Brazil defeated Mexico 3-0 in the semifinals of the first edition of the Women’s Copa Ouro and will play the final against the United States. The hosts of this CONCACAF tournament reached the decisive match after defeating Canada on penalties, following a 2-2 draw in regular time.
Adriana Leal opened the scoring in the 21st minute and Antonia extended the lead in the 32nd minute to end the first half with a 2-0 lead for the current Copa America champion. The Mexican team was reduced to ten players after the early expulsion of Nicolette Hernández in the 29th minute for bringing down Bia Zaneratto at the edge of the box.
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Brazil dominated their match from the beginning against one of the standout teams of the tournament. In the second half, Yasmim scored the final goal of the match in the 48th minute at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California.
The team led by Arthur Elias thus reaches the final with a 100% effectiveness, with five victories, 18 goals scored and only one conceded.
United States struggled, but won on penalties
Next Sunday at 22:15 (Brasilia time) and at the same stadium as the semifinals, Brazil will play the decisive match against the United States, who defeated Canada 3-1 on penalties after a draw in regular time.
In a field practically flooded by rain, the hosts took the lead through forward Jaedyn Shaw, while the Canadians forced extra time with an eight-minute header from Jordyn Huitema.
In extra time, the Americans took the lead again with a goal from Sophia Smith in the 99th minute and, in the last action of the night, VAR confirmed a penalty for a foul by goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher which Adriana León, the top scorer of the tournament, converted into a goal.
The same Naeher then became the hero in the penalty shootout. She saved three penalties and scored one herself to secure passage to the grand final.
