MIAMI, Florida – The United States are champions of the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup after defeating Brazil, 1-0, in the Final courtesy of a Lindsey Horan header on Sunday night at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California.
The four-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winners become the first team to lift the W Gold Cup trophy and also claimed their 15th trophy all-time in Concacaf competitions.
Brazil enjoyed the brighter start of the two sides by putting pressure on the U.S. defense. A long-range effort from Antonia in the 6’ and a Duda Ferreira free kick in the 9’ kept U.S. GK Alyssa Naeher on her toes, as did a Gabi Portilho shot over the crossbar in the 22’.
The U.S. started to take control as time ticked past the half-hour mark, and minutes after her header off a corner kick was saved, Lindsey Horan broke the deadlock in the 45+1’ by taking an Emily Fox cross and sending a perfectly-placed header into net for a 1-0 lead.
The intensity grew as the second half wore on. There was no much in the way of scoring chances, as each defense did well to maintain their lines and clear away any danger.
As play trickled into the final quarter-hour, Brazil started committing more numbers forward in attack in hopes of an equalizer and nearly found it in the 85’ when Geyse steered a shot just wide.
In the end, though, the U.S. defense held firm until the final whistle, securing the clean sheet victory and cementing their legacy as the first ever W Gold Cup champions.
