“We don’t have to talk about qualifying anymore”.
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Trinidad & Tobago were no match for the buzzsaw that is the U.S. Women’s National Team at present, as Alex Morgan netted a hat trick and goalkeeper Hope Solo was a bystander in a 5-0 romp that sends the defending gold medalists to Rio de Janeiro – and sets up a tasty meeting with rivals Canada in Sunday’s CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament final.
On the heels of its dynamic win of the FIFA Women’s World Cup last Summer, the US women’s soccer team is in line to next go after a gold medal.
In the last Olympics, the pair played out one of the best matches in recent memory, with the Americans emerging on top 4-3 in a semi-final clash.
On that occasion Christine Sinclair had scored a hat-trick in a dramatic extra-time defeat and Canada’s record goalscorer proved key to their 3-1 victory over Costa Rica.
The playmakers: Lindsey Horan and Morgan Brian have been playing well in the midfield for the United States.
The United States has never lost a CONCACAF Olympic qualifier, going 17-0-1 and outscoring opponents 96-4 in those matches.
Sinclair left to applause in the 82nd minute after upping her goals total to three at the tournament and a record 18 in career CONCACAF Olympic qualifying. “But I think we get frustrated because it tends to be such a physical game that it takes us out of the quality of soccer that we want to play, so it is definitely a rivalry for us in that respect”. “I think it will be a good match”. “It’ll be the typical players who led them to World Cups”. The other six were: Brandi Chastain, Michelle Akers, Tiffeny Milbrett, Abby Wambach, Amy Rodriguez and Sydney Leroux. Megan Rapinoe is recovering from knee surgery.
Total Team Effort: No U.S. player has played all 360 minutes of the tournament.
“I’m super-excited”, Dunn said.
“I think it’s a really cool and awesome opportunity”, Pugh said of starting a game with such high stakes.
It’s far too early to draw any sort of overarching conclusion from this one game-especially considering the level of competition and the fact that Heath looked especially hungry during the U.S.’ nine-game Victory Tour following the World Cup-but she’ll certainly be under increased pressure to perform with Crystal Dunn and Pugh waiting in the wings. Carli Lloyd scored the other goal with a header in the 43rd minute.
She added her second of the game in the 52nd minute on a nice individual bit of skill that included a bit of juggling near the penalty spot and a left-footed volley that gave no chance to the Costa Rican goalkeeper.
“I was so mentally focused and prepared”. In a little less than 48 hours, we will know if Canada is as good as its impressive run to the CWOQ final or if it was all smoke and mirrors. “They owned that game”, Canada coach John Herdman said.
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Trinidad earned a spot in the semifinal by finishing second in its group with wins over Guyana and Guatemala. And since both national teams supply players to the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), there’s sure to be some personal boasting at stake. The U.S. won 5-0. Part of it is in a tournament like this being able to utilize the depth, and we have depth in those positions.
