ASN: United States Opens 2015 World Cup With 3-1 Win

After yet one more sluggish begin, america ladies’s nationwide workforce finally hit its stride and defeated Australia, 3-1, to open its 2015 World Cup marketing campaign.

BY

John D. Halloran

Posted
June 08, 2015
10:45 PM

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IN ITS 2015 WORLD CUP OPENER, america ladies’s nationwide workforce picked up a 3-1 win over Australia in Winnipeg.

After a dicey begin with loads of back-and-forth motion within the opening 30minutes of play, the U.S. went into the locker room at halftime tied 1-1. Within the second half, the Individuals lastly established their dominance, pulling away and locking up all three factors.

Megan Rapinoe completed with a brace for the U.S. and was joined by Christen Press on the scoresheet. The Australians lone tally got here courtesy of Lisa De Vanna. Listed here are 4 ideas from the motion.

SOLO IS FOCUSED

However Solo proved to the Matildas, and the remainder of the planet, that she is able to play. The Richland, Washington, native made a number of saves, particularly early on, to maintain the U.S. within the match. 5 minutes in Solo was known as upon to avoid wasting an effort from Emily Van Egmond: The shot got here by means of Lauren Vacation’s legs from shut in, however Solo tracked the shot and pushed it into the crossbar and away from hazard. 

Hope Solo preserving the #USA alive with huge saves, like these 2 from the first half http://t.co/GtXHrt8ZwE http://t.co/syLh9bj6Eq

— Mike Dyce (@mikedyce) June 9, 2015

Eight minutes later Solo was known as upon once more after the U.S. lucked into an early objective and was defending a 1-0 lead. On the play, Aussie ahead Sam Kerr snuck in behind U.S. proper again Ali Krieger for an open volley. Solo was once more as much as the duty, getting her left hand all the way down to push away the shot. 

HOPE SOLO! ???? https://t.co/DJvSOtkqfl

— Cracks de Fútbol (@Cracks__Futbol) June 9, 2015

QUESTIONS ABOUT WAMBACH REMAIN

Many followers have been vital in regards to the the U.S. ladies’s nationwide workforce’s continued reliance on Abby Wambach. Whereas Wambach is the world’s all-time main scorer in worldwide play, her talents have light lately.

Nonetheless, head coach Jill Ellis has continued to make use of Wambach, typically as a starter, a lot to the chagrin of a giant contingent of American supporters. On Monday towards Australia, Wambach was once more within the beginning XI, and once more, placed on a subpar show.

One drawback attributable to Wambach’s inclusion within the lineup is the troubling tendency of the American squad to play wastefully direct. The opposite drawback, apparent on Monday, is that when the ball did discover Wambach within the air (each on set items), she headed each probabilities properly vast of the web. 

Good ball from Rapinoe. Wambach ought to’ve executed higher. #USA #WWC2015 https://t.co/nJhyYcuuEG

— Ben Jata (@Ben_Jata) June 9, 2015

Whereas Alex Morgan continues to be not totally recovered from a knee damage suffered again in April, and Amy Rodriguez has by no means totally grabbed the bull by the horns in her restricted begins, Wambach has not been convincing in latest months. Maybe it’s rust from sitting out the start of the NWSL season, maybe it’s merely all the way down to her growing age, or maybe she simply had a foul sport. However regardless of the trigger, it doesn’t appear to be her continued begins are merited at this level.

Ellis actually ought to discover a strategy to put Press in entrance of objective, even when it means benching Wambach. Far more dynamic. | USA 2-1 AUS | 65′

— Liviu Hen (@liviubird) June 9, 2015
PINOE WAS TERRIFIC

With all due respect to Solo’s wonderful effort in objective on Monday, Rapinoe was the U.S.’s lady of the match, contributing to all three American objectives. Though her opening tally within the twelfth minute did come off a depraved deflection, she used a terrific little bit of talent to spin out of site visitors after successful the preliminary ball on the play.

Rapinoe additionally proved instrumental in establishing the workforce’s second objective when she put Sydney Leroux in down the sideline within the 61st minute. Leroux then made a robust endline run earlier than centering to Press for the end.

And at last, Rapinoe scored the game-sealing objective within the 78th minute for the U.S. Selecting up a unfastened ball simply inside her personal half, she drove the size of the sector earlier than beating her mark simply contained in the field and slotting residence to the far submit.

Rapinoe together with her second objective of the match. 3-1 #USA #USWNT https://t.co/OOlBhY5dJk

— World Soccer Store (@worldsoccershop) June 9, 2015
THE REST

Press, beginning her first World Cup match, appeared a bit overwhelmed by the second. Early on she gave away possession too simply and struggled to make her mark on the match. Nevertheless, she did finally settle in and did properly when it mattered within the 61st minute. Working into the field, Press bought on the top of Leroux’s move and tucked her shot neatly into the facet netting of the far submit for the go-ahead objective.

As soon as forward once more, the Individuals by no means seemed again. 

GOAL!!! Press. 2-1 #USA. #WWC2015 https://t.co/hHCz64JHod

— Ben Jata (@Ben_Jata) June 9, 2015

Becky Sauerbrunn was the very best participant on the again line for the Individuals on Monday. She did properly to kill off repeated Matilda assaults with well-timed tackles and very good positioning. Her greatest second got here within the fiftieth minute. Sauerbrunn’s middle again companion, Julie Johnston, stepped into the midfield to make a play, however missed the ball. With Australian speedster Sam Kerr now barreling down on Solo and the U.S. objective, Sauerbrunn made a 40-yard restoration run to smother the play.  

Carli Lloyd, for her half, was comparatively quiet within the U.S. midfield, particularly on the offensive facet of issues. Lloyd did, nonetheless, make quite a few necessary challenges in the midst of the pitch and, normally, made life troublesome for the Matildas.

Lastly, proper again Ali Krieger had a poor sport. Whereas many U.S. followers have been significantly nervous in regards to the left facet of the protection, the Australians discovered methods to use Krieger on a number of events. She was crushed for tempo, crushed by overlaps, and crushed whereas ball watching—all leading to good alternatives for the U.S. opposition. Krieger is generally the U.S.’s most dependable exterior again, so it’s in all probability protected saying this sport was an anomaly.

With three-points from the win, and Sweden and Nigeria drawing within the different Group D matchup, the U.S. now sits in first place of their group. Their subsequent opponent is Sweden with the match happening on Friday.

Inspired by the outcome? Anxious about among the ongoing points? Share your take beneath.