The knockout stages of the W Gold Cup began on a damp rainy day at BMO Stadium in downtown Los Angeles. When all was said and done, the two teams favored in its respective matches, Canada and Brazil advanced, though both teams took different paths to get there. Canada survived a major scare in the final minutes of regulation and ultimately needed extra time to eliminate Costa Rica, while Brazil had a rather easy time with CONMEBOL rival Argentina in the nightcap.
Canada 1, Costa Rica 0 (OT)
Evelyne Viens was the hero for Canada in the first half of stoppage time, as her header enabled them to overcome a bend-but-don’t break effort by Las Ticas to be the first team in the tournament to book a spot in the Semifinals.
After dominating most of the match, only to need another half hour to win the game, Canada finally edged ahead in the 104th minute on a set piece. Jesse Fleming had a free kick from about 25 yards out, Fleming sent the ball into the penalty area and Viens headed a ball that got past keeper Daniela Solera at the back post to finally give Canada the breakthrough it so desperately wanted.
Canada dominated all aspects of the match. Canada won had 65% of the possession and out-shot Costa Rica 39-5, with 10 of the shots being right on target, but yet despite that, Canada was unable to find the back of the net. In fact, Costa Rica had a chance to steal the match in stoppage time, as Priscila Chinchilla played a ball to Gabriela Guillén inside the penalty area, Guillen played a ball to Alexa Daniela Herrera Barrientos, who immediately one-timed a shot at goal, but keeper Kailen Sheridan came through for Canada, as she parried the ball away from goal and eventually over the end line.
Brazil 5, Argentina 1
Struggling to score goals in this tournament, Brazil looked to reset in the knockout rounds against continental rival Argentina, and came out firing. Carried by a brace and an assist from Beatriz, Brazil cruised into the semifinals with a pair of first half goals and three second half goals.
Brazil got going in the 19th minute. Beatriz sent a left-footed cross into the penalty area and Vitoria Yaya headed a ball past keeper Laurina Oliveros near post to open the scoring for the Selecao. Brazil doubled its advantage in the 36th minute, as Yasmin fired a 24-yard rocket just outside the penalty area past Oliveros far post. Brazil did not let up in the second half. Brazil tripled the lead in the 56th minute, as Rafelle Souza passed to Beatriz, who took a shot that was blocked, but the ball fell back to her and she buried the rebound shot. Brazil added a fourth goal five minutes later, as Gabi Portilho crossed from the right into the penalty area and Gabi Nunes headed the ball point blank into the back net.
Despite its eventual elimination in the tournament, Argentina got some small consolation in the 81st minute, as Celeste Lujan De Santos timed her run to chase down a long ball, then chipped a ball over keeper Luciana into the back net to prevent Brazil from getting the shutout. Brazil however returned the favor in stoppage time, as Beatriz scored her second goal of the match to earn her brace.
