Goalkeeper Alyssa Nair and the United States defeated Canada 5-4 on penalties for the second consecutive match on Tuesday to win the SheBelieves Cup final.

The United States appeared to be heading towards a 2-1 victory over Canada after two second-half goals by Sophia Smith.

But referee Crystal Supers awarded a penalty after veteran Crystal Dunn fouled Adriana Leon in the US penalty area. Leon, who scored in the first half, stepped up and beat Nair in the 86th minute to score her 39th goal in 118 matches.

Leon nearly scored again in the 89th minute, but Nair saved her powerful long-range shot. Defender Kadisha Buchanan's header from the subsequent corner hit the crossbar.

Also, the free kick taken by US captain Lindsey Horan went wide of the goal in the 93rd minute.

Jesse Fleming, Leon, Julia Grosso, and Ashley Lawrence scored for Canada in the penalty shootout. Nair stopped Jayde Rose, Chloe Lacasse, and Evelyne Viens.

Also, Smith, Nair, Horan, Abby Dahlkemper, and Emily Fox scored for the United States. Kailen Sheridan saved Trinity Rodman, and Emily Sonnett, with a chance to win it for the United States, sent the ball over the crossbar. After Nair stopped Viens, Fox beat Sheridan to win 5-4.

After Leon put ninth-ranked Canada ahead in the 40th minute, Smith’s goals in the 50th and 68th minutes gave the fourth-ranked Americans the lead – what appeared to be their fifth consecutive title in the four-team invitational tournament.

Canada was looking to avenge its penalty shootout semifinal loss to the United States in the CONCACAF W Gold Cup on a waterlogged pitch in San Diego on March 6.

The United States won that night on penalties as Nair stopped three penalties and scored one herself to end Canada’s comeback after coach Bev Priestman’s team twice equalized to tie the score 2-2 after extra time.

Conditions were much better on Tuesday, with the temperature at 17 degrees Celsius at kickoff. The same applied to the Canadians, who took the lead late in the first half when Nair could not clear a long ball from Jayde Rose destined for Lawrence.

The American goalkeeper was forced out as Canadian fullback Rose got past defender Tierna Davidson heading into the US penalty area. Nair and Lawrence collided with the ball bouncing off Nair’s leg to Dean Rose, who sent it into the box for Leon, who shot the ball between defender Dahlkemper’s legs as Nair came off her line.

The United States nearly equalized three minutes later, but Alex Morgan's shot inside the box hit a Canadian defender.

Smith leveled for the Americans in the 50th minute by beating Sheridan with a low shot from outside the box just after the Canadians, despite attempts to clear, failed to do so. Sheridan struggled to find the ball through the traffic.

Smith made it 2-1 in the 68th minute after redirecting a pass from Rodman, allowing the Canadian defense to be pierced thanks to some skillful American passing. This was the Portland Thorns forward's sixth multi-goal game in 46 matches with the United States.

American women have now won seven of the nine SheBelieves Cups. The United States finished second to England in 2019 and fourth in 2017 when France won.

Canada has previously participated in the tournament twice, finishing third in 2021 and fourth in 2023.

In the earlier match on Tuesday at Lower.com Field, No. 10 Brazil defeated No. 7 Japan 3-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular time. Brazilian goalkeeper Lorena saved all three penalties she faced.

Lorena was also in goal when Canada beat Brazil 4-2 on penalties Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The United States defeated Japan 2-1 in the other semifinal.