ASN: USWNT takes first step in the direction of Tokyo with 4-0 win over Haiti

The USWNT opened its Olympic qualifying marketing campaign with a snug 4-0 win over Haiti in Houston. ASN’s John Halloran breaks down the sport and appears on the first steps of a journey the staff hopes ends in Tokyo. 

BY

John Halloran

Posted
January 29, 2020
9:25 AM

SHARE THIS STORY

THE UNITED STATES ladies’s nationwide staff opened up Olympic qualifying on Tuesday evening, beating Haiti 4-0 in Houston.

The People bought off to a fast begin within the contest, scoring solely 78 seconds into the match when Lynn Williams received the endline and served the ball throughout the face of objective for Christen Press to place away.

Surprisingly, Williams even misplaced her shoe earlier than the play started and nonetheless managed to not solely beat her defender on a dash, however earn the help.

Shoe on, shoe off, nbd. Lynn Williams delivers the help. pic.twitter.com/ToKxLYHKNf

— Our Recreation Journal (@OurGameMagazine) January 29, 2020

From there, nonetheless, the U.S. struggled. Each participant on the staff spend the remainder of the half lacking easy passes, taking dangerous touches, shedding possession on the dribble, and struggling to place collectively any form of worthwhile mixture play. Haiti, for his or her half, even generated a handful of respectable scoring alternatives.

A deflected header within the fifteenth minute went free within the U.S. penalty space and despatched the American protection and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher scrambling after which, solely two minutes later, a Haitian shot from distance compelled Naeher to push away a shot heading in the direction of the highest nook of her internet.

On the following nook kick, Haiti scored, however an incorrect offside name from the assistant referee saved the U.S. forward 1-0.

There are a good variety of explanations for what went improper for the defending world champions on the evening. For one, the staff is coming off a two-and-a-half month break and definitely has a legitimate excuse for being rusty. It seems to be like a variety of the gamers really took that as a full-on break—a foul factor for wanting sharp in qualifying, however a superb factor for a staff that wanted to get some relaxation after a grueling summer time and fall and keep contemporary for this summer time’s Olympic push.

It’s additionally vital to acknowledge simply how good Haiti was, successful quite a few 1 v. 1 battles on Tuesday and placing collectively a number of counterattacks that had managed to interrupt the U.S. down.

The People in all probability additionally took their opponent a bit frivolously, anticipating a giant and simple win, and weren’t utterly mentally ready for a way scrappy Haiti would show on the evening.

Six years in the past, the U.S. appeared poor early on in World Cup qualifying, solely besting Trinidad and Tobago 1-0 of their opening match after which managing solely a 1-0 lead over Guatemala by halftime of their second recreation. Clearly, issues again on monitor from there, however it’s additionally vital to acknowledge that qualification isn’t preordained.

In 2011 World Cup qualifying, the U.S. misplaced within the semifinals to Mexico and needed to go to a home-and-home playoff with Italy to earn their spot. With solely two CONCACAF spots open for the Olympics, an analogous stumble in subsequent Friday’s semifinal would imply the American staff doesn’t go to Tokyo this summer time.

As the sport wore on, and Haiti’s health wavered, the U.S. was lastly capable of draw back. Within the 67th minute, Williams—the People’ finest participant on the evening—tallied with a header off a Megan Rapinoe nook kick.

Then Sam Mewis and Rose Lavelle had photographs saved earlier than Lindsey Horan added the third objective on a header from 10 yards out. Carli Lloyd then wrapped up the scoring within the fourth minute of second half stoppage time to provide the ultimate scoreline.

The U.S. subsequent performs on Friday towards Panama (8:30 ET, Fox Soccer Plus).

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