Mexico trains late in anticipation for its friendly match against the United States
By Ivan Yeo
With just four weeks left until the start of the Women’s World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico are looking to use Sunday’s friendly at StubHub Center to fine tune some things.
“It’s an opportunity to evaluate the thing we’re trying to do for the World Cup,” Mexico head coach Leo Cuellar said.
The 2nd-ranked United States heads into the match looking to shore up its offensive attack. 2015 did not get off to a good start for the USWNT, but the team has since rebounded nicely to build up some momentum leading up to the World Cup. After losing to France on February 8, the United States rebounded with a win over England, then blazed through the Algarve Cup, going 3-0-1 on its way to the final, where they gained some payback against France, defeating them 2-0 to win the tournament. Since then, the United States has won friendly matches against New Zealand 4-0 and Ireland 3-0 leading up to Sunday’s friendly in Carson.
“It’s preparation for us,” Mexico midfielder Teresa Noyola said of facing the United States. “The U.S. Is always a great opponent to play against. It’s always a challenge and we embrace that challenge.”
While the US has been winning and scoring goals in the process, the only bit of concern for the US with the World Cup a little more than a month away has been the source of the goals. Of the seven goals the US has scored in those two friendlies, only two of those goals have come from its forwards, both of them by Abby Wambach.
A large part of that can be traced to the absence of striker Alex Morgan, who is nursing a bone bruise in her left knee and will miss the US send-off game against South Korea in New Jersey on May 30. Morgan’s presence will be sorely needed for the US, as their group, Group D, is a tough one, with fifth-ranked Sweden, 10th-ranked Australia and 33rd-ranked Nigeria.
Mexico, ranked 25th, will be making its second consecutive World Cup appearance and third overall since the team’s inception in 1999. Mexico is also in a tough group, as they are in Group F with third-ranked France, sixth-ranked England and 28th-ranked Colombia. Mexico reached the World Cup due to the efforts of Charlyn Corral, Stephanie Mayor and Monica Ocampo. Corral led the team with four goals, the last two coming in the consolation match of the CONCACAF Women’s championship against Trinidad and Tobago which booked their spot in Canada in June, while Mayor and Ocampo scored three goals apiece in the tournament
“There couldn’t be a better team for us to play against,” Renae Cuellar said of playing the U.S. “We’re very prepared, we’ve got a great group (and) we’ll be ready.”
