ASN: USWNT fall to France 3-1 in its 2019 opener to finish 28 match unbeaten run

The USWNT misplaced its 2019 opener to France by a 3-1 scoreline however whereas it wasn’t the outcome the Individuals wished, ASN’s John Halloran says that it may turn into a blessing in disguise 

BY

John Halloran

Posted
January 19, 2019
10:00 AM

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THE UNITED STATES girls’s nationwide group misplaced 3-1 to France in Le Havre on Saturday night, ending the American’s 28-match unbeaten streak.

The U.S. began the sport with out 5 common starters. Megan Rapinoe, Julie Ertz, and Tobin Heath all missed the competition with minor accidents, Kelley O’Hara has not absolutely recovered from an ankle surgical procedure this fall, and Rose Lavelle didn’t make it off the bench.

France gained the higher hand early, profiting from a comedy of errors within the ninth minute to choose up a 1-0 lead. On the play, Mallory Pugh gave away possession, Delphine Cascarino beat Emily Fox on the wing, and Morgan Brian missed a late problem—after which fell down—earlier than Kadidiatou Diana put the possibility away.

Not the beginning the USWNT envisioned…

Diani begins France’s assault brilliantly and finishes it for the 1-0 lead simply 9 minutes in. pic.twitter.com/gDypSLq5o3

— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) January 19, 2019

Ten minutes into the second half, Diani struck once more when France shortly counterattacked off one other U.S. giveaway. On the play, Diani chipped goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher for the aim.

Within the 78th minute, France put the sport away, once more taking benefit after a misplaced possession. A fast go put Marie-Antoinette Katoto in behind the U.S. heart backs. Naeher got here off her line a bit slowly and the French attacker rounded the American netminder earlier than calmly slotting dwelling.

The U.S. bought one aim again late within the contest when a mixture between Jess McDonald and Carli Lloyd allowed Mallory Pugh to sneak in for an open shot. Pugh shortly pulled the set off on a left-footed effort which tucked properly into the aspect netting previous Sarah Bouhaddi.

General, it might’t be argued that the Individuals performed something however poorly. The French attackers beat left again Emily Fox at will. Abby Dahlkemper had a number of poor giveaways, and Morgan Brian—slotted in because the U.S.’ No. 6 for the injured Ertz—proved to be completely ineffective in controlling the center of the sector.

On the assault, Lindsey Horan and Christen Press offered a number of moments of strong play, however total, the group struggled to create something however a handful of half probabilities.

Some will use the loss to start the same old recriminations in opposition to head coach Jill Ellis and the drained narrative a few world that’s catching up with the Individuals. However the previous 18 months, through which the U.S. has crushed all-comers—together with Brazil twice, Japan twice, Canada twice, Germany, and England—has proved that perception improper.

The very fact of the matter is that the American gamers are simply coming off their low season, a interval through which they haven’t performed a aggressive match for membership or nation in two months whereas the French gamers are in the course of their European season.

And with so many starters out of the U.S. lineup, the play proved disjointed at greatest.

Nonetheless, the play of Becky Sauerbrunn and Dahlkemper within the again ought to have been higher, and one wonders why Ellis put Fox—nonetheless a university participant who’s inexperienced on the worldwide degree—able to fail. Brian and Pugh additionally proceed to earn probabilities, regardless of repeated poor performances.

Brian seems to be a shell of the participant that shone so brightly for the Individuals within the 2015 World Cup and with Ertz out and back-up McCall Zerboni additionally not absolutely recovered from her fall elbow harm, the U.S. midfield suffered. Why Sam Mewis has apparently fallen to date down Ellis’ depth chart stays an unanswered query.

The accidents to Rapinoe and Heath additionally revealed the shortage of American depth on the wings. Whereas Press performed properly, the U.S.’ 4-3-3 has succeeded as a result of it permits Heath and Rapinoe to remain excessive and vast—of their pure roles. With both out of the lineup, the U.S. assault sputters.

Deploying Dunn within the heart of the midfield additionally proved perplexing. The Individuals definitely may have used her tempo and expertise within the backline in opposition to the superb French assault and, once more, Mewis may have simply slotted into the midfield.

In the long run, nonetheless, a loss might be precisely what the U.S. wants at this stage of their World Cup preparation. With 9 video games left earlier than the event begins, the defeat may assist Ellis focus the squad over the following few months. In any case, when the Individuals took dwelling the world title in 2015, the 12 months started with a 2-0 loss to France in France.

John D. Halloran is an American Soccer Now columnist. Observe him on Twitter.