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Women’s World Cup 2023 berth? examines.
2024 Olympics sidewalk? examines.
A Concacaf W Championship title with a side of slight revenge against Canada? examines.
The US women’s team entered the combo qualifier tournament with three clear goals, and at the end of the tournament 2 weeks of questions— and after a largely wasted 90 minutes on Monday night in Mexico — it can safely be said that she achieved it all. The roadmap for the next two years was drawn up for the United States, and territorial bragging rights were extended. Canada may have turned the United States upside down on its way to winning the Olympic gold medal last summer, but when it comes to the CONCACAF finals against its southern neighbor, it is still the second best, now 0-9-1 ever in such matches against the States United.
Alex Morgan’s penalty kick in the 78th minute was the difference on the BBVA Arena, as the United States won 1-0 to claim the CONCACAF title and the spoils that came with it. Morgan played a key role in getting the penalty kick, as her pass made Rose Lavelle, who was cut into the penalty area by Alisha Chapman. Then Morgan stepped up and quietly beat her teammate, San Diego Wave goalkeeper Kaelyn Sheridan, for the feat that took so long to reach.
Canada’s Olympic dream is not over, and her chances of going to Paris will remain with her focus on defending her place on the top of the podium. But instead of qualifying automatically now, it will play third-placed Jamaica in September 2023 in a playoff for CONCACAF’s second place in the Games.
The result was almost a carbon copy of the Olympic semi-final that Canada won last summer, at least in terms of score, method of aiming and when it hit the back net. It was Jesse Fleming’s 75th-minute goal that gave Canada their famous win in Japan, a result that started a year of unusual uncertainty and unease for US team Vlatko Andonovsky, followed by their bronze medal with months of cycling in new faces, young, acting. As a team in transition.
These are the standards in place in the United States, such that after a tournament in which she won all five of her matches with a combined score of 13-0, some of the same questions and uncertainties will persist, and her performance in the final was not without faults. Monday’s show was the US’s scariest offensive display in the competition, though, even if there was only one goal to show for it. There was an aura of intent against the only true US counterpart in the region, and when Pugh’s money stung Sheridan’s hands 44 seconds later, the US seemed to mean business.
More chances would immediately follow, with Morgan hitting a long-footed shot in the fourth minute and Lindsey Horan banned with a gold appearance a minute later. Horan again approached a side shot in the 14th minute, her shot going away.
Later in the half, the U.S. blew a 4-v-2 chance, when Horan had Laville streak right with space in front of her. Instead, she chose to go to her left to Pugh, who also had space but pushed her decent-looking chance over the target.
Sophia Smith, one of those young strikers who was thrown into the fire, had the two best chances for the United States. Just before the break, right-back Sofia Huerta put in a perfect cross for Smith from close range, but the ball appeared to be a bit too to affect the shot, Sheridan executed a massive initial denying and Canada centre-back Kadisha Buchanan helped cover the goal. Line on the bounce to prevent breakouts.
Go to follow
In the second half, the U.S. executed an efficient and accurate sequence from the back, picking up Becky Sauerbrunn Pugh, who touched Morgan. Perfectly weighted by the ball at the back found Smith, who rotated Sheridan and then immediately shot the ball into the open net.
It was the kind of foul that could have been painful, but the US never faltered and got their fair reward in the form of a penalty from Morgan.
While the United States still has some things to sort out while preparing for it World Cup next summer in Australia and New Zealand, one item is selected. Morgan’s overall performance in Mexico, along with her blazing NBA scoring style, should cement her being the number one striker going forward.
“I was not surprised but I am very happy with the way she handled the whole situation and how she came back,” Andonofsky said of Morgan, who has been among the veterans disqualified in various camps over the past year. “Alex is a better player, and that’s what makes her special. She doesn’t want to stop growing. She doesn’t want to stop growing.
“Alex is a great player and great players are born for great moments. That’s what makes her special.”
But while other areas may be less obvious, it is important to remember who is not currently available in the US or has not been called up for this competition. Julie Ertes, Crystal Dunn, Katrina Macario, Terna Davidson, Kristen Press, Lynne Williams, Sam Mewes, Abby Dalkemper and Tobin Heath were all among those who were not in Mexico, either due to pregnancy, postpartum, injury or a decision Coach, their decisions. Reintegration when they are ready to return – if Andonovsky deems them worthy – will go a long way towards forming the teams that will face the best teams in the world in the upcoming competitions. if it was European Women’s Championship There was any indication, there were competent rivals to the throne of the United States.
But as far as CONCACAF is concerned, the United States is still dominant. Not allowed to score in a CONCACAF World Cup or Olympic qualifier since 2010 – approx 12 years– When she lost to Mexico in the semi-finals of the World Cup qualifiers. The larger tests to challenge the United States’ place among the world’s elite will come in due course over the next two years. But the top-ranked Americans assured that they would have a place in those competitions, which is what this trip to Mexico was ultimately about.
“Although that wasn’t convincing, I thought there were moments in the games where we showed improvements from the first game to the end,” Andonovsky said. “These are the moments we are happy about…that give us validation of what we’re doing.”
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