The USWNT continued to look sharp underneath new supervisor Vlatko Andonovski with a convincing 6-0 win over Costa Rica in Florida to conclude it is histoic yr. ASN’s John Halloran chimes in together with his ideas on the sport
BY
John Halloran
Posted
November 10, 2019
5:00 PM
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IN ITS final match of 2019, the US girls’s nationwide crew defeated Costa Rica 6-0 in entrance of 12,914 followers in Jacksonville, Florida. The win prolonged the American unbeaten streak to 23 video games and got here on the again of targets from Carli Lloyd, Morgan Brian, Christen Press, and Lynn Williams.
Listed here are three ideas on the match.
ANDONOVSKI’S STAMP
Vlatko Andonovski picked up his second win as the top coach of the U.S. on Sunday and continued to place his stamp on the squad. As on Thursday evening towards Sweden, the Individuals usually dropped right into a 4-1-4-1 when not in possession and made it very troublesome for the Thirty eighth-ranked Costa Ricans to discover a method by way of the U.S.’ strains.
The one distinction on Sunday, nevertheless, was that Andonovski appeared to have the U.S. urgent increased than they did towards Sweden and making an attempt to drive Costa Rica into errors after they tried to construct out of the again.
The coach additionally gave out two debuts on Sunday, capping twin worldwide Alana Cook dinner—who just lately obtained a call-up for England—and Midge Purce. The duo performed on the precise facet of the American protection towards Costa Rica, every taking part in 90 minutes, and serving to lead the U.S. to a shutout.
OFFENSE CONTINUES TO HUM
Simply as they did towards Sweden on Thursday, the U.S. obtained off to a fast begin towards Costa Rica. In simply the fourth minute of play, Rose Lavelle picked up a free ball inside her personal half, beat a defender to the within, after which set Lloyd in behind with an exquisite by way of ball. Lloyd fired house to offer the Individuals the early lead.
Lavelle > Lloyd > Objective. #USWNT up, 1–0. #USAvCRC pic.twitter.com/ZfM4QTfZns
— Our Sport Journal (@OurGameMagazine) November 11, 2019
Then, solely six minutes later, Lavelle was at it once more, this time choosing up a ball exterior the 18, beating a defender, and laying Brian in for the prospect and one other purpose.
On the evening, Lavelle was once more chic, repeatedly breaking strains and setting the American assault. Press then put the sport away early within the second half earlier than Williams added two extra and Costa Rica notched an personal purpose to spherical out the ultimate scoreline.
Lavelle ?? Brian for purpose quantity 2?!#WoSo #USA #USWNT pic.twitter.com/WI1KzXm5gD
— Backline Soccer (@BacklineSoccer) November 11, 2019
23 GAMES UNBEATEN
In January, the US traveled to France, fielded an understrength lineup, and misplaced 3-1 to the French. Many determined proper then and there that every one hope was misplaced, the world had caught up, and there was no probability the Individuals would have the ability to repeat as world champions.
Since then the U.S. is 20-0-3.
The very fact of the matter is that there’s not a crew on this planet that may constantly compete with the U.S. and the Individuals head into 2020 because the odds-on favourite to maintain their place atop the world of girls’s soccer.
The most important impediment subsequent yr will probably be a easy, but unavoidable one—fatigue. Each participant on the U.S. roster will inform you that they’re drained and that spending almost two months overseas earlier than and in the course of the World Cup, adopted by the completion of their NWSL seasons, after which becoming within the Victory Tour this fall proved a killer mixture.
A lot of the regulars will get the following six weeks off (though the crew will maintain an ID camp in December) after which reconvene in January to arrange for Olympic qualifying. Maybe that, and the vitality of a brand new coach, will probably be sufficient to assist lead the crew to glory in Tokyo. However the 2016 Olympics proved that the World Cup-Olympic double stays a brutal slog for even essentially the most proficient of groups.
John D. Halloran is an American Soccer Now columnist. Comply with him on Twitter.