Hello everyone! We hope everyone has been staying safe and healthy. This week looking back is when the USWNT played Costa Rica.
Background knowledge
The game was being held in Kansas City, Kansas at Children's Mercy Park. This was the last game before the Olympics for the US. The starting line up for the US was Hope Solo, Meghan Klingenberg, Becky Sauerbrunn, Julie Johnston (Julie Ertz), Kelly O'Hara, Mallory Pugh, Lindsey Horan, Allie Long, Crystal Dunn, Carli Lloyd (Captain), and Alex Morgan. Their head coach was Jill Ellis and they played in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
1st Half
Costa Rica started with kick-off and the game was on. Later in the seventh minute from the right side of the field, Lloyd crossed the ball into the 18-yard box where Alex Morgan flicked the ball just wide of the goal. A few minutes later in the fifteenth minute, Meghan Klingenberg crossed the ball to Crystal Dunn who simply touched the ball into the back of the net. The US was up 1-0! In the twenty-second minute, Mallory Pugh sprinted down the left side of the field and shot the ball into the roof of the net! The US was up 2-0! The US was dominating the game! In the sixth minute of extra time, Becky Sauerbrunn crossed the ball into the box off of a free-kick and Carli Lloyd was there to finish the job! The US was up 3-0 just before half time. After 6 minutes of extra time, the first half was over and the US was leading 3-0!
Before we talk about the second half, the US subbed in: Ali Krieger, Alyssa Naeher, Whitney Engen, for Meghan Klingenberg, Hope Solo, and Becky Sauerbrunn.
2nd Half
The US started with kickoff and the second half was started. Only a few minutes into the game, in the forty-ninth minute, Lindsey Horan shot the ball but it hit the post! So close! The US was playing very high press and creating lots of opportunities, they just couldn't finish them. In the sixty-third minute, Christen Press was subbed in for Alex Morgan. Then in the seventy-seventh minute, Tobin Heath was subbed in for Mallory Pugh. Also in the seventy-seventh minute, Morgan Brian was subbed in for Lindsey Horan. A few minutes later in the seventy-ninth minute, Allie Long passed the ball to Christen Press who shot the ball into the bottom left corner! The US was now leading 4-0! After four minutes of extra time, the game was over and the US had won 4-0!
The US went on to the Olympics where they made it to the quarter-finals.
Before you go make sure to check out the schedule tab to get updates on the NWSL.
Stay safe and make sure you check out our other blogs!
Smed, Jamie. Mallory Pugh. 16 May 2019. Flickr, www.flickr.com/photos/
49182023@N05/46965722725. Accessed 28 May 2020.
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