SAN DIEGO, California – Group B is ready to go out and leave everything on the pitch again on Saturday evening at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California, to keep the dream alive of being the nation to lift the first ever Concacaf W Gold Cup.
Colombia vs. Brazil
Colombia and Brazil have faced each other many times before, especially in the Copa America Femenina, Brazil owning an impressive record of 5W-1D-0L in six games played. This goes beyond the continental tournament, with the Verde-Amarela coming out on top with a 4-0 win at the 2023 Pan American games.
Colombia have shown impressive form since finishing as runners-up at the Copa America Femenina in 2022, losing only eight games out of 37 played. Two of those defeats happened in their incredible run at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup against Morocco (1-0) and England (2-1).
With a 6-0 win to open the tournament against Panama, Colombia showed the talent of their roster. POTM MF Manuela Pavi had a brace, FW sensation Linda Caicedo scored a goal and DF Manuela Vanegas scored, too, while also helping Colombia earn a sixth clean sheet in their last 10 matches. The last time they conceded a goal in their last five games came against the United States last year.
Brazil will take the pitch with two straight clean sheet wins. Brazil have won seven games of their last 11 played, plus a 0-0 draw against Jamaica at the WWC.
Brazil found a tough opponent in their opener against Puerto Rico, celebrating their only goal of the match nine minutes before the final whistle thanks to the always-ready FW Gabi Nunes.
Brazil showed they have a lot of talent to create new chances and come out of tricky situations. FWs Adriana Leal, who had the winning assist in the Copa America Femenina Final against Colombia, and Debinha, who kept trying to recreate the five goals she had at the 2022 Copa America, controlled the ball and showed why their football is called Joga Bonito.
Match Officials Colombia vs Brazil
REF: TORI PENSO (USA)
AR1: BROOKE MAYO (USA)
AR2: KATHRYN NESBITT (USA)
4TH: SANDRA BENITEZ (El Salvador)
VAR: EKATERINA KOROLEVA (USA)
VAR1: AMAIRANY GARCIA (Mexico)
Puerto Rico vs Panama
This is the first time these two teams will have faced each other in major Concacaf competition.
If there is a team that has captivated Concacaf and the world recently, it is Puerto Rico, especially after defeating 2023 WWC side Haiti in the Prelims, 1-0.
GK Sydney Martinez had eight saves against Brazil in the last match, helping her team create momentum when it was most needed, continuing her fine form from the RTWGC in which she was the GK from League A with the most saves (18).
FW Juelle Love did not hold back when she had the ball, attacking Brazil to try to get the first goal for her team, taking three shots. FW Jillienne Aguilera made 26 passes, trying to repeat the goal that got Puerto Rico the win in the Prelims.
Panama keeps building their game after a great run in the last couple of years, in which they have won twice in their last four matches overall, defeating Jamaica (2-1) in the RTWGC and then Paraguay (2-0) in a friendly.
Even though they didn’t get a result against Colombia, Las Canaleras didn’t stop trying. GK Yenith Bailey was a crucial pillar, just like she was in 2018 when she won the Concacaf W Championship Golden Glove. Bailey had eight saves and one clearance versus Colombia.
MF Marta Cox, a known name in women’s football after scoring the first ever WWC goal for Panama last summer, was a threat in attack in registering a shot against Colombia. Cox had two goals and an assist in RTWGC and will seek a first W Gold Cup goal.
Match Officials Puerto Rico vs Panama
REF: KAREN HERNANDEZ (Mexico)
AR1: SANDRA RAMIREZ (Mexico)
AR2: JESSICA MORALES (Mexico)
4TH: MERLIN VANESSA SOTO (Honduras)
VAR: RICARDO MONTERO (Costa Rica)
VAR1: FRANCIA GONZALEZ (Mexico)
