Despite a shaky start to the first half, the US Women’s
National Team now sits at the top of Group D with a 3-1 win over Australia in
Winnipeg, with a brace from Megan Rapinoe and another from Christen Press (her
first World Cup cap and first WC goal). Though, notably, none from captain Abby
Wambach despite several good chances…
After the first set of Group D matches in the 2015 FIFA
Women’s World Cup, the USWNT comes out on top of the group with three points
after fellow Group D opponents Nigeria and Sweden drew 3-3 hours earlier in
Winnipeg. The American Outlaws and other US fans were loud and proud throughout
the match, effectively giving the USWNT a home team advantage despite playing
over the northern border.
In the early part of the first half, the US was very much on
the back foot. Australia started the game out very dominant and aggressive,
seen in the 4th minute in a brilliant volley by Emily Van Egmond
which required a great save by Hope Solo (and the crossbar) to keep the game
scoreless. Megan Rapinoe’s brilliant movement outside the box, and a favorable
deflection off an Australian defender, opened the scoring in the 12th
minute. The Aussies immediately and rather relentlessly pushed back against the
US, nearly scoring in the minute afterwards thanks to a US defensive lapse.
Australia would equalize in the 27th minute via a Lisa De Vanna
goal, assisted by Michelle Heyman, in which De Vanna was given too much space
and easily slotted the ball past Solo. Australia could have easily had several
more goals in the first half if not for the skillful goalkeeping we’ve come to
expect from Hope Solo.
While the US finished the first half level, it was not their
best performance. The US in the first half seemed to be a one-trick pony: long
balls intended for Wambach and Leroux. Nearly every free kick opportunity (or
even whenever Solo gathered the ball) it always resulted in a long ball forward
up the field. Despite this tactic, Abby Wambach managed only two chances in the
first half, including a point-blank header off a free kick which went off
target.
Wambach announced that she would be sitting out the entirety
of the 2015 NWSL season to focus on the World Cup. This will improve her
fitness and will take away the prospect of injury, but the match commentators
pointed out that she looked a little rusty. And I have to agree, the chances
that she had in the first half were goals she would have put away if she was at
peak form. I do have a lot of confidence in her though, and I am sure she’ll
find her form as this tournament progresses, and maybe even win the trophy that
has eluded her all these years.
The second half saw an improved US team pull the game away.
Christen Press netted what would be the game-winner in the 61st
minute off of a lovely cross by Sydney Leroux. Rapinoe would add her second in
79th minute, and Alex Morgan was brought on immediately after
despite some injury worries. The only two bookings of the match occurred in the
second half with Lauren Holiday and Megan Rapinoe receiving yellow cards (the
latter of which was a definite mistake by the referee). With yellow cards
carrying over between matches and two yellows equaling a one-game suspension,
it would definitely sting to have someone as vital as Rapinoe to be suspended
for card which was a result of a shoddy call.
While Rapinoe was my MVP for this game, Leroux is a close
runner-up, as her energy and vision was integral to the USWNT’s victory. Fair
play too to the USA’s Aussie (…Aussie, Aussie—Oi, Oi, Oi) opponents, because
their first half aggressiveness definitely gave the USA a scare or two.
The USA plays Pia Sundhage’s Sweden on Friday, June 12, which will present another significant challenge for the
Americans to overcome.
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