Brad Smith/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF
The United States women’s national team almost blew a chance to win the SheBelieves Cup for the fifth straight time. Alyssa Naeher made sure that didn’t happen.
The USWNT goalkeeper made three saves in the penalty shootout and scored one herself, helping the Americans preserve a 2-2 win (5-4 in penalties) and secure a seventh SheBelieves Cup title.
B/R Football @brfootball
All in succession:
▪️ Saves a penalty
▪️ Converts a penalty
▪️ Saves another penalty
🧱 ALYSSA NAEHER 🧱 pic.twitter.com/EekXuSD5eJ
It appeared that Sophia Smith was going to be the hero on the night, notching a brace that gave the Americans a 2-1 lead.
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
SOPHIA SMITH WITH THE EQUALIZER 🔥
WHAT A GOAL 😱 pic.twitter.com/4DD8JJPbXs
Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
SOPHIA SMITH AGAIN FOR THE LEAD 😱
USA LEADS CANADA 2-1 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/OSQeijtpBc
But Adriana Leon—who had both goals for Canada—scored the equalizer from the spot in the 85th minute, setting the stage for penalties.
TSN @TSN_Sports
ADRIANA LEON SCORES 🚨
Her goal gives Canada a 1-0 lead at half over USA at the SheBelieves Cup Final!
🎥: @onesoccer | #SheBelievesCup pic.twitter.com/4eZiG4M6mm
B/R Football @brfootball
Canada equalize late from the spot 🇨🇦
Watch the match on TBS and Max 📺 pic.twitter.com/wuX4BLeybd
From there, it was Naeher’s time to shine and she didn’t disappoint, helping secure the victory with an epic performance in the penalty shootout.
Social media graced her with some well-earned plaudits after that showing:
OptaJack⚽️ @OptaJack
6 – Alyssa Naeher saved penalties from six different Canadian penalty takers in two shootouts this year. Homework. pic.twitter.com/EPOHmFY5lW
Aaron West @oeste
alyssa naeher tonight pic.twitter.com/UFw9oFr5BL
Rachel Bachman @Bachscore
A @USWNT shootout
Save
Score
Save
Will henceforth be known as a Naeher Sandwich pic.twitter.com/WXOSskob1I
JJ Watt @JJWatt
Alyssa Naeher saves penalty.
Takes the ball, walks to the spot and scores a penalty of her own.
Walks back into net and saves another penalty.
What. A. Badass.
🇺🇸@AlyssaNaeher
Nancy Armour @nrarmour
I will never tire of Alyssa Naeher banging in a PK before and after saving PKs
Lauren Holiday @laurenholiday12
Alyssa Naeher. That’s all.
Claire Watkins @ScoutRipley
You guys don’t get it the Sweden shootout changed Alyssa Naeher on a molecular level.
Tamerra Griffin @tamerra_nikol
what’s Alyssa Naeher’s salary?
triple it. #USWNT
Bethany Balcer @bethanybalcer
Alyssa Naeher is *that girl*
Katherine @KatherineRzonca
Alyssa Naeher is a baddie. A queen. We do not deserve her.
Any shootout win for the USWNT is a form of catharsis for the Americans at this point after a penalty shootout eliminated them from the 2023 World Cup against Sweden. Naeher described that loss as “heartbreaking.”
“We’ve put a lot into this as a group, as a team,” she told reporters at the time. “It’s not just this tournament, it’s not just these past few weeks, you know? For us, it’s been three to four years of a build to get here. There’s a lot of sacrifices, there’s a lot of commitments. And you know, this is what you dream of. These are the moments you play for.”
The United States has more moments ahead, however, namely at this summer’s Paris Olympics. The Americans haven’t claimed gold since 2012 after winning at the Summer Games four times between 1996 and 2012.
The United States was on shaky ground after the World Cup disappointment. But this group looks to have stabilized and then some, a promising sign heading into the Paris Games.
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