A Sodden Semifinal (Canada vs USWNT, W Gold Cup 2024)
Everyone assembled in the family room in front of the TV, Clarisse with Hannah in her lap again and flanked by Zoe and AT, with Gisele on her big sister's other side.
It was raining outside, and the rain was obvious on the TV too, at Snapdragon Stadium. The drizzle that had begun near the end of the previous match had only continued, and gotten worse.
"...The pitch is soaked," Alyssa observed incredulously, sputtering. "They have to postpone, don't they?”
"You would think so, petite-fille. But maybe not? I was never great with all of the rules that didn't affect players on the pitch.”
The commentators seemed to be just as perplexed as AT, relaying the decision to begin the match despite the increasing deluge.
Canada took possession of the ball first, Vanessa Gilles taking a kick which rolled sadly through the growing puddles and lay still.
A corner kick for the USWNT was taken by Sam Coffey, and when the ball eventually ended up in front of Jaedyn Shaw, she made an effort on goal. It went wide, rolling through the water.
Watching as this mess unfolded, AT snarled at the TV. "Boludo!" she snapped at the screen angrily. Fucking idiot! (She meant the CONCACAF official who’d made the decision to play on.)
Clarisse winced. Her Argentines must have taught her that one. She doubted AT's little Spanish friend had. Luckily for Alyssa, Tobin, Christen, and Abby didn’t seem to have understood it.
The match continued, insofar as the players were actually able to play on the waterlogged pitch. It looked more as though they were trying to teach the ball to swim.
Finally, in the twentieth minute, Jaedyn Shaw managed to put a goal past a clearly annoyed Kailen Sheridan. The San Diego Wave teammates looked at each other, American and Canadian, and at their club field which was not going to behave properly in weather like this.
USWNT 1, CANXNT 0, and play continued.
Slowly.
For the rest of the first half, both teams were clearly struggling. The skies were still open, pouring water down on the players, the spectators, and the field with no sign of stopping.
There were fouls, too - some of them likely yellow card worthy, had they been playing on dry ground, but since the players were sloshing through water to get anywhere, the ref had decided not to bother.
AT had taken to muttering invectives under her breath in a variety of languages, but nothing strong enough to earn her the soap, even if a couple of the Swedish ones did earn Sofia sharp looks from Mama Christen.
Sofia nudged AT up and pulled her down into her lap on one of the armchairs, as the first half limped to an unsatisfying close.
At halftime, large squeegees were being used to push the standing water aside, even as more rain fell. AT, Gisele, and Zoe exchanged disgusted looks.
"That's so stupid," AT growled. "It's just going to get all wet again." She continued muttering under her breath in rapid-fire Spanish.
"Petite-fille, I understand this is upsetting, believe me I understand, but can you please reign in your growling and attitude just a bit? Unless we need to use the break to go have a *discussion* Alyssa Paola?" Abby raised her eyebrow.
AT swallowed nervously. "No, lo siento Ab--I mean, Grandmere Abby," AT shook herself out of the Spanish she'd been grumbling in and responded more naturally.
"Good, and the same goes for the rest of you, most of you anyway.”
"Most, Grandmere Abby?" Gisele ventured.
"Zozo, hermana," AT pointed out, and Gisele nodded, understanding. "Oh. Right, of course.”
"Thanks, petite-fille." Abby smiled before suddenly Hannah's phone rang.
"Hello? Uh huh. Of course! Okay, See you then, bye!”
Clarisse blinked. "What was that, ma chou?”
"That was Scarlett. Apparently, she had a similar idea to Auntie Glennon about watching us get revenge for La Tri, but I told her we would be watching from the new house and she sounded disappointed I mentioned the party, but then I had to tell her she was invited, and that she could bring more than one guest." Hannah giggled before continuing, she turned to AT with a fond, but exasperated eyeroll. "I mean she's my friend just like she's yours, well we were bonding before....”
"Oh, okay. Well, that makes sense," AT agreed. "Scar and I didn't have the best start, but things have gotten better," she added. "It'll be good to see her at the party. And whoever she decides to bring, though I'm pretty sure I know.”
"B-but why would she need two plus ones?" Zoe wondered aloud.
AT gave Zoe a reassuring squeeze. "Because she wants to bring Katie and Dani, and it's okay to bring two friends cause she asked first and got permission," she said calmly. "Katie is her best friend on the Mexico team, and Dani is for Scar like Risse is for Hannah, so it's important for them to come. Okay?”
"Okay, thanks for explaining."
"You're welcome, hermanita."
Hannah then looked at the TV and exclaimed, "Look, the match is starting again.”
The second half began with a double substitution for the USWNT: Lynn Williams and Casey Krueger replaced Jenna Nighswonger and goalscorer Jaedyn Shaw. About ten minutes later, Canada's first substitution came: Jordyn Huitema replaced Simi Awujo.
There were fouls tallying up both sides as the second half progressed, though so far, still no cards to be seen. Shortly after the hour mark, Sophia Smith replaced Trinity Rodman.
"Well that's good," AT said. "We don't want Trin in more trouble. Though this ref doesn't seem to be giving out cards anyways.”
Quinn came on for Cloe Lacasse, and AT studied the two Canadians as they traded off. "Quinn doesn't look happy to be sent out in that nonsense."
"Would you be, petite-fille?"
"Well, no. It's been over an hour, I think by now I'd be demanding to know why the official didn't get his head out of his---why he didn't fix this already.”
"Careful, little love. But I agree. No telling what is going to happen next.”
"Si Mama Tobin." AT sighed at the mild scold, glad it wasn't worse.
Evelyne Viens had come on for Deanne Rose, and not much happened before the USWNT made their next substitution - Alex Morgan off, Rose Lavelle on.
Seventy-second minute.
Ten minutes later, fighting through the increasingly flooded pitch, Jordyn Huitema headed a goal past Alyssa Naeher, equalizing for Canada.
1-1.
AT resisted the urge to swear. There's way too many Tops in this room to get away with that again.
"And now Emily's come on for Sam," AT noted. As Sam Coffey headed back to the USWNT side and down the tunnel (no doubt grateful to be out of the rain), Emily Sonnett made her way on, hoping to make a difference.
It wasn't looking great; they made it into stoppage time with no further goals, and Adriana Leon fouled Emily Fox, drawing a yellow card for Canada.
The second half ended in a draw, and AT groaned audibly.
"Extra time? In that?" She gestured at the downpour.
"Afraid so, petite-fille. Although I have always been a proponent of skipping extra time and going straight to penalties, especially in that. Though sadly it might take as long as setting up our league to what it is now to get the people in charge," Abby gestured to the TV in the same manner as AT had earlier. "to see that. I also trust Lyssa to beat Kailen, that helps too.”
"I trust Lyssa," AT agreed. "But this is Kailen's home field, you know. For club, anyway. Although normally it's not flooded, which is stupid," AT huffed in annoyance.
As she had been grumbling again about the weather and the idiocy of certain officials, Canada had brought in Olivia Smith for Kadeisha Buchanan. It took almost ten minutes for either side to make any notable move, though, and much to AT's relief it was Sophia Smith, scoring past Kailen to bring the USWNT back into the lead in the 99th minute.
Only six minutes later, the end of the first half of extra time came.
The brief pause in between halves was used to squeegee the pitch (again) though as AT thought, it wasn't helping all that much. Still, it was better than nothing.
The second half of extra time almost passed without anything notable happening at all.
Then, as the bit of stoppage time that had been awarded drew near its close, Vanessa Gilles collided with Alyssa Naeher in the box.
Alyssa was shown the yellow card, and a penalty kick awarded to Canada.
AT leaped to her feet, staring incredulously at the screen. "No! But, but, big Lyssa!!!”
"Will be dealt with for the yellow. She's okay, she isn't injured. Now she just has to win the penalties. Now sit down so we can watch the match, Alyssa Paola."
"Think about it this way, cousin: we could very likely get to see her take a penalty if Canada doesn’t miss right now."
Thank you Hannah Abby thought and mouthed thank you directly to her as well.
Adriana stepped up to take the penalty for the yellow card, and seemingly rattled and tired, Alyssa Naeher didn't block it.
2-2, and extra time wrapped in a draw, so as Abby predicted, they were headed for a penalty shootout.
AT sat down, gulping nervously, eyes fixed on the screen.
Right before the penalty shootout began, Canada made one last substitution - Shelina Zadorsky for Vanessa Gilles, who apparently came off worse in the collision.
The penalty shootout began with the USWNT, Sophia Smith squaring up against Kailen Sheridan.
Goal.
Adriana Leon stepped up first for Canada, and Alyssa faced her down again, having collected herself.
This time, she saved it.
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The USWNT's second attempt, by Korbin Albert, missed the goal entirely.
Jordyn Huitema squared up against Alyssa, who saved it easily.
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Korbin missing had AT worried for the match and how her friend would be feeling afterwards.
AT gasped audibly as the USWNT's third penalty taker stepped up.
It was Alyssa Naeher, herself.
She put the goal past Kailen Sheridan easily, and AT let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. They weren't there yet, but that was something to be proud of.
Unfortunately, when Alyssa resumed her place in goal, facing down Quinn, they scored past Alyssa themself.
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Next up was Lindsey Horan, the American captain sending her shot past Kailen.
Then Jessie Fleming stepped up to face Alyssa Naeher.
The ball flew to Alyssa's hands.
Saved.
There was no point in using their fifth penalty takers - Canada didn't stand a chance.
The USWNT had defeated them to finish out the semifinal.
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