The win pits the top two teams in the finals and assures the US of a berth in the 2016 Rio Olympics regardless of the decision on Sunday afternoon against Canada.
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Alex Morgan scored three goals and the top-ranked United States secured a spot in the Olympics this summer with a 5-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago in the semifinals of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament in Houston. Can the Canadians become the first team in the tournament to score on the Americans?
“I think it’s going to be a great game”, Lloyd said. I think from coming out of the World Cup and turning the corner, I think the games against Brazil and the Victory Tour I think you’re starting to see Alex strong and confident. “As the game wears on they get a little more disorganized”. “I was really pleased on the way we played….” She was then named U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year and was a finalist to the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
Morgan’s hat trick, the third of her career, highlighted the United States’ 5-0 victory over Trinidad and Tobago on Friday night in the semifinal round of the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament.
“This entire tournament we wanted to have a good first half”, she said.
The 32-year-old, who moved to second on the women’s all-time worldwide goalscoring list on Sunday (February 14), broke the deadlock after 17 minutes after controlling Josee Belanger’s cross and calmly firing beyond Dinnia Diaz.
Sinclair opened the scoring in the 18th minute and then added a stunning second in the 52nd minute, her 163rd goal in global competition.
And Brian had two assists – one on Carli Lloyd’s header that found its way through the legs of goalkeeper Kimika Forbes, and one on Morgan’s third goal.
The U.S. also got a strong performance from Crystal Dunn, who scored five goals against Puerto Rico in the last game but came off the bench against Trinidad and Tobago.
Make no mistake, these younger players are playing for spots on the Rio roster.
Costa Rica pulled one back from the penalty spot, before 16-year-old Deanne Rose put the game out of reach of the Costa Ricans with a late goal to put Canada, bronze medalist at the 2012 London Games, into the final.
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“We set out at the end of the World Cup that today is not going to be good enough win next summer. we better continue to evolve as the game is”. Coach Jill Ellis brought it up with her team during its first camp of 2016 in Southern California.
