U.S. forward Trinity Rodman chased down a breakaway ball in the 12th minute with only goalkeeper Kailen Sheridan to beat, it stopped in the pooling water as if connected to a boat anchor.

Rodman extended her arms to both sides as if to say, "Why are we playing in this?"

San Diego Wave FC teammate Alex Morgan raced behind the defense shortly after, the water slowed her and the ball as if encountering a sea of brake lights during rush hour on Interstate 15.

When Canadian defender Vanessa Gilles tried to push a ball back to Sheridan in the 22nd minute, it spun like a Masse shot in a smoky billiards parlor.

U.S. forward Jaedyn Shaw kept running before Sheridan could close the unexpected ground; the 19-year-old Wave star poked it past her for the game's first goal.

If not for the marshy spots glistening in multiple spots on the pitch, the U.S. might have scored sooner. Then again, they almost assuredly would not have scored on the ball Shaw ran down.

Scott French, writing for Soccer America, said he had never seen teams play through that much water in high-level competition. He's been covering the sport, for the record, since 1979.

"It was obvious the game was unplayable," Canadian coach Bev Priestman said. "We put in a lot of work in a game plan and within minute one, it's thrown out of the window."

When the rain finally had left to badger communities to the east, Canada found a wet equalizer. Forward Jordyn Huitema uncorked a textbook header off a cross from Ashley Lawrence that knotted things in the 82nd minute.

In extra time — because this night needed that, of course — Smith slipped behind the defense to chip a net finder past Sheridan. Canada capitalized on a penalty call in the final seconds as Adriana Leon buried the shot to keep the drenched night slogging on.

The game proved entertaining in the end, but it demanded a time out. Sort it out a day later when arc-building was not a necessary skill.

The true victory on a soggy and head-scratching night?

No one got hurt.

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