Because Wednesday’s Team USA vs. Costa Rica women’s worldwide friendly match will be televised by ESPN2, WatchESPN – or the WatchESPN app for mobile devices – is the primary way to watch the World Cup champions carry on with their victory tour live online.
Advertisement
The USWNT’s trashing of Costa Rica on Sunday was the ideal way to start the Victory Tour. The USA maintained its pressure on the Coast Rica goal, and in the 13th minute, Heather O’Reilly followed a hard strike from Lloyd into the goal for a 2-0 lead. The match was well out of hand at that point, but it was big for the Ticas seeing as those were their first ever goals against the U.S. A moment of silence was held before the game.
Lloyd wasted no time putting her goal-scoring ability on display for the fans who filled Finley. The 31-year-old midfielder announced after the opening match with Costa Rica that she would be retiring from global soccer after the 10-match fall tour. “Hopefully, we gave the city of Chattanooga something positive to cheer for”.
“Obviously, Chattanooga’s gone through a trying time”, Wambach said.
“It’s sad for all of these fans that got here”, Foudy said. “The crowd was wonderful, even after the thunderstorm”.
Even before Lloyd put away the first goal of the game, she was busy setting up Abby Wambach with a golden opportunity at the far post with a beautifully lofted cross.
Only needing four minutes to score again, O’Reilly scored her second of the game. “It’s been an emotional journey back to the National Team, and I’m really thankful to U.S. Soccer, to Jill, to the staff and to my teammates for making this year such a memorable one”. Wambach missed the chance at an easy goal when her header flew wide of the net, so Lloyd decided to just do it herself in the seventh minute of the match, rocketing in a free kick from distance off the crossbar and across the goal line.
Advertisement
Costa Rica got goals from Cristin Granados in the 41st minute and Karla Villalobos in the 69th minute. Morgan didn’t play Sunday after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on her right knee July 17.
