The United States Women’s National Team won the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship in emphatic fashion last night 6-0 over Costa Rica. The victory was as complete as it was utterly American with five of six goals came from headed balls.
USWNT started scoring early as Morgan Brian sent in a ball to Abby Wambach directly in front of goal. Wambach headed it past Dinnia Diaz to give the US a 1-0 lead. The US went up 2-0 in the 17th minute when Lloyd headed on a ball into the net assisted by another Wambach header. Wambach and Lloyd combined again 25 minutes later as Wambach connected with Lloyd’s chipped cross. The final goal of the half was, of course, a Wambach header assisted by Lloyd.
Ellis made three substitutions in the 57th minute as Sydney Leroux replaced Morgan Brian, Heather O’Reilly replaced Christen Press, and Tobin Heath replaced Megan Rapinoe. Given the considerable emphasis head coach Jill Ellis has put on praising the depth of her squad, it is curious that Julie Johnston wasn’t given any playing time in the tournament.
Wambach opened second half scoring for the US in the 71st minute as she beat a Costa Rica defender and perfectly lofted her shot above Diaz to score perhaps her most impressive goal of the tournament. Leroux brought the scoreline to 6-0 with a header of her own in the 73rd minute.
In the post game press conference Ellis said she felt this was the team’s most complete performance of the tournament. That statement is somewhat surprising given that Costa Rica was also able to possess and attack against the US more than another other team had been able to in previous games. Additionally, Costa Rica played a far more open and attacking game than Trinidad, Guatemala, Haiti, or Mexico so a deeply favorable scoreline isn’t exactly a surprise.
It is difficult to fault the performance of the US because they stuck with what worked. Play the ball into the box and connect with one of the tallest players on the pitch so the ball can be easily headed over the head of any number for shorter Costa Rica defenders. Unlike their previous matches, USWNT had the space to play the ball on the ground and capitalize on passing lanes and seams left open by Costa Rica. Instead, the US capitalized on the aerial game, a sure (and familiar) strategy.
That game plan doesn’t indicate anything more broadly about the team and their ability to score against the likes of Canada, Germany, or Sweden. More importantly, the tournament reveals almost nothing about how the team will be able to absorb attacking pressure and repel attacks from players like Lotta Schelin or Dzsenifer Marozsan. After taking in all five games the USWNT played in the tournament, it appears that this tournament reveals very little about the team and how they will play moving forward other than the fact that finishing was disappointing at times.
The biggest hurdles and greatest challenges are clearly on the horizon for the US as they move toward a moderately competitive tournament in Brazil also featuring China, but the team will have to wait till 2015 before facing much competition that will be comparable to level of competition in the latter stages of the World Cup.
Ellis confirmed friendlies in both England and France prior to the Algarve Cup in March. Only then will it be possible to tell if the tactical changes and adjustments explained at length by Ellis have translated to pitch.