U.S. Women's National Team
Americans Beat Mexico, Secure Passage to 2015 Cup
The United State's women's national team breezed past Mexico Friday night, 3-0, punching its ticket to the 2015 World Cup in Canada in the process. Carli Loyd scored twice and Christen Press added the third.
BY
John D. Halloran
Posted
October 25, 2014
8:51 AM
QUALIFICATION? CHECK. The United States women's national team secured its spot in the 2015 World Cup with a 3-0 win over Mexico on Friday night in Chester, Pennsylvania.
The victory came on the back of two first-half tallies from Carli Lloyd and a second-half strike from Christen Press. Here are three thoughts from the match.
October 25, 2014
8:51 AM
Was this Ellis' Best XI?
Since Jill Ellis took over the squad in April, the starting lineup for the U.S. has changed frequently. However, on Friday, with World Cup qualification on the line and with the team having had three full days of rest since its last group stage match, it could easily be assumed that Ellis would put her best XI on the field. That said, two key players, Abby Wambach and Becky Sauerbrunn, were on the bench. Up top, Megan Rapinoe and Sydney Leroux were preferred in the No. 10 and No. 9 positions, respectively. In the back, Whitney Engen and Christie Rampone were given the starts in central defense.There is a reason why Carli Lloyd pops her collar.
— Over There (@socceroverthere) October 24, 2014
The choice of Rapinoe and Leroux up top wasn't shocking, but the absence of Wambach in such an important game may have finally signaled the slow changing of the guard for the U.S. attack. Leroux, playing as the U.S.'s lone center forward, was active and created a number of opportunities for her teammates—including assisting on Press' goal in the second half. However, Leroux also struggled with her own finishing hitting both the crossbar and a post before being withdrawn in the 62nd minute.
When Wambach did come on for Leroux, the all-time international goal-scoring leader didn't fare much better as she failed to properly connect on two gorgeous passes across the face of goal and finished the night goalless.
In the back, it wasn't surprising that Rampone started, considering that she was sitting on 299 international caps, but it was a bit surprising that Engen was given the nod over Sauerbrunn—especially when you consider that Sauerbrunn has arguably been the best center back in the world over the past year.
I'm just sitting here considering how much pain I would be in after 300 caps and debating whether Christine Rampone is a robot. #USWNT
— Ryan Rosenblatt (@RyanRosenblatt) October 25, 2014
Holiday Ran the Show, But...
There's no question that Lauren Holiday, once again sitting in the No. 6 role for the U.S., is running the show as the U.S.'s deep-lying playmaker. Again on Friday, Holiday started the vast majority of the U.S.'s attacks either by switching the field, or by pushing into the attacking third and looking to play balls in behind Mexico's defense for the U.S.'s front three.All of Lauren Holiday's passes from the first half. #USAvMEX pic.twitter.com/2Mg2fz0m40
— Devin Pleuler (@devinpleuler) October 25, 2014
Against Mexico, Holiday once again delivered dozens of passes to the flanks that opened up the attack and allowed the U.S.'s wingers to have their way with the Mexican back line and deliver service after service into the area. However, Holiday also wasted possession far too often and, uncharacteristically, missed her target out wide on many occasions.