USA women’s football team USWNT beat Colombia to set up Women’s Gold Cup semi-final with Canada

Jenna Nighswonger and Jaedyn Shaw scored in the first half, and the United States rebounded from their loss to Mexico with a 3-0 victory over Colombia on Sunday night to advance to the semi-finals of the Concacaf Women’s Gold Cup. Lindsey Horan also converted a penalty in the opening minutes for the Americans, who shook off the embarrassment of their 2-0 loss to Mexico last Monday in the final game of group play. The US were back in dominant form against a strong Colombian team that reached the quarter-finals of last year’s World Cup. The US will face Canada in the semi-finals in San Diego on Wednesday.

The loss to Mexico highlighted the steady decline in results for this longtime world soccer power in the past few years, including a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics and a round of 16 exit from last year’s World Cup. But this victory showed this group of players still have enough talent and athleticism to turn even a tough match-up into a comfortable win – particularly when their young stars have the chance to flourish. The impressive first-half was highlighted by Shaw, the Americans’ 19-year-old emerging star. When she scored on a sharp pass from fellow youngster Trinity Rodman, she joined Shannon Boxx as the only players in US history to score in each of their first three international starts.

The US hadn’t conceded a goal to a Concacaf opponent in their previous 33 matches before Mexico scored twice against them last Monday, but goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher and a defense led by Naomi Girma got the Americans back to clean sheets, with Naeher posting her 43rd shutout during a decade on the US team. A loud crowd supported the US efforts to get back on track in Angel City FC’s home stadium just south of downtown Los Angeles, and the team was awarded an early penalty when Jorelyn Carabali took down a sprinting Alex Morgan in the 10th minute. Horan stut