Though the U.S. Women’s National team held Brazil to a 0-0 draw at the end of regulation, they didn’t go to extra time or penalty kicks. Instead, Brazil was the tournament winner as the team had 10 points during the tournament, while the US finished with five (level with China).
The tournament certainly wasn’t a success for the Americans as the only game they managed to win was a 7-0 blowout against Argentina, a side that only scored once and conceded 15 goals through four games.
The US opened the tournament with a 1-1 draw against China. A seemingly fair result given the well organized and disciplined midfield put out by China. A few days later the US fell to Brazil 3-2 after taking a 2-0 lead in the first ten minutes of the match. A subpar performance stemming primarily from midfield breakdowns paired with an unbelievable game from Brazilian WNT star, Marta was enough to defeat the US.
The US built up some confidence through their 7-0 drubbing of Argentina and benefited from a stellar performances from Brazil to easily win over China. Those results set up an incredibly narrative rich final match between Brazil and the United States for the Championship.
From a Brazilian perspective, this tournament had the opportunity to make a statement. First, it was a statement that stands in contrast to other recent poor performances against the likes of New Zealand and France earlier this year. Second, it is a statement about the potential of the team and the importance of investment from the federation heading into the upcoming cycle which includes the World Cup in Canada and the Olympics in Brazil.
The US was presented with a similar opportunity to make a statement, especially after the team lost their spot as the #1 ranked team in the world according to FIFA (that place was claimed by Germany). The championship was also an opportunity to end the year on a high note after twelve months of tumult, which included the firing of Tom Sermanni and the hiring of Jillian Ellis.
With all that on the line, the match was certain to be electric. While it was electric, that intensity didn’t translate to goals.
In the first half, the US uncharacteristically sat back and was content to absorb pressure from Brazil while attempting to catch them on the counter. This tactical strategy was not as surprising when looking back on their previous meeting when Brazil glided through the midfield with ease. However, even as the US managed to defend fairly well, there seemed to be no serious threat of a counterattack. As a consequence, Brazil dominated the first half easily with the US doing their best to contain.
There were no subs at the half and the first 15 minutes of the second half were remarkably similar to the first. However, as new personnel entered the match and the desperation from both sides to score increased, the match because a far more open and end-to-end affair.
The US eventually used all four subs. Ali Krieger was the first to enter. She replaced Lori Chalupny in the 56th minute. Next, Amy Rodriguez replaced Abby Wambach and Megan Rapinoe replaced Kelley O’Hara in the 74th minute. And, finally Heather O’Reilly replaced Tobin Heath in the 81st minute.
Though the substitutions appeared to have a positive impact on the match, it appeared they they were too little too late. The US had a number of chances late in the match. The closest and most heartbreaking came in the 86th minute as Becky Sauerbrunn placed an excellent header on frame and just a few seconds later Carli Lloyd knocked the ball into goal as it bounced near the six yard box. The celebrations were short lived as the referee called Rodriguez offside and the score remained 0-0.
Neither side managed to score in regulation and the draw secured the tournament trophy for Brazil and ensured the US will have a long and hopefully contemplative flight back to the US.
Though the tournament may be seen as a disappointment considering the result, it is evident that myriad lessons should be taken from this tournament and used during preparation for the World Cup. Playing challenging sides in difficult environments is excellent preparation for next summer and much more meaningful than playing a team outside the top 25 in Florida and blasting them 7-0.
Winning a World Cup isn’t easy. It shouldn’t be. There is a tremendous amount of work for the US to do in just six short months and this tournament helped bring to light many aspects the team should be working on in the coming months.