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U.S. women’s soccer clinches Olympic berth with 5-0 victory U.S. women’s soccer clinches Olympic berth with 5-0 victory
(about 1 hour later)
HOUSTON — Jill Ellis’s wealth of riches is such that she can insert a high school senior from Colorado into the best women’s soccer team in the world for a critical match, remove a player who scored five goals in the previous game, and not lose a speck of value.HOUSTON — Jill Ellis’s wealth of riches is such that she can insert a high school senior from Colorado into the best women’s soccer team in the world for a critical match, remove a player who scored five goals in the previous game, and not lose a speck of value.
With an Olympic berth at stake, the characters did not matter Friday as the U.S. national squad rolled past Trinidad and Tobago, 5-0, in a CONCACAF qualifying tournament semifinal at BBVA Compass Stadium. With an Olympic berth at stake Friday, the characters did not matter as the U.S. national squad rolled past Trinidad and Tobago, 5-0, in a CONCACAF qualifying tournament semifinal at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Four days after rising star Crystal Dunn equaled the program scoring record, a 17-year-old attacker named Mallory Pugh stepped in to make piercing runs on the left flank and assisted on Tobin Heath’s early goal. Four days after rising star Crystal Dunn equaled the program scoring record, 17-year-old attacker Mallory Pugh stepped in to make piercing runs on the left flank and assist on Tobin Heath’s early goal.
[Washington Spirit, NWSL announce 2016 schedules] [Crystal Dunn bursts into spotling for U.S. team in transition]
Alex Morgan recorded her third career hat trick as the World Cup champions remained unbeaten in Olympic qualifying history (17-0-1 with a 96-4 scoring margin). “I knew she was ready,” said Ellis, who supervised the World Cup title campaign last year with a largely established group. “Part of it is, in a tournament like this, being able to utilize the depth.
Earlier, Canada secured a third consecutive Olympic berth with a 3-1 victory over Costa Rica. Christine Sinclair, second behind the retired Abby Wambach on the international scoring list, posted two goals for the 2012 bronze medalists, who on Sunday will face the Americans for regional bragging rights. “It was really about what we wanted in this particular game. I told Crystal before the game, ‘You’ll come in and be a game-changer.’ That is where this team is: They recognize the value of everybody.”
The Americans and Canadians will learn their Olympic group opponents and venues this spring. Six Brazilian cities, including Rio de Janeiro, will host matches. Ellis saw the value of veteran forward Alex Morgan, who recorded her third career hat trick. Barely challenged over the two-week competition, the Americans remained unbeaten in Olympic qualifying history (17-0-1 with a 96-4 scoring margin).
Canada secured a third consecutive Olympic berth with a 3-1 victory over Costa Rica. Christine Sinclair, second behind the retired Abby Wambach on the international scoring list, posted two goals for the 2012 bronze medalists, who on Sunday will face the Americans for regional bragging rights.
The Americans and Canadians will learn their Olympic group opponents and venues in April. Six Brazilian cities, including Rio de Janeiro, will host matches. The United States has won the past three gold medals.
In setting her lineup, Ellis sprung a major surprise and a minor one. While one veteran defender (Kelley O’Hara) replaced another (Ali Krieger), Pugh bumped Dunn, the 2015 NWSL scoring champion and MVP from the Washington Spirit.In setting her lineup, Ellis sprung a major surprise and a minor one. While one veteran defender (Kelley O’Hara) replaced another (Ali Krieger), Pugh bumped Dunn, the 2015 NWSL scoring champion and MVP from the Washington Spirit.
A U.S. Soccer Federation spokesman said neither Krieger nor Dunn was injured. Krieger and Dunn were not injured; Ellis felt the occasion required something different.
Pugh, who will attend UCLA, made her senior national team debut last month, scoring against Ireland, and started for the first time Monday in a 10-0 rout against Puerto Rico. The UCLA-bound Pugh made her senior national team debut last month, scoring against Ireland, and started for the first time Monday in a 10-0 rout against Puerto Rico.
The U.S. changes were not germane to Trinidad and Tobago, which, regardless of opposing personnel, was in for a difficult evening. The Soca Warriors had lost all nine previous meetings, including 6-0 during the World Cup victory tour. “I was really excited and a little nervous because of how big the game was,” Pugh said of the semifinal. “Making the most of it when it comes is really cool.”
Still, on the eve of the match, T&T was not willing to submit to overwhelming odds. While acknowledging the massive assignment, Coach Richard Hood said, “We are not going to lie down and allow them to walk over us.” Pugh played 59 minutes. Dunn, 23, entered in the 66th minute.
Captain Maylee Attin-Johnson said that, with the team’s improvement in the region, “We are no longer here to participate; we are here to compete.” As a former director of youth development, Ellis said she took pride in seeing young players rise through the ranks. She had selected Pugh to her first under-14 national camp.
In a do-or-die match, the Americans were not taking anything for granted. “To me,” midfielder Carli Lloyd said, “it’s a World Cup final.” “It’s a huge thrill,” Ellis said. “Having come from that role gives me a unique perspective. It’s great to see that these players are coming through.”
The Americans emphasized the importance of setting the tone, scoring early and extinguishing T&T’s spirit. The U.S. lineup changes were not germane to Trinidad and Tobago, which, regardless of opposing personnel, was in for a difficult night. Underfunded and overmatched, the Soca Warriors had no chance.
They did exactly did – the scoring part, at least. In the 12th minute, Pugh raided the left wing and delivered a low cross through the heart of the penalty area. She was not necessarily picking out Heath, just sending in a dangerous ball. Cutting in from the back side, Heath one-timed a 12-yarder into the near corner for her first goal since the World Cup final against Japan last summer. They have lost all 10 meetings against the United States, the past two by a combined 11-0.
The opportunities flowed in abundance, but the next goal did not come until the 30th minute. O’Hara swung a high ball to Lindsey Horan, who headed it into the six-yard box for Morgan’s side volley. Still, the Americans emphasized the importance of setting the tone, scoring early and extinguishing T&T’s spirit.
The lead reached three just before halftime when Lloyd headed Morgan Brian’s corner kick on target. To that point, goalkeeper Kimika Forbes had done well against unrelenting pressure, but on this routine play, she allowed the ball to slip between her arms and then between her legs. In the 12th minute, Pugh raided the left wing and delivered a low cross through the heart of the penalty area. She was not necessarily picking out Heath, just sending in a dangerous ball. Cutting in from the back side, Heath one-timed a 12-yarder into the near corner for her first goal since the World Cup final against Japan last summer.
The opportunities flowed, but the next goal did not come until the 30th minute.
O’Hara swung the ball to Lindsey Horan, who headed it into the six-yard box for Morgan’s side volley.
“We wreaked some havoc for them the first half, having those waves of runs,” Morgan said.
The lead reached three just before halftime when Carli Lloyd headed Morgan Brian’s corner kick on target. To that point, goalkeeper Kimika Forbes had done well against unrelenting pressure, but on this routine play, she allowed the ball to slip between her arms and then between her legs.
[Washington Spirit, NWSL announce 2016 schedules]
Lloyd has scored 23 goals in 18 games since the World Cup knockout stage began last summer.Lloyd has scored 23 goals in 18 games since the World Cup knockout stage began last summer.
Pugh left in the 59th minute and Dunn replaced Lloyd in the 66th. Morgan scored on volleys from close range in the 71st and 73rd minutes. The Americans enjoyed a 27-1 advantage in shots, 10-0 in corner kicks.
Morgan scored on volleys from close range in the 71st and 73rd minutes. In the opener, Canada went ahead on Sinclair’s goal in the 17th minute. She chested down Josee Belanger’s cross and laced an eight-yard volley.
In the opener, Canada went ahead on Sinclair’s goal in the 17th minute. Right back Josee Belanger’s cross floated over two runners and dropped on the back side to the unmarked Sinclair, who chested the ball down and laced an eight-yard volley. Sinclair scored in the 52nd minute on a breathtaking strike. As a meek clearance drifted toward her in the penalty area, Sinclair turned away from the target in order to shield the ball from an oncoming defender.
The fact that Costa Rica had lost track of one of the game’s most prolific strikers was staggering. Last weekend, Sinclair passed Mia Hamm for second on the world list.
Costa Rica, a first-time World Cup participant last summer and runner-up to the United States in group play in this tournament, was reduced to absorbing constant pressure and launching desperate counterattacks.
Sinclair doubled the lead in the 52nd minute with a breathtaking strike. As a meek clearance drifted toward her in the penalty area, Sinclair turned away from the target in order to shield the ball from an oncoming defender.
After one bounce, she flicked the ball to herself with her right foot, spun and smashed a left-footed volley from 14 yards off the underside of the crossbar for her 161st international goal, 23 behind Wambach.After one bounce, she flicked the ball to herself with her right foot, spun and smashed a left-footed volley from 14 yards off the underside of the crossbar for her 161st international goal, 23 behind Wambach.
Costa Rica halved the deficit in the 72nd minute on a penalty kick by Raquel Rodriguez, the 2015 Hermann Trophy recipient from Penn State. But with the Ticas pressed forward in pursuit of the equalizer, Deanne Rose knocked in Nichelle Prince’s cross in the 85th minute. Costa Rica halved the deficit in the 72nd minute on Raquel Rodriguez’s penalty kick.
Two Washington Spirit players started for Canada (midfielder Diana Matheson and defender Shelina Zadorsky) and another was on the bench (goalkeeper Stephanie Labbe). But with the Ticas pressed forward in pursuit of the equalizer, Deanne Rose capped a counterattack by knocking in Nichelle Prince’s cross in the 85th minute.