The Olympic tournament’s generous format (eight of the 12 teams advance to the knockout rounds) means that it’s not exactly do-or-die. “I’ve had to force my name into the media, stay true to myself, my image, so it’s really motivated me on a daily basis”.
Advertisement
Former national team player and NBC analyst Kate Markgraf insisted the U.S would use the Solo taunts as motivation.
With less than half the game remaining, Lloyd had already confirmed her enduring quality, and Morgan signaled her intent to shine in a brighter spotlight than before.
“I think on the being recognized part it’s been a tough journey on my end because I feel that I contributed to this team dating back to the 2008 Olympics and Algarve Cups and World Cup qualifying and Olympic qualifying and Olympics”.
The US women know what it takes to survive and advance in tournaments. The soccer competition is the longest in these Games, starting more than 48 hours before the opening ceremony and continuing for 16 days.
The team is made up of the most talented women soccer players in the world. Soccer is a game of the finest margins, and anything can happen in a close match.
“There’s been a little bit of a change in the roster, but it’s good”, Lloyd said. “It’s more so just getting the credit you deserve over the years”. The Americans are facing a more hard French team on Saturday, so the win today may give them extra momentum going into that match. The U.S.is trying to become the first team to win the Olympics after succeeding at the World Cup.
Lloyd put the Americans ahead with a header in the ninth minute, and Morgan added to the lead with a low shot from inside the area less than a minute into the second half at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte.
The United States, victor of gold in London in 2012, started things brightly against New Zealand on Wednesday with a goal inside nine minutes through captain Carli Lloyd. Morgan’s strike happened within the first minute of the second half as Morgan Brian slipped her in, and Morgan thumped an inch-perfect shot to the near post. The second yellow of the game came in the 30th minute with the booking of New Zealand’s Ali Riley, who fouled her former Stanford teammate O’Hara. Earlier this week, she posted a photograph of herself on Twitter wearing a beekeeper’s mask and holding a giant bottle of insect repellent.
“I’m glad the fans had fun”, Solo said.
“I was focused on the game. So I think it’s going to be exciting”. She says she is very superstitious, and doesn’t allow her family to travel with her when she plays in a big event. A win secures a quarterfinal spot. New Zealand held Canada to a draw at the World Cup in Canada a year ago – and they’ve got a 44 percent chance of squeezing into the knockout rounds as the third-place team from Group G. As for Colombia, They will most definetly need a break out performance from star Yoreli Rincón, but there’s a 61 percent chance the Colombians go out in the group stage.
Advertisement
“Overall my takeaway was yeah, it’s three points in the bag”, Ellis said. We are super excited to get started.
