Los Angeles: The United States advanced to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup with a 3-0 win over Colombia on Sunday, while Mexico joined them in the last four with a 3-2 win over Paraguay. The U.S. will play for a spot in the final against Canada on Wednesday, while Mexico will face Brazil in both games and Sunday’s final in San Diego. A Lindsey Horan penalty and first-half goals from Jenny Nighswonger and Jaedyn Shaw gave the USA a 3-0 halftime lead as they bounced back from a surprise loss to Mexico in their final group game on Monday.
Any hangover from that loss was cured when Alex Morgan was brought down in the box by Jorelyn Carabali and Horan calmly slotted home from the spot to give the USA the lead in the 13th minute. Nine minutes later, the Americans doubled their lead when the overlapping Nighswonger fired home a sweet left-footed shot from Morgan’s header. However, Colombia responded positively, and the USA thanked goalkeeper Alyssa Naeherová, who made her 100th appearance for the team, for two great saves.
First she pounced to keep out Linda Caicedo’s powerful shot, then the goalkeeper was at full stretch to get her left-hand curler from Ilana Izquierdo. But the game was put behind Colombia in first-half stoppage time when Trinity Rodman drove a low ball across the field that was converted by 19-year-old Shaw. Horan hit the post with a free kick just before the break, but Twil Kilgore’s side were in control in the second half.
The semifinals provide the U.S. with a chance to avenge its loss to Canada in the Tokyo Olympics semifinals Mexico defeated a determined Paraguay thanks to a superb display from Lizbeth Ovalle, who scored twice to take her tournament tally to five goals. Mexico entered the game on a high after defeating the USA – only their second victory over their rivals, who could face them again in the finals. Ovalle fired Mexico in front in the 31st minute after finding Mayra Pelayo at the back post and curling a low left-footed shot. Kiana Palacios then missed a great chance to double the lead, firing over the bar from a tight angle.
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The second came four minutes after the break when right-back Karen Luna fired a half-volley from Ovalle’s corner that bounced into the net. Paraguay had a chance to get back into the game from the penalty spot, but Jessica Martinez’s weak effort was saved by Esthefanny Barreras. The South Americans then rushed forward and in the 64th minute cut Camilo Barbosa’s header from an angle. But just five minutes later, Mexico restored their two-goal cushion when Stephany Mayor broke free before her shot was pushed away by Alicia Bobadilla, only for Ovalle to pounce on the loose ball and turn it home from a tight angle.
But Paraguay were in no mood to roll over and struck again as Rebeca Fernandez timed her run behind the defense to perfection to coolly finish to make it 3-2. Ovalle, looking for her hat-trick, forced a great save from Bobadillo with a free-kick from over 25 yards and the Paraguayan goalkeeper was once again in full swing to reach Karla Nieto’s superb shot.
