51115_isi_johnstonjulie_uswntjt051015116 John Todd/isiphotos.com
Send-Off Series

Wambach Tallies Twice as U.S. Women Defeat Ireland

Jill Ellis' team got off to another slow start and were wasteful in front of goal but an Irish "B" team eventually succumbed to the United States women's national team's superior talent and athleticism.
BY John D. Halloran Posted
May 11, 2015
1:55 PM

IN THE FIRST OF THREE friendlies as part of its World Cup "Send-Off Series," the United States women’s national team defeated the Republic of Ireland 3-0 on Sunday afternoon in San Jose, California.

The U.S. capitalized on two strikes by Abby Wambach late in the first half before Julie Johnston put the game away with the U.S.’s third goal early in the second half. Here are three thoughts from the match.

U.S. Attack Wasn’t Sharp

On Sunday, the United States took nearly the entire first half before finally getting on the board against the 31st-ranked Irish, and then did so only with a bit of controversy.

In the 42nd minute, Irish midfielder Ruesha Littlejohn cleared a Megan Rapinoe corner kick straight into the face of teammate Meabh De Burca, stationed at the near post. The sickening thud made many observers think the ball had in fact hit the post, but many players (including the Irish goalkeeper and even some members of the U.S. squad) stopped playing when they realized what had happened.

However, Christen Press picked up the loose ball and slotted it across to Wambach, who put it into the unguarded goal.

The U.S. then doubled its lead only three minutes later when Carli Lloyd combined with Rapinoe on the flank before floating a pass into the area. Wambach, lurking on the back post, headed the cross home.

The final tally for the U.S. also came on a set piece, Julie Johnston touched home a Lauren Holiday corner kick in the 54th minute.

Despite the 3-0 scoreline, it wasn’t a particularly impressive offensive performance from the U.S., which was playing against an Irish side missing five regular starters. While the U.S. dominated the midfield and was never in any real danger of losing, the team was wasteful, only scoring three goals off 19 corner kicks and 26 shots.

Against Ireland, the Americans were missing Alex Morgan, who is still recovering from a knee contusion suffered in the opening match of the NWSL season. But Morgan hasn’t been in the greatest goal-scoring form of late herself. Now dealing with her third long injury layoff in the last year-and-a-half, Morgan has only tallied twice in her last seven starts.

Amy Rodriguez looked bright in her holdup play in the first 45 minutes against Ireland before being subbed off at the half, but also couldn’t convert any of her chances. Sydney Leroux, who played the second half on Sunday, has been in a goal-scoring funk since last summer.

Even Press, who has been on fire for the U.S. and her club team, the Chicago Red Stars, couldn’t convert. Press saw three excellent chances go wanting—two were expertly saved by Irish keeper Niamh Reid-Burke and another was headed off the line by Irish defender (and Florida State product) Megan Campbell when Press rounded the goalie on a chance early in the second half.

Yes, the U.S. has just started its World Cup training camp, but this is also a team which is coming off extended national team camps in December, February, and March, and all of the team’s players (except Wambach) are also coming off a month’s worth of games and training with their NWSL sides.

Most expected better from them.

 

Why Does it Matter?

The U.S. got a result, and a decisive one at that, so why does it matter how the team played?

It matters because these types of games—a slow start followed by plenty of wasted chances—have become all too common for the U.S. lately. It also matters because in the group stage this summer the U.S. will play the fifth-ranked Swedes, the No. 10 Australians, and a very talented, albeit young Nigerian squad.

The way the knockout stage is set up this summer, the U.S. can’t afford any hiccups in the group stage. A first place finish in the group stage likely means a cakewalk into the semifinals (likely against France or Germany). However, a second place finish by the U.S. in the group stage means it would likely face Japan in the Round of 16 before meeting Brazil in the quarterfinals and host nation Canada in the semifinals—certainly a much more difficult road to the championship.

Johnston Rising to the Challenge

While the team features many familiar faces, the emergence of Julie Johnston has been one of the more compelling stories on the U.S. women's national team. Johnston was a rarely used substitute before the Algarve Cup in March—and even missed the U.S.’s initial World Cup qualifying roster. Injuries to Whitney Engen and Christie Rampone, however, allowed Johnston to force her way into the starting lineup.

Johnston's goal on Sunday  marked the third straight game the defender has scored, justifying a report that she had “locked down” the starting job.

 While that’s all well and good—and deserved considering Johnston’s national team play—it’s a bit troubling that Johnston was only given the opportunity to prove her match worthiness because of injuries to other players. Ellis acknowledged as much when speaking to the media last month.

“Just in the course of the past six, seven months, we’ve had different players come in the lineup because we’ve had some injuries," Ellis said. "Injuries allowed me—well, kind of forced me—to give experience to players. But in the end I felt like it’s really given us a good feel for the players.”

Ellis has come under frequent criticism for her seeming unwillingness to expand the player pool in her tenure and Johnston’s recent surge is sure to make many fans wonder how many other potential stars might be missing out simply because they weren’t given a chance to shine.

John D. Halloran is an American Soccer Now columnist. Follow him on Twitter.

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