Global News Desk:
Lindsey Horan's lone goal secured
a 1-0 victory for the United States against Brazil on Sunday, clinching the
CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup in California. The decisive goal came as US captain
Horan headed home during first-half injury time at San Diego's Snapdragon
Stadium, concluding a somewhat subdued final match of the 12-team tournament.
"I'm very very proud of the
team right now," Horan said afterwards. "We grinded out that win,
again. It was a difficult game, Brazil challenged us in a different way. "I'm
really proud of us finding a way to get a goal and finishing out the game and
getting a trophy."
Horan meanwhile said the US would
take heart from the tournament victory as they build towards this summer's
Olympics, noting the contributions of several younger players who have been
drafted into the squad following last year's Women's World Cup last 16 exit.
"You see some of them
playing in their first final tonight, and it was an amazing tournament for
them," Horan said. "Going into the Olympics we're going to see what
they can do. I'm so proud because it looks like they're not young and
inexperienced."
The Brazilians failed to register
a single shot on target in the first half, with their best efforts a 10th
minute free-kick from Dudi Sampaio that sailed over. Gabi Nunes also saw a
speculative 15th-minute strike from the edge of the area go soaring into the
stands.
The American women were similarly
off-target in the first half, struggling to create much in the way of
goal-scoring opportunities from open play.
Horan had signalled her aerial
threat in the 40th minute, stooping to direct a header that Brazil goalkeeper
Luciana saved as it threatened to creep in.
At that stage, Horan's near-miss
was the only US shot on target of the half. But the breakthrough finally came
on the stroke of half-time.
Trinity Rodman broke down the
right flank before passing back to right-back Emily Fox in space. Fox swung in
an inviting deep cross to the back post and Horan was waiting to nod the header
back across the goal to give Luciana no chance.
The second half continued in much
the same vein, with both sides creating little of note. US interim coach Twila
Kilgore overhauled the US attack with a flurry of substitutions, bringing on
Sophia Smith, Lynn Williams, Jaedyn Shaw and Midge Purce.
Those changes appeared to have
delivered a second goal on 79 minutes when Williams pounced on a defensive
mix-up to tuck away a confident finish. But Williams had strayed just offside
and the goal was chalked off.
Brazil triggered alarm bells in
the US defence on 85 minutes when Geyse's clever flick from a free-kick floated
just wide of Alyssa Naeher's post. Debinha sent a Brazilian free-kick just over
the bar in stoppage time, while at the other end, Luciana saved a Korbin Albert
shot.