The U.S. women took the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup with a 1-0 win over Brazil in front of 31,528 at Snapdragon Stadium – the largest crowd ever for a Concacaf women’s event in the U.S.
A goal from team captain Lindsey Horan in at the end of the first half was enough to clinch the victory and for the U.S. to claim its 15th all-time title at a Concacaf championship.
The USA finished the tournament with 15 goals – forward Jaedyn Shaw, also of San Diego Wave FC, scored four times, which led to her being awarded the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament.
Goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher earned the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper with four shutouts in five starts. The U.S. also earned the tournament’s Fair Play award.
The first half was dominated by physical play as the teams combined for 12 fouls before the break.
The U.S. came close to scoring but didn’t break through until first-half stoppage time when Horan,, with a header, finished off a long cross from Emily Fox that came deep from the right flank, marking her third goal of the tournament.
On the defensive end, the U.S., led by center backs Naomi Girma – also of the Wave – and Tierna Davidson, denied Brazil any shots on goal despite the South Americans taking 11 total shots.
The match was the fourth between the U.S. women and Brazil in a final, with the U.S. winning each by a one-goal margin.
