 +0000

February 27 – Colombia secured second place in Group B with a 2-0 win over Puerto Rico in the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.

Goals from their stand out strikers Maria Usme and Linda Caicedo dispatched a Puerto Rican side who had qualified through the preliminary play-offs and now restricted world ranked 23 Colombia to two goals to follow a 1-0 loss to Brazil, world ranked 11 and beating 2023 World Cup finalists Panama 2-1.

Mexico turn World Rankings upside down with history making win over USA

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 13:37:23 +0000

February 26 – Mexico shocked the USA with a 2-0 win in the Dignity Health Park stadium in Carson, Los Angeles, on a stunning night of Gold Cup football. This may be the inaugural W Gold Cup but it is already delivering the drama, emotion and surprises of the men’s version.

This was end-to-end women’s football at its best with two teams putting everything on the line. Mexico were magnificent. The USA in the end looked dumbfounded as goals by Jacqueline Orvalle and Scarlett Camberos knocked them off their perch.

Argentina brush past Dominican Republic to head for quarter finals

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 13:12:28 +0000

February 26 – Argentina closed out their group matches in the Dignity Health Park stadium in Carson, Los Angeles, with a 3-0 win over the Dominican Republic. It was less comfortable than they were probably expecting but still guarantees them progression to the quarter finals of the W Gold Cup this weekend.

It is a measure of how much Dominican Republic have improved over their three group games that, if it hadn’t been for a close offside call,

Leon hattrick ensures Canada ease past Paraguay into next round

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 00:17:29 +0000

February 25 – Canada controlled their second Group C match against Paraguay from start to finish in the Shell Energy Stadium in Houston to guarantee qualification for the knock out rounds that begin next weekend in Los Angeles.

A hattrick from Adriana Leon and a second W Gold Cup goal from starlet Olivia Smith put the game well beyond Paraguay.

Canada will have tougher and more testing games to come. Such has been the ease of their opening two group games it is difficult to assess how good this Canadian team is until those bigger challenges arrive.

Chinchilla double pushes Costa Rica past El Salvador for shot at quarter finals

Paul Nicholson — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 00:03:20 +0000

February 26 – Costa Rica kept themselves in contention for a quarter final spot with a 2-0 win over a battling El Salvador. Both goals were breakaways scored by Priscilla Chinchilla.

Costa Rica and El Salvador were playing for a shot at second place in the group. A win for either would put them level with Paraguay on points and with a shot at the quarter finals.

Costa Rica face the tough task of getting something out of their final tie against Canada while El Salvador could still theoretically go though but would have to beat Paraguay by three goals and hope Canada beat Costa Rica by five.

Duda’s early strike to beat Colombia ignites Brazil’s W Gold Cup challenge

Paul Nicholson — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 07:11:30 +0000

February 24 – In an exciting end-to-end encounter at the Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego Brazil beat Colombia 1-0 with a Duda Santos goal to secure their spot in the knockout rounds and send a message to the USA women’s team that they mean business.

The two South American footballing giants delivered a thriller. It was a game of passion and commitment with no lack of skill from two of the world’s best women’s teams.