Cousins At the Quarterfinal (USWNT vs. Colombia, CONCACAF W Gold Cup 2024)
Abby closed the door behind them as they entered their box, and jokingly asked, "Do you want a hamburger, petite?"
Hannah wrinkled her nose. "No, thanks. Hotdog, please." This prompted AT to speak up.
"You're just like Grandmere, not willing to give up some food for superstitions." AT said with a chuckle as everyone went about getting their desired meal. "That's right. Ketchup fish, cousin Hannah?”
"Ketchup fish," came Charlie's sleepy agreement as the little one climbed into Hannah's lap.
"Too tired to watch the match, prima?"
"No," Charlie denied immediately. "I can watch.”
"Uh huh. We'll see." Hannah said, as she finished the last of her lunch and let her younger cousin snuggle close, the match set to begin any moment.
Charlie and Hannah had fallen asleep together, but the stadium, and box, got excited when Lindsey scored an early penalty. Moments after there was a yellow card from Jorelyn Carabali. The noise woke up Charlie, but surprisingly not Hannah.
AT was on her feet cheering, making no effort to be quiet around Hannah, as Lindsey scored. Just two minutes later, Colombia picked up another yellow card courtesy of Maria Usme's foul.
This card wasn't followed by another US goal, but the ball did fall back into USWNT possession, though it was briefly taken back. Jaedyn Shaw recovered it, but unfortunately kicked it in the wrong direction, and in the same minute, Alex Morgan was yellow carded.
AT stopped bouncing at once. "Tia Alex?" she squealed indignantly. "Unfair.”
"Mommy naughty?”
"That's what the ref said, prima. But maybe the ref was being naughty," AT added.
"Card is still a card, though petite-fille. Though I think you're right. I'd love to see why though at least we're still winning." Abby said.
"Who's going to take care of Tia Alex, though?" AT asked Abby quietly. Then she felt stupid. Of course, Abby would. "Oh. Never mind."
Lindsey shot and missed the goal, apparently annoying Trinity enough for her to foul on Daniela Arias. Now Trinity was yellow carded, too.
This was followed minutes later by a goal from Jenna Nighswonger, that once again had AT excited.
A flurry of fouls and free kicks followed, culminating just after the half hour in a shot by the young Colombian superstar, Linda Caicedo. Her shot flew straight at Alyssa Naeher, who saved it easily, clearing it away calmly.
In the forty-fifth minute, Linda Caicedo was fouled on by Trinity Rodman, but no card was given (luckily for Trinity). Two minutes into stoppage time for the first half, Jaedyn Shaw got the ball, converting from open play into a beautiful goal that made it past the Colombian keeper.
The rest of the first half was uneventful and before everyone knew it there were halftime substitutions: one for the USA side in Midge Purce for Trinity and a triple substitution for the Columbian side, Marcela Restrepo, Ángela Barón, and Liana Salazar on for Daniela Montoya, Daniela Arias, and Lorena Bedoya Durango respectively.
A flurry of activity opened the second half, but not much noteworthy happened until right before the hour mark, when Rose Lavelle came on for Jaedyn Shaw. In the nearly fifteen minutes it took for that to happen, the Wambach-Doyles' box got another addition.
Trinity had only gone back to the locker room long enough to wash up and change into her "civvies", making her way up to the Wambach-Doyles' box and knocking. She was let in by Glennon and hurried to join AT and Charlie at the window.
Trinity hugged AT and knelt to hug Charlie. It had been a little bit of a rocky start for Trinity with Alex's mini-me, but they'd worked things out. When she pulled back, though, Charlie was giving Trinity a look worthy of Charlie's mama.
"You was naughty, Trin."
"So was your Mommy."
"Nuh uh," Charlie pouted, tugging on Hannah's hand. "Hannah, tell Trin. Mommy not naughty."
"Ngggh...wha?" Hannah came awake just in time for AT to shriek in rage as Lindsey was now yellow carded, too.
"There you are, there ma chou," Clarisse tried to soothe Hannah as she bolted upright. "Shh, shhh, it's alright, our cousine is just a little frustrated because Lindsey and her Tia Alex have now been yellow carded.”
"Are you okay, petite?"
"Uh hu-" Hannah was cut off by a sneeze.
"Soyez bénis, ma chou. Here, let's get you covered." Clarisse said, reaching for one of Hannah's less heavy blankets, thankful that Madame had thought to bring it.
Trinity backed away from Hannah. "No offense, but I should probably not risk getting sick, I came up here to talk to your aunt anyway, but I'd better let her look after you, first. Hope you feel better, though."
Clarisse wrapped the blanket around Hannah, taking care of her chou as AT, Charlie, and Trinity moved to the other side of the window seat to watch, giving Clarisse and Hannah space.
A few minutes after Lindsey's yellow card, a double substitution had been made for the USWNT - Sophia Smith on for Alex Morgan, and Olivia Moultrie on for Korbin Albert, passed unremarked by those in the box as Hannah had distracted them. Now, though, Manuela Pavi of Colombia fouled Olivia, causing AT to jump up in anger again.
The referee brought out the yellow card, booking Pavi, as Carolina Arias cleared the ball away. A throw-in later, and Tierna Davidson fouled Manuela Pavi herself.
"AT's not down here to take care of Livie, so I better do it," Tierna muttered to herself, and while of course AT couldn't hear her, she understood Tierna's reasoning well enough.
Seventy-seventh minute. Only thirteen minutes left, plus stoppage time.
The rest of the match went by in a flurry of possession swapping back and forth, but no real chances at goal for either side, the only thing of interest being a late substitution on each side Sonnett on for Lindsey in the eighty-fourth minute and Lady Andrade replacing Ilana Izquierdo for Columbia in the eighty-ninth minute.
The quarterfinal wrapped with a decisive 3-0 defeat of Colombia by the USWNT, a major relief for them after falling to Mexico a few days ago. But with a trio of yellow cards to go with the trio of goals - both captains among the yellow carded - the USWNT couldn't just rest easy.