SAN DIEGO — Lindsey Horan scored a header in first-half stoppage time and the United States defeated Brazil 1-0 on Sunday to win the CONCACAF Women’s Gold Cup.
The United States hoisted the trophy despite losing to Mexico in the group stage of the tournament.
This is the first ever Women’s Gold Cup, and the event was created to bring more meaningful competition to regional teams.
This will be the fourth time the United States will face Brazil in the tournament finals. The United States has also won the last three Olympics, including the 2004 and 2008 Olympics.
The game drew a crowd of 31,528 to San Diego’s Snapdragon Stadium, a record crowd for a CONCACAF women’s game.
Horan scored just moments before second-half stoppage time with a header off a lofted pass from Emily Fox. It was Horan’s third goal of the tournament, his previous goal coming from the penalty spot.
Lynn Williams almost scored America’s second goal in the 79th minute, but the play was offside. Casey Kruger headed home Brazil’s dangerous cross in the final moments of the game.
The United States lost 2-0 to Mexico in the group stage of the tournament, its second loss in a 43-game series.
The United States bounced back with a 3-0 victory over Colombia in the quarterfinals, but after a rain-soaked 2-2 draw with Canada in the semifinals, they advanced to the finals in a penalty shootout.
Brazil won all five games in the tournament, including a 3-0 victory over Mexico in the semifinals, scoring 15 points. The Brazilian team conceded just two goals in its first competitive match under coach Artur Elias, who replaced Pia Sundarge after Brazil was eliminated from last summer’s Women’s World Cup. .
Similarly, the United States was playing its first tournament under interim coach Twila Kilgore after the team parted ways with coach Vlatko Andonovski after the earliest World Cup exit in history.
The United States hired Emma Hayes to coach the team, but she will finish the season with Chelsea in the Women’s Super League.
Brazil and the United States have both qualified for this summer’s Olympics in France.
