Emily Fox and the US Women’s National Team are through to the CONCACAF Gold Cup final, beating Canada in dramatic circumstances.
It took penalties to decide the winner on Wednesday night in San Diego, with goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher’s spot-kick heroics proving to be the difference-maker.
The historic rivals went head-to-head on a heavily waterlogged pitch, where visible puddles made it nigh-on impossible to string two passes together.
USA took the lead in the first half through teenage sensation, Jaedyn Shaw, as she became the first USWNT player ever to score in each of her first four starts.
Canada left it late but equalised through Jordyn Huitema's looping header, sending the tie to extra time.
Sophia Smith reinstated the USA's lead in the 98th minute but once again, they were unable to hold on. In the final minute of extra-time, Alyssa Naeher was deemed to have fouled Vanessa Gillies in the area and Adriana Leon converted the resultant penalty.
It was then time for Naeher to redeem herself, saving two penalties and scoring her own to send her country through to the final.
Emily Fox played the full 90 minutes and extra time for the USWNT, whilst Cloe Lacasse started the game for Canada and was substituted in the 68th minute. Sabrina D'Angelo, meanwhile, was an unused substitute.
Fox and the US are now set to play Copa America Femenina winners Brazil in the Gold Cup final on 10 March.
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