Mixed in with the heartbreak and anger, there also was pride after Canada lost 2-1 to the United States on a controversial penalty kick in the 30th minute of overtime Sunday in the final of the CONCACAF Gold Cup women's soccer tournament.
Kristine Lilly calmly struck a ball that beat Canadian keeper Erin McLeod, giving the U.S. its third consecutive Gold Cup championship. Mexican referee Virginia Tovar signalled the penalty kick after defender Robyn Gayle got tangled up with American Carli Lloyd in the box.
``It was the worst way to lose it,'' said Canadian coach Even Pellerud, who was ejected from the game in the 86th minute after arguing a call. ``We produced more pressure than ever before. They needed 120 minutes to beat us on a doubtful (penalty kick).''
Pellerud called the game a ``fantastic team effort.''
``We are closing the gap to the U.S.,'' he said. ``I think the girls believed it was our time to beat them. I am very proud of the team and we can build on this for sure.''
Canada battled back from an early 1-0 deficit to tie the game on Randee Hermus's goal in the 45th minute.
``We gave it all we could,'' said Hermus, of Langley, B.C., who became the first Canadian woman to score on the U.S. in a five-game span dating back to 2003.
``We gave them a game. We were hoping to win it and I believe it got taken away from us. Next time we are going to win it in 90 minutes.''
Hermus said she didn't see the play that resulted in the foul.
``I saw the aftermath of her laying on the ground,'' said Hermus. ``I think she over-embellished but I can't say.''
Captain Christine Sinclair, who played on a sore hamstring, had a chance to win the match in the final minute of regulation time, but her shot hit the side of the net.
Sinclair said she was stunned when the penalty kick was called.
``You never see a ref call a foul like that at the end of the game in a championship,'' said the Burnaby, B.C., native who led the University of Portland to two NCAA championships. ``At least I've never seen it.''
Lilly said she didn't see the play either.
``I was just hoping my legs would work,'' she said about the penalty kick. ``I was too tired to be nervous.
``When I hit it, my one thought was I hoped she wouldn't stop it.''
Having already accomplished their goal of securing a spot in the FIFA women's World Cup, the Canadians played a strong match against the U.S, ranked No. 2 in the world. It showed the gap between the two sides has narrowed and gives Canada confidence heading into next September's World Cup in China.
``We took maybe the best team in the world'' into overtime, said Sinclair.
``The past two games we've played against them has been very close. This whole year we didn't lose to any other team but them. We're taking a lot of confidence knowing we can compete against anyone.''
Leslie Osborne scored the other U.S. goal in the sixth minute.
Pellerud was thrown out after he reacted to a call late in the game. He also exchanged words with American striker Abby Wambach.
``I just reacted to a bad call with my arms,'' he said. ``That was it.
``I had no forewarning. They could have given me a warning.''
Assistant Ian Bridge took over the coaching duties.
Hermus said many of the players on the field didn't know Pellerud had been ejected.
A vocal crowd of 6,749 watched the game on a cool, clear night, at the 27,000-seat Home Depot Center.
Canada beat Jamaica 4-0 in Wednesday's semifinal to advance to the final and gain the World Cup berth. The U.S., which won the 1991 and 1999 World Cup, will also play in China.
Canada, ranked No. 2 in the world, hasn't beaten the U.S. since Nov. 11, 2000. Overall, Canada has a record of 3-32-3 record against the Americans.
The U.S. extended its unbeaten streak to 32 games (27-0-5), the longest in the team's 21 year history.
With the game tied 1-1 after 90 minutes, the teams played two, 15-minute overtime halves.
As the Canadians tired, the Americans applied some withering pressure in the final moments of regulation and overtime. That forced McLeod to make some critical saves.
She got her hands on Marci Miller's close-range shot in the 74th minute, then stopped two shots from Natasha Kai in the 78th minute.
``It was a great game for us,'' said the Calgary native. ``We really battled the entire game.''
The Gold Cup determines the champion of the region that covers North America, Central America and the Caribbean.
Canada lost 2-1 to the U.S. in the final of the 2002 competition, and was beaten 2-1 by China in the third-place game in 2000.
Earlier Mexico defeated Jamaica 3-0 in the third-place match. Mexico now plays Japan in a home-and-away playoff for the final berth in the World Cup.
Canada has qualified for the last three World Cups with the best result a fourth in 2003.
