USA vs Colombia live score, result, highlights as USWNT leads chippy W Gold Cup quarterfinals

By | March 3, 2024
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The U.S. women have made life for themselves at the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup extremely perilous for themselves, but have turned it around in emphatic as they lead a a talented Colombia side ranked 23rd in the world by three goals at halftime of their quarterfinal matchup on Sunday.

A historic and embarrassing 2-0 defeat to border rivals Mexico in the final group stage match left the U.S. as a second-place qualifier, lowering their knockout stage seeding and forcing them to contest a very solid Colombia side that pushed eventual finalists England to the brink in the Women’s World Cup quarterfinals last summer. 

The defeat to Mexico saw a toothless USWNT succumb to many of the same issues that plagued them in that same World Cup tournament, which also ended in the quarterfinals — their worst-ever performance at FIFA’s crowning event.

Yet under the pressure of a suddenly knockout stage path, the U.S. have answered the call, leading 3-0 at the halftime break on goals from Lindsey Horan, Jenna Nighswonger, and Jaedyn Shaw. Everyone on the pitch contributed throughout the first half in a total team performance despite questions about Twila Kilgore’s lineup.

The Sporting News is following the USA vs Colombia match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.

USA vs Colombia live score

  Score (2H) Goal scorers
USA 3 Horan (13′),
Nighswonger (22′),
Shaw (45+2′)
Colombia 0 –

Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET / 5:15 p.m. PT
Location: Dignity Health Sports Park (Carson, California)
Referee: Marianela Araya (CRC)

Starting lineups:

USA (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Naeher (GK) — 23. Fox, 4. Girma, 12. Davidson, 3. Nighswonger — 10. Horan, 17. Coffey, 15. Albert — 22. Rodman (Purce, 46′), 7. Morgan, 8. Shaw (Lavelle, 56′).

Colombia (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Giraldo (GK) — 17. C. Arias, 19. Carabali, 3. D. Arias (Baron, 46′), 2. Vanegas — 5. Bedoya (Salazar, 46′), 6. Montoya (Restrepo, 46′), 13. Izquierdo — 15. Pavi, 11. Usme, 18. Caicedo.

USA vs Colombia live updates, highlights, commentary

USA vs Colombia: Second Half

67th min: Catalina Usme is fouled by Lindsey Horan, who is booked by the referee. Which, I guess that means the earlier note about Horan being booked in the 15th minute was incorrect? It’s all got a bit confusing.

Moments later, Colombia substitute Marcela Restrepo is booked for a foul on Rose Lavelle.

63rd min: Midge Purce gets rugby tackled from behind as she tries to latch onto a cross to the far post, but the referee keeps her whistle in her pocket, which isn’t surprising in the slightest.

57th min: Chance, USA! Korbin Albert looks for her first international goal, but is denied by a wonderful save from Natalia Giraldo! The Colombian netminder gets down to her right at full stretch to deny Albert whose low driven effort was seeking the inside of the left post.

56th min: The USWNT has stood tall to the physicality of Colombia, and are controlling this game well. Rose Lavelle will come on, and as her number is shown on the fourth official’s board, the crowd gives a roar. She replaces Jaedyn Shaw, who was on a yellow card.

49th min: Colombia’s physical play hasn’t really done them any good, but they aren’t backing down. Lindsey Horan is pulverized in midfield by substitute Liana Salazar who delivers a shoulder check, but incredulously, the referee does not make a call.

Then moments later, there’s another collision in midfield, right around the same spot, and again the referee allows play to continue. THEN moments later Carolina Arias rips Jenna Nighswonger to the ground, and again there’s no call. Where is the whistle??? Hello…Earth to referee!

Kickoff: The second half is under way and as we speculated, Trinity Rodman has been brought off in favor of Midge Purce. Rodman was on a yellow card and appeared to maybe be carrying a bit of a knock as well.

Colombia have made a triple change, with Lorena Bedoya, Daniela Montoya, and Daniela Arias all hauled off.

HALFTIME: USA 3-0 Colombia

Twila Kilgore could not have asked for a better bounce-back 45 minutes from the U.S. women after the Mexico defeat. They’ve been brilliant in all phases of the game, and even when Colombia snatched control of the match after the half-hour mark, they remained dangerous and stuck with it, leaning on their goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher on her 100th cap.

Alex Morgan has been spectacular as a hold-up striker, and the U.S. has not (yet, at least) been drawn into the trap Colombia has laid for them with their physicality and chippy approach. Don’t discount the two enormous saves by Naeher as key moments in this match, as Colombia had emphatically snatched momentum for a solid stretch and could have found a goal, or even drawn level, which would have turned this match on its head.

We asked questions about Kilgore’s lineup before the match, but credit where it’s due, they’ve executed to perfection. Jenna Nighswonger and Jaedyn Shaw were the brightest of the young U.S. players, while Morgan was exceptional in her role up front. What a turnaround from last week!

USA vs Colombia: First Half

45+6 min: Chance, USA! The U.S. has a free-kick about a foot outside the penalty area, won by Lindsey Horan. The hosts are arguing the foul was in the penalty area, and VAR gives it a look, but the call is confirmed. Before the take, Daniela Arias embarrassingly flops trying to draw a booking on a U.S. player, but the referee laughs it off.

Horan takes the free-kick with the last touch of the half, and she hits the post!! It’s so close to a fourth!

45+2 min: GOAL! USA! Just as we speculate whether Trinity Rodman could be substituted at halftime, she creates the third goal! Emily Fox picks the pocket of a Colombian midfielder to start the break, and feeds Rodman down the right. In acres of space, she cuts a cross laterally to Jaedyn Shaw at the top of the six-yard box, and she produces the finish as she streaks in on net. What a finish!

45th min: A trailing arm by Trinity Rodman catches Linda Caicedo and again she’s lucky to not be booked for the second time. It would be surprising not to see her substituted at halftime, considering both the fine line she’s walking from a discipline level and her cramping issues earlier.

Six minutes of stoppage time are shown.

38th min: Chance, Colombia! ANOTHER MASSIVE SAVE BY ALYSSA NAEHER! It’s an unreal stop by the USWNT goalkeeper who dives full-stretch to her left to deny an effort from the penalty spot by Ilana Izquierdo!

Colombia have been in complete control of the match over the last 10 minutes as Colombia look to get a goal back before halftime. The hosts have lost all dominance of this game.

35th min: There’s a problem for the U.S. as Trinity Rodman is down off the ball. She needs treatment as she sits on her rear in the penalty area, while the rest of the U.S. squad goes over to chat with Twila Kilgore. Rodman is having her right leg stretched out, and looks a bit frustrated — hard to tell if it’s a cramp or something more, but she walks to the sideline and comes back on.

32nd min: Chance, Colombia! Alyssa Naeher saves from Linda Caicedo on her 100th cap! Lindsey Horan fails to pressure Caicedo who charges through the midfield and blasts a shot on goal, but Naeher leaps to her left to punch it away!

24th min: Trinity Rodman is very lucky not to get a second yellow card after she commits a hard foul while back defending on the right wing. She has to be a lot more careful not to put her side in a hold for much of the match.

Speaking of yellow cards, the U.S. national team social media account confirms that Lindsey Horan was booked in the aftermath of the opening goal, but it’s unclear what for. This referee has had a very quick trigger finger, which makes Rodman all the luckier that she didn’t see red.

22nd min: GOAL! USA! JENNA NIGHSWONGER HAS THE U.S. UP BY TWO! It’s incredibly easy this time for the hosts, who need just three passes to make it happen. Naomi Girma sends it long to Alex Morgan, and with her back to goal she nods a header to Nighswonger who blasts it home first-time with a flush finish in acres of space. Colombia has been terrorized by Morgan so far!

20th min: Now Trinity Rodman is booked as she gets in a battle with the left-back who was shielding the ball out of play. It’s a really quick trigger for the booking, but Rodman has to keep a lid on her emotions, because this is a clear strategy from Colombia to rile up the U.S. players with physicality.

18th min: Chance, USA! Jayden Shaw comes close again, blazing a shot inches over the crossbar! It falls to the youngster in acres of space, and she really should be hitting the target there from 16 yards out, but blasts it over and off the stantion! That’s a pretty bad miss, if we’re being completely honest.

15th min: Chance, USA! The U.S. wins a corner after Trinity Rodman nutmegs a defender. Before the take, Catalina Usme gets right in the face of Alex Morgan as both battle in the scrum. It’s all started by Usme who got angry over pretty much nothing, but for whatever reason both are booked by the official. Eventually, Jayden Shaw sends a header just wide once the corner comes in to the far post, not far!

Then moments later, on the ensuing goal kick, Shaw nearly snatches the ball right from the pocket of the defender in the six-yard box, but is unable to get a shot off as she’s clobbered by the goalkeeper. Colombia have really struggled to play out of the back!

10th min: PENALTY, USA! Alex Morgan wins a penalty, bulldozed by Jorelyn Carabali who didn’t play the ball at all! Carabali is rightly booked after a thunderous shoulder-to-shoulder challenge which prevented Morgan from going clean through on goal from a vertical ball.

It’s captain Lindsey Horan who will step up to take, after a long delay as Colombia milked two minutes playing mind games. Eventually…GOAL! USA! Horan buries it in the bottom-right corner, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way!

9th min: Oh dear, the U.S. back line was caught sleeping by Linda Caicedo, who sent in a back-post cross to Catalina Usme, who had run free on goal behind the USWNT defensive line. Only a heavy first touch by Usme sees Alyssa Naeher able to come off her line and smother the ball. Have to keep alert over your shoulder!

8th min: The U.S. has its first look on goal as a high turnover gets Lindsey Horan on the ball in the penalty area, but her shot is weak as she gets sandwiched by two defenders on the moment of her kick. Very nearly got an opening!

2nd min: Looks like they’re still in the 4-3-3 this coaching staff favors, with Jenna Nighswonger as an outright left-back. Jayden Shaw starts on the left wing, with Trinity Rodman on the right and Lindsey Horan playing a true No. 10 role. Both teams pressing very high, this will be a messy one if they can each cause havoc amongst the other’s back line.

Linda Caicedo gets a very early talking-to from the official after she gets a little over-eager with her press. There’s been a lot of fouling early on — the Costa Rican referee Marianela Araya will have a busy evening, it appears.

Kickoff: They’re under way in Los Angeles! A semifinal date with Canada is on the line, as the U.S. and Colombia match up. These teams played twice last fall, with the U.S. winning one and the other match finishing in a scoreless draw.

USA vs Colombia: Pre-match commentary, analysis, stats, and more

15 mins to kickoff: The Paramount+ prematch show did a wonderful tactical breakdown of the issues the U.S. women had against Mexico in their buildup. In particular, Darian Jenkins in the studio identified that right-back Emily Fox was drifting extremely centrally, clogging the middle and reducing the options the USWNT center-backs had to distribute the ball.

It will be interesting to see if that tactic continues and Twila Kilgore identifies different build-up windows to penetrate through, or if Fox changes her approach and stays out wide.

30 mins to kickoff: Alyssa Naeher reaches her 100th cap tonight, making the U.S. the first women’s national team to have three goalkeepers reach the century mark. She becomes the sixth American goalkeeper across men and women to reach 100 caps, while no other country has more than four (Sweden).

45 mins to kickoff: Colombia national team head coach Angelo Marsiglia has made a few key changes from the group finale against Puerto Rico, especially in midfield, where there are two alterations. Marcela Restrepo and Liana Salazar take a seat for captain Daniela Montoya and Lorena Bedoya, while only 21-year-old Mississippi State star Iliana Izquierdo retains her place.

Additionally, Daniela Arias, who plays for Corinthians in Brazil, enters in defense while young Angela Baron drops to the bench.

1 hour to kickoff: The U.S. lineup is in, and it’s somewhat unhinged from Twila Kilgore. There are three natural center-backs with Naomi Girma returning alongside Jenna Nighswonger and Tierna Davidson, meaning it’s a three-CB system, unless Nighswonger steps either into midfield or out wide.

The real head-scratcher is the lack of Sophia Smith, Rose Lavelle, Emily Sonnett, or Crystal Dunn, but a start for Sam Coffey and Alex Morgan who both did not play well against Mexico in defeat. Congrats to Alyssa Naeher in goal for the USWNT who earns her 100th cap to reach the century mark.

1 hour 15 mins to kick: The U.S. women will wear their white paint splatter kits, hoping to exorcise the demons from these jerseys after defeat to Mexico last time out in their whites.

1 hour 30 mins to kick: Earlier today, Canada topped Costa Rica 1-0 in their quarterfinal on an extra-time winner by Evelyne Viens, meaning the winner of this match between the U.S. and Colombia will take on Les Rouges. It’s a monumental potential task not only for the struggling USWNT, but also for Colombia who would have to go through CONCACAF’s two top-ranked nations just to reach the final.

1 hour 45 mins to kick: In some exceptional news for the USWNT’s long-term prospects, Cat Macario returned to action for Chelsea today after a frustrating and arduous comeback from a torn ACL that saw her miss over 600 days.

Macario not only got back onto the pitch, making her Chelsea debut, but scored a goal just seven minutes into her substitute appearance against Leicester City in the Women’s Super League. It’s a brilliant moment for Macario that clearly meant a lot to her and her teammates. If Macario gets into form, she not only becomes a game-changing option for the USWNT at the Summer Olympics, but could even look to set herself up for a starting role in a U.S. team desperate for in-form goal scoring options.

2 hours to kickoff: In a risky move for a head coach after an embarrassing defeat, interim boss Twila Kilgore placed much of the blame for the embarrassing Mexico defeat at the feet of the players, backing her side’s game plan but singling out the “execution” while also praising their opponent’s approach.

In truth, there were a number of ways the coaching staff came up short, and the first sign of lessons learned will be a fully first-choice starting lineup for the USWNT today, foregoing any experimentation while drawing on experience and talent. It all starts with reinstating Naomi Girma into the heart of defense, as the calm demeanor of the reigning USWNT Player of the Year is required in both phases of play. Without her last week, they conceded a goal to a CONCACAF opponent in competitive action for the first time in 13 years.

USA vs Colombia lineups, team news

There’s nowhere for the USWNT to hide now as the W Gold Cup moves into single-elimination play, but against a high-quality opponent, Twila Kilgore has gone with a truly head-scratching lineup. Defensive leader Naomi Girma step back in, a positive for fans as Kilgore was publicly critical of the back line after the defeat to Mexico.

However, Emily Sonnett, who has been the only strong performer at the No. 6 position since the retirement of Julie Ertz, remains on the bench for underperformer Sam Coffey, and Korbin Albert is brought in with Crystal Dunn out. Jenna Nighswonger and Tierna Davidson are both introduced alongside Girma, making this likely a three-CB system.

Up front, Alex Morgan, who was only added to the roster after a ACL tear for Mia Fishel, retains her starting spot, but Sophia Smith does not, replaced by young Jaedyn Shaw. Also missing is Rose Lavelle, with Korbin Albert installed in the middle. Lot of surprises from Kilgore, who will have to answer for this shuffling if things go belly-up.

USA starting lineup (4-3-3): Naeher (GK) — Fox, Girma, Davidson, Nighswonger — Horan, Coffey, Albert — Rodman, Morgan, Shaw.

USA subs (12): Murphy (GK), Campbell (GK), Dalhkemper, Sauerbrunn, Dunn, Krueger, Sonnett, Lavelle, Moultrie, L. Williams, Purce, S. Smith.

The presence of world-class 19-year-old Real Madrid star Linda Caicedo will strike fear into any opposing back line no matter their global stature. She scored in two of Colombia’s three group-stage games, with only Brazil managing to hold her silent. Caicedo looks to combine with veteran striker Catalina Usme, who, at 34, sports an incredible 72 international goals in 93 caps and is fresh off a late-career move to Mexican side Pachuca this offseason, her first time ever playing club ball abroad.

20-year-old goalkeeper Natalia Giraldo has seemingly taken over in net from veteran Sandra Sepulveda, having earned her first three international caps in the three group stage games, conceding just a single goal in the process.

There are two US-based players in the Colombian squad, with backup forward Elexa Bahr having recently joined NWSL side Racing Louisville this past offseason, and young defender Ilana Izquierdo gearing up to take part in her senior season with the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Colombia starting lineup (4-3-3): Giraldo (GK) — C. Arias, Carabali, D. Arias, Vanegas — Bedoya, Montoya, Izquierdo — Pavi, Usme, Caicedo.

Colombia subs (12): Sepulveda (GK), Castano (GK), Baron, M. Ramos, Yanten, L. Salazar, C. Reyes, Resterepo, Andrade, Bahr, Celis, Chacon.

How to watch USA vs Colombia


  • Date: Sunday, March 3, 2024
  • Time: 8:15 p.m. ET
  • TV channel (English): None
  • Streaming (English): Paramount+
  • TV channel (Spanish): ESPN Deportes
  • Streaming (Spanish): Fubo, ESPN+, WatchESPN

The English-language broadcast rights for the 2024 CONCACAF W Gold Cup in the United States are owned exclusively by Paramount+, who are streaming every single match of the competition.

Additionally, the match will be televised in Spanish on ESPN Deportes, which is available to stream on both Fubo and ESPN+, as well as ESPN’s main streaming platform WatchESPN.

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