The U.S. women’s national soccer team went up against Canada in the CONCACAF W Gold Cup semifinal, but both squads also battled another opponent — Mother Nature.
The weather in San Diego was not kind to the two rivals, as the USWNT and Canada played on a drenched surface Wednesday night at Snapdragon Stadium.
The waterlogged pitch caused a stir on social media. Well-known names in the soccer community voiced their displeasure over the field conditions and their concerns for player safety.
Not only does a wet field create an increased risk of injury, but the game itself is not the same. Passes can’t be completed due to puddles on the pitch. Dribbling the ball is next to impossible for even the most talented athletes.
Yet despite the natural distractions, the match continued and even went to extra time, with the USWNT prevailing on penalty kicks. Here is more on the rain-soaked Gold Cup semifinal.
LIVE: Latest updates, highlights from USWNT vs. Canada in Gold Cup semifinal
USWNT vs. Canada weather
The eye test alone showed the poor condition of the pitch on the rain-soaked night in San Diego.
If that wasn’t enough, one just had to take look at the passing stats for both teams. The USWNT and Canada struggled to move the ball around the field in the first half,…
