ASN: Press Shines and Williams Scores in U.S. Victory

Christen Press plagued the Germans and Lynn Williams scored a second-half aim to steer the U.S. ladies to a 1-0 win over Germany within the opening match of the 2017 SheBelieves Cup.

BY

John D. Halloran

Posted
March 02, 2017
9:20 AM

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THE UNITED STATES ladies’s nationwide group picked up a 1-0 win over Germany on Wednesday night time within the opening match of the 2017 SheBelieves Cup in Chester, Pa. Lynn Williams tallied the game-winning aim within the contest with goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher notching the shutout for the Individuals.

Listed below are some ideas on the competition.

The Three-Again Proved Its Mettle

Along with starting the method of reshaping the U.S. roster this fall, head coach Jill Ellis additionally made a reasonably radical change to the American’s formation, switching the group out of its conventional flat 4 protection and right into a three-back system.

And whereas the U.S. did notch 4 wins with the brand new look in October and November—two towards Switzerland and two towards Romania—many followers and pundits nonetheless puzzled how it will do towards a prime worldwide group.

On Wednesday, these doubters acquired their reply, with Becky Sauerbrunn and Casey Brief flanking Allie Lengthy within the again and the U.S. protection shutting out Germany—the defending Olympic champions.

Whereas one win definitely doesn’t present a definitive reply to questions concerning the American’s new protection, the standard of the U.S.’ defensive play on Wednesday night time ought to go a good distance in assuaging fears concerning the system. The Germans did not create any sustained stress on the American backline, generated few possibilities of any variety, and couldn’t discover a approach to break down the U.S. protection.

Moreover, Lengthy—a transformed midfielder who many had raised doubts about as a defender—had a powerful night time, protecting her backline organized and possessing effectively out of the again.

U.S. Offense Hit and Miss

With Germany urgent the U.S. excessive for many of the match, American middle midfielders Sam Mewis and Morgan Brian had treasured little time and area on the ball. Previously, when groups have pressured the U.S. on this method, the Individuals normally resort to easily lobbing the ball upfield towards their forwards and hoping to create probabilities by means of their athleticism.

To the U.S.’ credit score, nonetheless, it didn’t panic towards Germany’s excessive press on Wednesday and as a substitute calmly labored the ball backward and forward searching for passing lanes with Lengthy marshaling the possession sport from her middle again place.

The Individuals’ endurance finally paid off, with the Germans trying notably weary within the second half and the U.S. gaining agency management of the match.

The sport-winner for the U.S. got here through Lynn Williams, in solely her fifth cap. Within the 56th minute, Christen Press dispossessed a German defender and beat two extra on the dribble earlier than firing a shot off the crossbar. That hit resulted in free ball scramble within the field with Williams getting the final contact and slotting house for the decisive aim.

— U.S. Soccer WNT (@ussoccer_wnt) March 2, 2017

General, Williams didn’t have the perfect sport, regardless of the aim and an outstanding flip afterward within the match. Whether or not as a result of nerves of enjoying such an enormous opponent, or the truth that the Individuals hadn’t performed a aggressive sport in 4 months, Williams struggled together with her contact for a lot of the match and clearly didn’t look relaxed in possession.

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— Our Sport Journal (@OurGameMagazine) March 2, 2017

However, Press had a very sturdy sport regardless of not ending up on the ultimate scoresheet. Along with creating the U.S.’ lone aim, her stress excessive up the sphere troubled the German protection all night time and her work price remained spectacular the complete contest.

Over the previous two years, some have begun to query whether or not or not Press can get the job completed for the U.S. towards top-ranked groups. Her efficiency on Wednesday appeared to offer a particular sure.

The U.S. subsequent takes on England on Saturday in Harrison, New Jersey (5pm ET, Fox)