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

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. 

The U.S. women's national football team edged past their neighbours 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. 

Torrential rain drenched San Diego's Snapdragon Stadium ahead of the clash, covering the field in huge puddles and standing water.

During a farcical first half, Canada's Vanessa Gilles inadvertently gifted Jaedyn Shaw her opening goal for 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.

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.

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.

'This is so insane,' she wrote on X. 'STOP THE MATCH.' 

Meanwhile, Bev Priestman, the manager of Canada women, urged after the match: 'It's obvious that the game was unplayable.

'We put in a lot of work on the game plan, and then Minute 1, you throw it out the window,' Priestman said. 

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. 

Despite rolling the ball and watching it stop dead on the surface, the officials instructed play to resume.

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.

'Practically speaking ... that [decision] is almost out of our control when it comes to these types of competitions,' she said on CBS Sports.

The USA and Canada stars continued to slip and slide in the treacherous conditions, creating both a laughable and dangerous spectacle for fans.

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.'