The Canadian women's national team's Gold Cup campaign came to an end in March 2024, following a torrential night of football in San Diego.
Canadian fans may have mixed emotions of disappointment and pride at how the national team competed in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Betting fans won't be surprised to see the final will be contested by tournament favorites, U.S.A. and Brazil, on March 10.
Of course, sports gambling is hugely popular in Canada and so, according to betting insider Vlad Grindu of Techopedia, it doesn’t come as a surprise to see that most Canadian gambling sites have full sportsbooks available.
Although hockey is the most popular sport for betting on there, soccer also has plenty of markets available, along with live betting, which is likely to become a popular option come the finals.
Canada expertly negotiated the group stages by winning all three games with an opening 6-0 victory against El Salvador showing their intentions.
This victory was followed by a 4-0 win against Paraguay and a 3-0 win against Costa Rica.
With 9 points, 13 goals, and zero conceded in the group stages, it would make good reading for any team. Aston Villa winger Adriana Leon's five goals led the way for her country.
Progression to the knockout stages saw Canada meet up with Costa Rica for the second time in the tournament. This was a more cagey affair that eventually went to extra time, following a goalless 90 minutes. Evelyne Viens eventually broke the deadlock in the 104th minute, and this goal was enough to see Canada move into the semi-finals.
Canada came up against the U.S. at San Diego's Snap Dragon Stadium, with fans enjoying 120 minutes of incredible action. The U.S. took the lead through Jaedyn Reese Shaw in the 20th minute and led for most of the match. Canada eventually forced extra time with an 82nd-minute equalizer from Jordyn Huitema.
Sophia Smith edged the U.S. ahead again in the 99th minute before Adriana Leon kept her nerve in the seventh minute of added time to slot home a penalty.
Despite the excitement on the pitch, it was the weather that made the headlines. Torrential downpours saw a water-laden pitch making playing conditions questionable at best.
Concerns that the game would not go ahead were bookended by concerns that the game should not have gone ahead. The ball struggled to roll through standing water with both teams passing game and struggling to overcome the wet conditions.
The opening goal to the U.S. came following an attempted back pass being held up in a puddle, with Jaedyn Shaw waiting to pounce.
The game eventually went to penalties and the U.S. ran out 3-1 winners in the shootout. Leon, Huitema, and Flemming all missed their spot kicks, setting up the final between the U.S. and Brazil.
Despite the disappointment of missing her penalty, Adriana Leon is sitting top of the goalscorer list with six goals. Jaedyn Shaw sits on four and has the best chance of catching her unless one of the dozens of players on two goals does something special in the final.
Canadian coach Bev Priestman said after the game that it was "unplayable" due to conditions, but the result stands and Canada will have to pick themselves up following a solid showing.
