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USWNT trounces Mexico again in final Olympic tuneup

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For the second time in five days, the U.S. women’s national team defeated Mexico by a 4-0 margin on Sunday.

The Americans were dominant in closing out the Olympic Send-Off Series at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut. Though the scoreline was the same as Thursday’s contest, the second half of the game saw the team slow things down and preserve its efforts.

Prior to moving to a five-woman backline to close things out, the USWNT earned its safety with a four-goal outburst in the first half.

Lindsey Horan, Carli Lloyd, and Tobin Heath scored for the Americans, in addition to an own goal from Mexican defender Reyna Reyes.

Horan’s strike came via a perfectly-placed assist from Lloyd, good for Horan’s 22nd international goal.

Horan repaid the favor moments later, and set Lloyd up for her 126th career goal.

Heath’s goal was her second in as many appearances in 2021, and it appears that she is in full stride after a lengthy time away with injuries.

 

It is worth noting the lead could have been more lopsided had VAR been available.

Christen Press was ruled offside before hitting the net in the 10th minute, and none of the replays showed support of the call being accurate. In the 20th, there was a clear foul on Heath in the box that the referee was not interested in investigating.

Press was also unlucky to not get any credit in Mexico’s own goal. She was there to clean up a ricochet from a Heath shot which smacked the post, but she was not the last one to touch it before it crossed the line.

Coach Vlatko Andonovski rotated throughout the game, and used all six field players on his bench. It was a good opportunity for Catarina Macario, who will likely be one of the beneficiaries of the reported change set to be implemented by the International Olympic Committee, which would expand Olympic rosters from 18 to 22.

Kristie Mewis replaced Rose Lavelle at halftime. Lavelle was on limited minutes after missing the last two games with an injury, and appeared to be up to speed in her 45-minute shift.

The USWNT travels to Tokyo looking for its next triumph in Olympic group stage competitions. The Americans take on Sweden on July 21, New Zealand on July 24, and Australia on July 27.

Comments

  1. great to read so many comments in a USWNT section! and well written imo, the comments and article. this is a good USWNT team. add some power game on our set pieces and in the final 3rd to what’s already going on in the attack, which is awesome. the rule change helps a team like the USWNT becasue of its quality depth in this condensed tournament. Heath Press and LLoyd/Morgan looking good, and the midfield has lots of options; Ertz’s health still a concern, but mostly re. who is behind Lindsey if Ertz can’t go and then Lindsey picks up a knock as she has been playing a super 6.

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  2. IMHO, The first half in last night game, was the 2nd best half of Soccer ever for the USWNT. The only one any better was the first half again Japan in the 2015 W/C. While the U. S. Team seemed to just be treading water in the 2nd half, I was somewhat alarmed with Megan Rapinoe’s Ball Striking on set plays. The last time I can remember it being that off was during the 2016 Olympics. And that was because she was coming off an awful ACL tear. If she can’t improve be the time of the Sweden Match, they should attempt to break someone else in on those free kicks. As of now, I would put Christen Press in as the starter at left wing.

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  3. What should have been the 3rd goal, but was incorrectly ruled an offsides, was truly a thing of beauty. They went about 70 yards with, I think, 4 precise passes that just sliced apart the Mexican defense. It was as fine a team goal as you will ever see. The Mexicans have improved greatly over the last 4 years or so, but the US has improved enough that they handled them about as well as they did against the much weaker Mexican sides. They are really playing well together.

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    • Christen Press has been unlucky on getting good goals disallowed for quite awhile. On the goal which was called an “own-goal” her shot was initially blocked by the GK, but ricoched and hit a defender’s hand and bounced back into the goal. I have always had a problem with the definition of an “own-goal” in soccer. I only consider an “own-goal” as one where the defender purposely plays the ball and miss-hits it into the goal. If the offensive player plays the ball, and provides the forward motion energy, and the ball ricochets off of whomever into the goal, the goal should be credited to that offensive player, just as it does in Hockey, or if the ball ricochets off of one of his/her team members, then credit it to the same team member that if last touched.

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    • Gary, I was pretty much going to point out what you did! The ball movement flipping the field was precise. The only way to stop passing like that is to foul.

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  4. Great summary
    I wonder if Vlatko would have taken some other players if he knew the 4 would NOT be alternates?
    Hello? Midge?

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    • I am seeing things the same way you are Sushant. With Tobin Heath coming off a BAD Injury, you need a back-up for that critical position. Midge impressed me as the player best qualified. The fact that she didn’t get that much playing time at the position probably was the reason she didn’t get picked up. But I see her for sure in the 2023 W/C if she continues to play the way she has.

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      • I think Williams is more of a valuable piece for a backup role. She offers pace to stretch the field and you can play direct to her if pressed.

  5. Given the compressed game schedule in Tokyo, depth is key to winning it all. This US team appears to have depth at every position. The only concern is team MVP Ertz, but Horan continues to fill in adequately while she recovers.

    Last hurrah for this WWC winning group, as the average age is north of 30. Had to notice Mexico lost both games convincingly, but are a very young team and are noticeably improving. They’ll be a force for 2023 if they stay on track.

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    • Interesting because Horan is so much better on the ball and with possession. Mewis is usury Horan’s competition but both on the field is a force. Ertz is so competitive and just wills herself through big games. Tough choices for final 11 decisions

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      • MID-FIELD SOLUTION Its been obvious for quite awhile that the USWNT has 4 World Class Midfielders. However its Standard 3-3-4 formation only allows for 3. BUT, there is another formation which could accommodate all 4. That is the one used by the Bayern Munich Men’s Team. It is a 1-3-3-3 which is used
        for Max Scoring with Robert Lewandowski as the single front Striker. But for the USWNT, I would have Alex Morgan as the front striker with Press-Horan-Heath at the 2nd Line and Ertz-Mewis-Lavelle at midfield and Sauerbraun-Dunn-Dahlkemper on the back. Lindsay Horan in physical enough and talented enough to be able to hold her own backing up Alex Morgan in the middle. If the US falls behind, this could be an ideal catching up line-up.

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