Sweden’s Jessica Samuelsson, right, and South Africa’s Linda Motlhalo go for a header during the opening match of the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament between Sweden and South Africa at the Rio Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeir… “Both have had stellar play in the lead-up to the games”.
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Of course, Lloyd can not win a gold medal in Brazil alone.
The women chose an option with more financial security because, unlike the men, most female players don’t have lucrative contracts with soccer clubs in other countries.
2015 World Cup quarter-finalists Canada and Australia complete a busy first day of action in Sao Paulo. She’s off to a fast start.
Now her focus, like Lloyd’s, turns to the next game. Carli Lloyd suffered a right knee sprain, missing most of the games in spring, while Tobin Heath and Morgan Brian inccured strained hamstring.
Really, the only way New Zealand stopped her was by fouling her.
This time around, Morgan is healthy.
That’s all four starting midfielders returning from the Women’s World Cup. It can only be good that Morgan has scored so soon in the tournament, as the USA would love to see her continue to build up her confidence and have a strong Olympics after struggling with an injury during last year’s World Cup.
The U.S. won. The U.S. will nearly definitely advance to the knockout round.
Nabbing three early points in tournament play will allow the USA squad to breathe a bit easier as it preps for a headier opponent this weekend. Lloyd got under it and looped a header just inside the left post. Riley, who was an aggressive player for New Zealand all night, earned a yellow card for trying to kick O’Hara in retaliation.
Lloyd will bring her usual blend of quiet determination and a ferocious work ethic to the American midfield.
The two substitutes, along with Christen Press who came on in the 81th minute, provided additional energy for the US, but could not find a third goal. Those games are more free flowing with larger pockets of space available for a US side that prefers to function within a direct system. So I’m drinking the best, most American libation there is.
“That was the best way we could’ve started”, Heath said. The one player who can match them, Megan Rapinoe, could be the ultimate super-sub off the bench as she finally returns from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
As I said during my recent CLTV segment previewing the Olympics, the United States Women’s National Team are poised to make history.
“He has shown that he is more than just a great player – he’s a great man admired by everybody”. Team USA next plays vs. France on August 6, in what is expected to be the toughest match of the group for the Americans.
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A healthier, albeit far from capacity crowd enjoyed the Canarinhas victory as goals from Monica, Andressa Alves and Cristiane eased Brazil to a comfortable win.
