Photo: US Soccer
By Debby von Winckelmann
As the saying goes, “Offense sells tickets. Defense wins championships.”
While you probably can’t credit the US Women’s National Team’s offense for the 35,817 record attendance at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Mo. on Saturday afternoon, you can certainly say that its defense had everything to do with the team’s 4-0 victory against New Zealand.
In front of the largest crowd for a stand-alone USWNT home friendly, the US got their first three goals from defenders Meghan Klingenberg, Lori Chalupny, and Julie Johnston, along with a final goal scored by midfielder Morgan Brian.
Hope Solo earned her 82nd clean sheet and the defense allowed just two shots – neither one on goal.
Klingenberg drove in a low, hard shot from outside the box in the 14th minute to start the scoring early. Despite many opportunities, the score stood at 1-0 through halftime and well into the second half, which seemed to quiet the crowd quite a bit.
Finally, the Americans unleashed it, starting in the 76th minute, when Megan Rapinoe played a corner short, then passed it off to Chalupny, who put it into the upper, right side of the goal. Chalupny, who has gone 6 ½ years without a goal for the US team, couldn’t have picked a better time to score, as she was playing in front of her hometown crowd.
Just two minutes later, Lauren Holiday sent a ball into the box, where Johnston headed in over New Zealand goalkeeper Erin Naylor, for the 3-0 lead in the 78th minute.
Then, the fourth goal in the 81st minute after Sydney Leroux, who came in off the bench, delivered a perfectly paced pass to fellow substitute Morgan Brian, who, on the run, placed the ball in the lower, left corner.
Four goals sound impressive and it is the most goals the USWNT has scored in a single game this year. But, the US could have – should have – had more goals. Three of the goals were scored within a span of about 6 minutes, but there were plenty of opportunities throughout the game that were left unfinished. There were 18 shots by the US and while that speaks to an improvement in the creation of goal-scoring opportunities and being creative in the final third, the US has not done well at finishing.
Alex Morgan still isn’t back to her pre-injury form and while she played well, she really didn’t seem to have much of an impact on the game. The other starting forward for the US, Amy Rodriguez, had a great game, impressive movement and two spectacular shots that hit the frame.
Rapinoe was back in the starting 11 for her 100th cap and despite her recent injury, she seemed to be everywhere on the field. On a good day, Rapinoe is capable of being a game-changer, and today was a good day, with Rapinoe earning an assist on the Chalupny goal.
Holiday also had a good game, serving some good balls, and assisting on Johnston’s goal. The two other US midfielders, Christen Press and Carli Lloyd, were a bit quiet, despite the fact that with Rapinoe back in the starting 11 and wide, Lloyd was returned to her position inside, where she is more comfortable. While Press had a couple of shots, she is better playing as a forward, rather than midfielder.
The defense was solid with Ali Krieger, Becky Sauerbrunn, Klingenberg, and Johnston.
US head coach Jill Ellis also played Abby Wambach, Tobin Heath, and Kelley O’Hara off the bench.
With two months and three friendlies left before the USWNT plays its first game of the World Cup, the team continues to improve and it looks like Ellis is settling on her starters. The most significant improvements against New Zealand occurred in the final third, with sharp, short passing and the creation of goal-scoring opportunities. The most critical improvement to still be made is for the US to finish those opportunities.
