USWNT vs. Brazil score: Lindsey Horan's header goal lifts USA to W Gold Cup final glory

The midfielder's goal came late in the first half as the Americans took home the title

The U.S. women's national team lifted the inaugural Concacaf W Gold Cup on Sunday, beating Brazil 1-0 in a gritty performance that served as a positive sign of progress as the team rebuilds in time for the summer's upcoming Olympics.

Captain Lindsey Horan scored the game's lone goal in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. Sam Coffey, who was persistent all night in midfield, won the ball and sprayed it wide towards Trinity Rodman, who was making a dash down the right flank. Rodman eventually circulated it to fullback Emily Fox nearby, who whipped in a stellar cross towards the far post, where Horan was there to head the ball into the back of the net.

The game's lone goal came at the end of a gritty first half in which Brazil dominated possession but struggled to take meaningful shots. The Americans, though, grew into the match and showed tenacity in doing so despite some imperfections in midfield, which allowed them to score the goal. It allowed them to up the tempo in the second half and hang onto the lead despite being outshot and out-possessed by Brazil.

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This marks the team's first trophy since their disappointing run at last year's Women's World Cup. The Gold Cup was a testing ground for several emerging talents, one of whom started on Sunday -- midfielder Korbin Albert. The rest of the team was chiefly made up of experienced players, many of whom had a point to prove like Alex Morgan, who was active in a newly fashioned forward role.

The USWNT return to play next month in the SheBelieves Cup, which will be the next step up as the team prepares itself for a new era under incoming head coach Emma Hayes.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 10:13 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

FT: USA 1-0 BRA

The USWNT win the first-ever W Gold Cup! It was not perfect but the last few games of this tournament, today included, served as a showcase of a gutsy version of this team that is full of talented youngsters as well as some veterans that can still play a major role. You can officially call this experimental period a success - and the race for roster spots in Paris officially becomes even more competitive than it may have been beforehand.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 10:05 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Late looks for Brazil

90' Brazil's been able to earn several set pieces near goal, all of which feel like a good scoring opportunity for them but another ball sails over the net. It's Brazil's 11th shot - more than the USWNT's seven - but they're still waiting for a shot on target.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 9:45 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

A couple more changes for the USWNT

71' Shaw's on for Coffey and Purce is on Rodman - seems like a clear sign that Kilgore is eyeing another goal from this group.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 9:42 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Brazil with a look

68' Brazil gain a little bit of momentum and work their way up the pitch and earn a corner. There's a bit of pinball in the box and a shot ends up flying wide of the goal, continuing Brazil's streak of no shots on target.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 9:34 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Smith comes on

59' Morgan makes her way off for Smith who the USWNT will hope can repeat her showing on Wednesday, when she scored after coming on as a substitute.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 9:27 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Luciana with a header!

54' It's not every day you see a goalkeeper come way off her line to clear a ball by heading it away, but Brazil's Luciana did just that to keep the USWNT at bay. The hosts have been off to a strong start in this second half and have a shot to show for it, a lot coming from stellar wide play.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 9:20 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

And we're back

The USWNT make one sub at halftime - Williams for Lavelle. Williams seems poised to assume the wide position Lavelle was filling in the first half, which is more natural to the substitute than the starter.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 9:11 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

Halftime vibe check

The crowd has been giving it to the officials, but let's be clear here, this game has absolutely had fouls. Because of some if the physicality, crucial for USA to get that opening goal. They've scored in the first half of every match this tournament except during the final group game against Mexico. 

Brazil on the other hand has typically scored first. They recorded opening goals in all five of their Gold Cup matches so far. We'll see how they respond in the second half. 

[Mar 10, 2024 at 9:05 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

HT: USA 1-0 BRA

This match has been a grind but after 45 minutes, things are paying off for the USWNT. It seems like the team are borrowing from their strategy in the quarterfinal against Colombia a week ago - it's okay to concede possession and play ugly as long as you come out on top. Brazil are far from out of this one, though, which could set up for an entertaining second half.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 9:02 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

USA 1-0 BRA

45' Horan breaks the deadlock right before the break! Fox excels from the wing and plays in a stellar cross to the far post, where Horan is perfectly positioned to score from close range. Brazil may have dominated this one, but the USWNT clawed their way back in to build some promising moments and now have a goal to show for it.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 8:57 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Horan with a header

41' The USWNT have a corner and Horan's header is stopped by Luciana. It marks not just the USWNT's first shot on target (and second shot overall), but the first shot on target in the whole match. This game's giving "defensive chess match" vibes.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 8:47 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

USWNT with a chance

31' The USWNT's press, though somewhat infrequent, continues to be one of their points of success. Case in point? Their most recent look at goal, when Albert pounced on the opportunity and won the ball and sent it straight to Morgan, who forced Luciana to come off her line and smother the ball.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 8:38 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Set pieces key for Brazil

23' Barely 20 minutes in and Brazil have had two meaningful chances of freekicks, but this latest one was something the USWNT was able to sniff out with ease. Nunes follows that up a couple minutes later by sneaking in behind Davidson and taking a shot at goal. It sails on the wrong side of the net and it seemed like an improbable chance to score but it means Brazil are still in charge of this one.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 8:38 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

The feeling of a big moment

The crowd today is set to break the record for a USWNT game in San Diego. The previous record was set in 2016 with 23,309 at the old Qualcomm Stadium. Ahead of the final Concacaf announced that 30,000 tickets were distributed. The W Gold Cup final has the feeling of a major tournament final. 

[Mar 10, 2024 at 8:32 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Finding their moments

16' Brazil are still in charge of this one, but both sides have built something positive by pouncing on their opponents being caught in possession. Morgan just had a promising moment in front of goal for the USWNT, but Brazil followed that up with a threatening moment of their own. Still just two shots so far today - both from Brazil, but none on target.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 8:24 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Brazil dominates early

8' Brazil have been able to pass through the USWNT's midfield with relative ease so far in these opening minutes, but have not been able to get past the hosts' defense. Nunes caused a bit of chaos in the box but Naeher was able to respond, while Antônia had a look from distance earlier.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 8:16 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Let the game begin

The contest to decide the first-ever winner of the W Gold Cup is officially underway!

[Mar 10, 2024 at 8:11 pm ET · Sandra Herrera]

W Gold Cup: An Event

Fans attending today's match received a kickoff concert featuring the official song "VAMOS," performed by Sofía Castro, Fiamma, Alexis Gomez and Pitizion. 

[Mar 10, 2024 at 8:03 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Nunes leads Brazil's line

A handful of Brazil's goalscorers in this competition are in the lineup, including Gabi Nunes and Bia Zaneratto. Here's a look at their lineup.

Brazil starting XI: Luciana, Antônia, Thais, Tarciane, Portilho, Yasmim, Adriana, Santos, Zaneratto, Nunes, Sampaio

[Mar 10, 2024 at 7:47 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Brazil's road to the final

Brazil are also in the midst of a rebuild pre-Olympics and have basically cruised to the final, winning all of their games. scoring 15 times and conceding just once on the way. They've spread the goalscoring responsibilities throughout the team, with no one scoring more than two goals throughout. As much as today's game serves as a measuring stick for the USWNT's progress, the same is true for a Brazil team aiming to rebound from a group stage exit at last year's World Cup.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 7:32 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Slipping and sliding to the final

The USWNT made it here after surviving a chaotic semifinal against Canada that had EVERYTHING - a horrendously waterlogged pitch, refereeing drama, a handful of goals, three penalty saves AND a goalkeeper nailing a spotkick. Here's a recap of Wednesday's infamous match as a warmup for today's (likely) less hectic matchup.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 7:14 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

USWNT's redemption arc

The USWNT's penalty shootout win over Canada felt like it finally closed the chapter on their penalty shootout defeat to Sweden at last year's World Cup. That was especially true for Sophia Smith, who missed a peanlty in Australia but scored in extra time in San Diego on Wednesday and then converted her spotkick. Here's Alyssa Naeher - another one of Wednesday's heroes - on Smith's journey to success in the semifinals.

• Naeher: "I think, you know, to come into a game like that and to be able to score a big goal in extra time this huge, it was great goal. She worked hard all day getting in and then to step up and take the first penalty just speaks to the kind of player she is, kind of person she is, to be ready to step up in that moment."

[Mar 10, 2024 at 6:57 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Dunn, Lavelle return to the lineup

Interim head coach Twila Kilgore makes two changes to the team that faced Canada, including giving starts to Crystal Dunn and Rose Lavelle. Here's a look at the lineup.

USWNT starting XI: Naeher, Fox, Davidson, Girma, Dunn, Coffey, Albert, Horan, Lavelle, Rodman, Morgan

Substitutes: Dahlkemper, Nighswonger, Sauerbrunn, Williams, Shaw, Purce, Smith, Moultrie, Sonnett, Murphy, Krueger, Campbell

[Mar 10, 2024 at 6:32 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Shaw breaks out

19-year-old Jaedyn Shaw is one of the emerging talents that has taken the post-World Cup period by storm, and it feels like she might be on the inside track for a roster spot at the Olympics considering her form. She leads the team with four goals at this competition, chiefly slotting in as a wide forward.

Ahead of the final, Jenny Chiu sat down with Shaw about her meteoric rise and her versatility, which could see her play as a No. 10.

[Mar 10, 2024 at 4:24 pm ET · Pardeep Cattry]

Hello and welcome!

For the first time since the disappointment of the Women's World Cup, the USWNT will compete for a trophy. A new-look version of the team has to get through a Brazil team also in the midst of a rebuild first, though, and the match will serve as a measuring stick for both sides ahead of the Olympics. Stick around for team news and then updates from the big game.