Jill Ellis’ aspect rebounded from a flawed efficiency final week to defeat Japan 2-0 in Cleveland. Hope Solo registered her 99th profession shutout within the weather-shortened match.
BY
John D. Halloran
Posted
June 05, 2016
4:30 PM
SHARE THIS STORY
IN THE SECOND of a two-game sequence, the USA girls’s nationwide crew defeated Japan 2-0 in a weather-shortened contest on Sunday afternoon in Cleveland.
Julie Johnston and Alex Morgan tallied for the Individuals with Allie Lengthy and Crystal Dunn offering the assists. Hope Solo additionally earned her 99th profession shutout within the match. Inclement climate pressured the groups to desert the sport 14 minutes early.
Listed here are three ideas from the match.
YANKS CONTINUE HOT STREAK
Since successful the 2015 World Cup, the U.S. girls have compiled a outstanding report of 18-1-2. Much more spectacular, they’ve crushed six of the world’s prime 10 groups alongside the best way, together with victories over Germany, France, England, Brazil, Canada, and now Japan.
Contrasted with the build-up to the 2015 World Cup—by which the Yanks typically appeared torpid, one dimensional, and uninspiring—the Individuals have appeared vibrant, inventive, and dominating of their lead-up to the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Criticized for its long-ball mentality in late 2014 and early 2015, the 2016 model of the U.S. girls’s nationwide crew has created a few of the finest attacking moments in current historical past. Towards Japan, the mix resulting in Morgan’s objective and the American’s 15-pass mixture in Japan’s half within the 68th minute highlighted the U.S.’ new-found creativity.
CHRISTEN PRESS PERFORMANCE A MIXED BAG
Since final summer season’s World Cup, Christen Press has scored an array of technically spectacular objectives for each membership and nation. Nonetheless, she hasn’t had many alternatives for the U.S. in massive video games, typically scoring late in matches when the U.S. has already secured a end result.
On Sunday, Press obtained a uncommon begin towards a prime crew, however didn’t take full benefit of the chance. Whereas she did present the run and go that ought to have resulted in a Tobin Heath objective within the 54th minute—Heath bungled the gilt-edged alternative—Press additionally missed two nice possibilities of her personal within the first and 54th minutes of play.
With the U.S. enjoying a single-striker set because the World Cup and Morgan usually occupying that function, head coach Jill Ellis has most frequently used Press within the midfield—on Sunday she performed because the crew’s No. 10.
To win a job within the beginning XI earlier than Rio, Press might want to present she will be able to put possibilities away in tight matches towards prime opponents.
THE ROAD AHEAD
For now, the U.S. girls will head again to their Nationwide Girls’s Soccer League golf equipment forward of the following slate of worldwide matches in early July. With solely two months left earlier than the Olympics, Ellis shall be confronted with a lot of troublesome roster choices.
Netminders Alyssa Naeher and Ashlyn Harris—each having spectacular seasons with their respective golf equipment—are nonetheless in a battle for the second goalkeeper spot, however Ellis elected to present Solo the beginning in each video games towards Japan. Within the again, Whitney Engen and Emily Sonnett are preventing for the third spot at middle again—in all probability probably the most contested spot on the squad proper now. Based mostly on current appearances for the U.S. and membership type, Engen probably has a slight benefit.
At exterior again, Kelley O’Hara has clearly taken over Ali Krieger’s beginning place—Krieger has solely began as soon as within the final 9 video games for the U.S.—however each will make the squad. And within the midfield, Allie Lengthy earned two begins this camp and seems—for now—to have supplanted Sam Mewis because the backup possibility at middle mid.
The U.S. subsequent returns to motion towards South Africa in Chicago on July 9 (1pm ET, FoxSports1).
