SAN DIEGO-It is very hard to top a year where one is named the top player in the world and where one’s team wins the World Cup. If Saturday’s contribution is any indication for what might be in store for 2016 Carli Lloyd might be able to do it.
After having an incredible 2015 campaign which saw the midfielder hoist the World Cup and be named the Women’s Footballer of the Year Lloyd started 2016 just right. Her hat trick helped the United States claim their first win in 2016 a 5-0 romp of the Republic of Ireland at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California.
Lloyd scored all three of her goals in just the first twenty-eight minutes of play. She was joined at the scoring table by Alex Morgan (45th minute) and Mallory Pugh (83rd minute). The win was the United States first in 2016 and their twentieth in twenty-six matches.
Despite this match being their first match of 2016 the United States showed no rust going directly at the Irish defense. U.S. coach Jill Ellis used her club’s experience on the outside with Morgan and Crystal Dunn to force the Irish back four out of position. Lloyd took advantage of this gap in the sixth minute, polishing off a cross by Morgan with a deft tap of the inside of her right foot.
Lloyd would strike again just fifteen minutes later heading home a defensive miscue by Irish goalkeeper Emma Byrne. The reigning FIFA Women’s Player of the Year was set up by a deep run down the left flank by forward Tobin Heath. Heath made the cross into the box where Morgan placed a header on goal. Byrne made the initial save but was unable to retain control of the ball.
Even at just 2-0 it appeared that the Irish were resigned to defeat. The team struggled to mount even one simple attack and were forced to at times put ten players on defense. Poor passing and defensive miscues did not help their cause. Lloyd would pick up on one of these mistakes, stealing a pass from an Irish defender and slotting home her third goal of the match.
After benefiting from Morgan’s hard work, Lloyd decided to return the favor for her teammate just before injury time. In the forty-fifth minute Lloyd hit a shot that went off of the bar. Morgan retrieved the rebound and hit home her fifty-fifth goal in her 100th appearance for the National Team.
In the second half Ellis used a mostly a experimental lineup, swapping out some of the team’s veteran for younger players looking to make their mark on the squad. Included in that group was seventeen year old Mallory Pugh. Pugh, who recently turned down the Portland Thorns to accept a full-ride scholarship to UCLA, made the most of her opportunity heading home a cross from midfielder Christen Press in the eighty-third minute. With her goal Pugh became the 19th player to score in her first-ever international appearance. You can see the goal here.
The United States will kick off their Olympic qualifying on Wednesday February 10 when they host Costa Rica. That match will be played at Toyota Park in Frisco, Texas. With their win on Saturday the United States continued their domination against Ireland. In twelve meetings against Ireland the United States has yet to concede a single point.
The Republic of Ireland meanwhile will likely have to wait a bit to avenge their loss: their next match is scheduled for June where they will take on Finland in Euro 2017 Qualification.
Box Score
United States-Hope Solo, Ali Krieger, Emily Sonnett (Kelley O’Hara 58′), Whitney Engen, Meghan Klingenberger, Samantha Mewis, Lindsey Horan (Jaelene Hinkle 46′,) Carli Lloyd (Morgan Press 46′), Alex Morgan (Mallory Pugh 58′), Tobin Heath (Stephanie McCaffrey 46′,) and Crystal Dunn (Heather O’Reilly 46′)
Goals- Loyd (6′, 20′, 28′,) Morgan (45′,) and Pugh (83′)
Republic of Ireland-Emma Byrne, Sophie Perry (Julie Ann Russell 46′,) Louise Quinn, Diane Caldwell, Megan Campbell, Ruesha Littlejohm, Denise O’Sullivan, Karen Duggan (Meabh de Burca 72′,) Aine O’Gorman, Stephanie Roche (Fiona O’ Sullivan 46′,) and Katie McCabe (Siobhan Killeen 65′)
ATTENDANCE: 23, 309
