Canada shows heart but falls short vs. U.S. in SheBelieves Cup final

For the second time in 35 days, the Canadian women’s team couldn’t hold its nerve in a penalty shootout against the United States. 

Canada showed a lot of heart in going toe-to-toe with the U.S. in Tuesday’s SheBelieves Cup final, a performance that was highlighted by Adriana Leon’s brace. 

But it was the Americans who emerged victorious in the penalty shootout that directly followed the 2-2 draw in regulation time between the nations, beating the Canadians 5-4 in seven rounds at Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio. 

The U.S. also earned a penalty shootout win over Canada last month in the semifinals of the Concacaf W Gold Cup. 

Here are three major observations from Tuesday’s game.   

Canada benefits from change in formation  

Canadian coach Bev Priestman experimented in her team’s SheBelieves Cup semifinal win over Brazil last weekend by moving away from her traditional 3-4-3 setup to a formation that featured a diamond-shaped midfield. 

But the change in tactics adversely affected Canada as it was badly outplayed by Brazil and headed into the halftime break down 1-0. Captain Jessie Fleming wasn’t nearly involved enough in the attack and Canada was overrun by Brazil in midfield which meant the back three were often exposed and left to deal with plenty of attacking forays by the South Americans.  

Priestman abandoned the new formation at the start of the second half, a switch that allowed Canada to gain a foothold in the contest and eventually come out on top via a penalty shootout win. 

On Tuesday, Priestman stuck with her tried-and-tested 3-4-3 system right from the get-go, thus allowing Canada to play with greater confidence and comfort. While the U.S. dominated possession and dictated the pace of the affair in the first half, the Canadians defended resolutely and were well organized at the back, which meant scoring chances were few and far between for the Americans. 

Canada caught the U.S. out in a moment of transition in the 40th minute which led to Adriana Leon’s first goal of the night as the visitors jumped out in front. It was the least Canada deserved after a masterful opening first half. 

The U.S. started strong after the restart and took the lead off a pair of Sophia Smith goals just 18 minutes apart. But Canada rediscovered its defensive footing and began to ask questions of the U.S. on the counterattack before Leon eventually tied things up from the penalty spot in the 86th minute. 

Going with four across the midfield – rather than playing Fleming at the base of the diamond – helped Canada hold its own in the centre of the park against the U.S, while wingbacks Janine Beckie and Ashley Lawrence routinely exploited the space left open down the flanks to get in behind the hosts’ back line. 

Adriana Leon continues to shine for Canada 

What a year it's been so far for Adriana Leon.  

The veteran Canadian forward has been in fine form for both her club and country in 2024, tallying a combined 12 goals and four assists. Her opening goal in a recent 2-2 draw with Leicester City was her seventh in her first English Women’s Super League season with Aston Villa.  

At last month’s Concacaf W Gold Cup, Leon scored a tournament-high six goals and recorded two assists for Canada, and she was also named to the competition's Best XI.  

Once again on Tuesday, Leon carried the load for Canada and served as the main reference point in attack against the U.S. 

In the 40th minute, American goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher rushed off her line to try to beat Lawrence to a ball played to the edge of the box after a pass over the top by teammate Jade Rose.  

Naeher collided with Lawrence and Canada’s Deanne Rose swooped in by hitting the ball as it hung in the air into the penalty area for Leon. Rather than try to power her shot into the net, Leon kept her composure and coolly swept it home through the legs of U.S. defender Abby Dahlkemper with Naeher out of position. 

Then in the 86th minute, Leon drew a foul from U.S. veteran Crystal Dunn inside the box. Leon stepped up to the spot to take the ensuing penalty and blasted her attempt past Naeher to level the score. The goal was Leon’s 39th in 112 international appearances, moving her past Silvana Burtini as Canada’s third all-time scorer. 

Leon almost scored again in the 89th minute but Naeher deflected her hard shot that seemed destined to sneak in at the near post.  But Leon didn’t stop there as she beat Naeher for a third time on the night with a perfectly placed penalty in the shootout that left Naeher with no chance of making a save. 

Rest assured that Leon’s name will be at the top of the list when coach Bev Priestman is filling out her 18-player roster for this summer’s Paris Olympics. 

Canada will rue its missed chances to put the game away 

This match was there to be won by the Canadians. But a lack of ruthlessness cost Canada dearly on the night as it couldn’t put the contest away when it had multiple chances to do so. 

Leon’s goal late in the first half was a sucker punch as the Americans carried the bulk of the play up until that point, which included forcing Kailen Sheridan into making a spectacular save on Jaedyn Shaw’s close-range effort. 

The hosts were reeling. But rather than aggressively chase a second goal at the start of the second half, the Canadians dropped back and invited the Americans to run at them. The Reds’ hesitancy cost them. The U.S. attacked in waves as it pinned the visitors deep inside their half. Eventually, the pressure was too much for the Canadians as Smith bagged a pair of goals within an 18-minute period to put the Americans in front. 

Then came the penalty shootout where Canada squandered a golden opportunity to take a commanding lead after Sheridan’s save on Trinity Rodman’s first attempt for the U.S. The Americans eventually tied things up after Jade Rose and Cloé Lacasse failed to convert with their tame shots that U.S. goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher had little trouble stopping. 

Lawrence scored to give Canada a 4-3 lead after six rounds, thus putting the U.S. in a do-or-die situation. But somehow the Americans overcame that and eventually pulled out the win in the seventh round when Emily Fox beat Sheridan after Canadian forward Evelyne Viens failed to bury her penalty.