Photo by Jerry Lai/USA Today Sports
By DAN KARELL
The U.S. Women’s National Team didn’t want to leave anything to chance.
Needing a big win to boost their goal difference in case of a tie on points with China, the USWNT routed Argentina, 7-0, in their group finale, earning a place in the tournament final. Christen Press scored four goals in the drubbing, with the other three coming from Carli Lloyd.
In her first start and cap for the USWNT, Alyssa Naeher became the seventh USWNT goalkeeper to have a shutout in their international debut.
The U.S. were confirmed to move on to the final after Brazil demolished China, 4-1, later in the evening, setting up a rematch between the hosts Brazil and the USA. Brazil defeated the USWNT last Sunday, 3-2, on the back of a Marta hat-trick.
The USWNT didn’t take long to get out to an early lead. A Morgan Brian shot was parried right to Press, who side-footed home to make it 1-0.
Press added her second, with an assist to Abby Wambach, in the 23th minute, taking a shot that barely escaped the grasp of Argentina goalkeeper Elisabeth Minnin. Seven minutes later, Lloyd scored a header to make it 3-0 and then Press nabbed her hat-trick in the 41st minute with a flick off an Ali Krieger cross. Lloyd finished out the half with the fifth goal of the game in the 44th minute.
Lloyd scored her third of the game just two minutes into the second half when a Megan Rapinoe cross was redirected back into the mixer by substitute Heather O’Reilly, allowing for Lloyd to power home. Press added the team’s seventh in the 78th minute, tapping home from close range after Minnin saved a Rapinoe strike.
On a down note for the USWNT, substitute Sydney Leroux picked up a red card in second half stoppage time, ruling her out for the final on Sunday at 4 p.m.
———–
What do you think of this result? Impressed with the USWNT’s victory? Like their chances ahead of the rematch against Brazil?
Share your thoughts below.
The team left a lot to chance. They needed Brazil to beat China or they were out.
I know Carli was all biz yesterday and we needed 7 goals etc, but I was wondering if she could make some diagonal that pull defenders out of the box, so the other 2 MF could dribble into the center of the attacking 1/3 and distribute. just wondering if that sort of play could yield results…
Oh I forgot to ask , Is Harris injured?
I’m glad they won but it is Argentina not Germany, France etc.
1) Love Abbey but its time to be a sub. she is hurting the team now.
2) Stop playing people out of position !!!!
3) Ellis’s substitutions are mind boggling!
4) Kling is good but not as good as O’Hara against top 5 teams.
5) Rampone and Abby looked slow
6) Please go back to 4-4-2
stop talking sense.