The United State’s ladies’s nationwide workforce breezed previous Mexico Friday night time, 3-0, punching its ticket to the 2015 World Cup in Canada within the course of. Carli Loyd scored twice and Christen Press added the third.
BY
John D. Halloran
Posted
October 25, 2014
8:51 AM
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QUALIFICATION? CHECK. America ladies’s nationwide workforce secured its spot within the 2015 World Cup with a 3-0 win over Mexico on Friday night time in Chester, Pennsylvania.
The victory got here on the again of two first-half tallies from Carli Lloyd and a second-half strike from Christen Press. Listed below are three ideas from the match.
Was this Ellis’ Finest XI?
Since Jill Ellis took over the squad in April, the beginning lineup for the U.S. has modified often. Nevertheless, on Friday, with World Cup qualification on the road and with the workforce having had three full days of relaxation since its final group stage match, it may simply be assumed that Ellis would put her finest XI on the sector.
That stated, two key gamers, Abby Wambach and Becky Sauerbrunn, had been on the bench. Up high, Megan Rapinoe and Sydney Leroux had been most popular within the No. 10 and No. 9 positions, respectively. Within the again, Whitney Engen and Christie Rampone got the begins in central protection.
There’s a purpose why Carli Lloyd pops her collar.
— Over There (@socceroverthere) October 24, 2014
The selection of Rapinoe and Leroux up high wasn’t surprising, however the absence of Wambach in such an vital sport could have lastly signaled the sluggish altering of the guard for the U.S. assault. Leroux, enjoying because the U.S.’s lone heart ahead, was energetic and created a lot of alternatives for her teammates—together with helping on Press’ objective within the second half. Nevertheless, Leroux additionally struggled together with her personal ending hitting each the crossbar and a publish earlier than being withdrawn within the 62nd minute.
When Wambach did come on for Leroux, the all-time worldwide goal-scoring chief did not fare significantly better as she did not correctly join on two beautiful passes throughout the face of objective and completed the night time goalless.
Within the again, it wasn’t stunning that Rampone began, contemplating that she was sitting on 299 worldwide caps, but it surely was a bit stunning that Engen was given the nod over Sauerbrunn—particularly when you think about that Sauerbrunn has arguably been one of the best heart again on the planet over the previous yr.
I am simply sitting right here contemplating how a lot ache I might be in after 300 caps and debating whether or not Christine Rampone is a robotic. #USWNT
— Ryan Rosenblatt (@RyanRosenblatt) October 25, 2014
Vacation Ran the Present, However…
There is no query that Lauren Vacation, as soon as once more sitting within the No. 6 function for the U.S., is operating the present because the U.S.’s deep-lying playmaker. Once more on Friday, Vacation began the overwhelming majority of the U.S.’s assaults both by switching the sector, or by pushing into the attacking third and trying to play balls in behind Mexico’s protection for the U.S.’s entrance three.
All of Lauren Vacation’s passes from the primary half. #USAvMEX pic.twitter.com/2Mg2fz0m40
— Devin Pleuler (@devinpleuler) October 25, 2014
In opposition to Mexico, Vacation as soon as once more delivered dozens of passes to the flanks that opened up the assault and allowed the U.S.’s wingers to have their means with the Mexican again line and ship service after service into the realm. Nevertheless, Vacation additionally wasted possession far too usually and, uncharacteristically, missed her goal out huge on many events.
The place Does This Go away the U.S.?
Though the victory over Mexico helped the U.S. avenge its 2010 World Cup qualifying loss to Mexico, it nonetheless got here by a smaller margin than many anticipated. In actual fact, simply final month the U.S. defeated Mexico 8-0 and 4-0 in back-to-back friendlies.
Till the U.S. performs a better stage of competitors and, particularly one that does not try to bunker for 90 minutes, the workforce will not actually know how one can gauge its stage, and vital questions will stay. Can Rapinoe be the No. 10 the U.S. wants? Will Meghan Klingenberg outperform Kelley O’Hara towards world class competitors? Is the 4-3-3 formation the reply?
It additionally stays to be seen whether or not the U.S. can dominate possession the best way the Ellis envisions towards groups like Japan, France, Sweden, and Germany.
On the brilliant aspect, U.S. followers could be pleased with the performances of Klingenberg, Press, and Tobin Heath to date within the event. Regardless of the decrease stage of competitors, Klingenberg has regarded glorious, Press has put collectively a number of dominating performances, and Heath, after a protracted spell of unspectacular type, has lastly confirmed these moments of aptitude that made her such a key a part of the U.S. squad in 2011 and 2012.
For now, the U.S. can merely get pleasure from the truth that it has certified for the 2015 World Cup and can play Costa Rica within the CONCACAF last on Sunday.
John D. Halloran is an American Soccer Now columnist. Observe him on Twitter.
