USA and Canada women forced to play in appalling conditions as officials refuse to call off Gold Cup semi-final... with torrential rain soaking San Diego's stadium with HUGE puddles from christina benitez scandal Watch Video

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✓ Published: 07-Mar-2024

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Absurd weather conditions marred USA's Gold Cup semi-final victory over Canada on Wednesday, as officials refused to call off the match despite huge puddles on the pitch. <br/><br/>The U.S. women's national football team edged past their neighbors 3-1 on penalties to book a place in Sunday's final against Brazil, as the rain-soaked affair ended 2-2 after extra time. <br/><br/>Torrential rain drenched San Diego's Snapdragon Stadium ahead of the clash, covering the field in huge puddles and standing water.<br/><br/>During a farcical first half, Canada's Vanessa Gilles inadvertently gifted Jaedyn Shaw her opening goal for the USA with a pass back to the goalkeeper. The ball hit a puddle at the top of the penalty area and stopped dead, allowing Shaw to pounce.<br/><br/>Both sets of players were unable to pass or control the ball properly during the rain-soaked first half, with each squad completing less than half of their pass attempts before the break, according to OPTA.<br/><br/>Former USWNT star Julie Foudy took to social media to call for the match to be called off, but referee Katia Garcia continued to go ahead with the semi-final.<br/><br/>'This is so insane,' she wrote on X. 'STOP THE MATCH.' <br/><br/>Meanwhile, Bev Priestman, the manager of Canada women, urged after the match: 'It's obvious that the game was unplayable.<br/><br/>'We put in a lot of work on the game plan, and then Minute 1, you throw it out the window,' Priestman said. <br/><br/>Garcia appeared to contemplate calling off the match midway through the first half, collecting the ball from the rain-soaked pitch and jogging over to the fourth official and match commissioner on the touchline. <br/><br/>Despite rolling the ball and watching it stop dead on the surface, the officials instructed play to resume.<br/><br/>Former referee Christina Unkel urged that Garcia should not be held wholly responsible for the match continuing, insisting that officials are guided by the match commissioner.<br/><br/>'Practically speaking ... that [decision] is almost out of our control when it comes to these types of competitions,' she said on CBS Sports.<br/><br/>The USA and Canada stars continued to slip and slide in the treacherous conditions, creating both a laughable and dangerous spectacle for fans.<br/><br/>USA's Lindsey Horan, who at one stage tried to play and long ball but kicked the water instead, urged after the match: 'It's not a day that you can play football. It's really unfortunate.'