By Laken Litman
FOX Sports activities Soccer Author
It was the ultimate all of us anticipated when the match began: a conflict between the reigning World Cup champion United States and the reigning Olympic gold medalist Canada.
On Monday, the U.S. Ladies’s Nationwide Crew beat Canada 1-0 within the CONCACAF W Championship due to a late penalty kick by Alex Morgan. The USWNT not solely avenged final summer time’s crushing Olympic semifinal loss, wherein Canada additionally received on a late penalty, however they’ve now routinely certified for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The U.S. got here out with power and shortly put stress on Canada’s again line. Scoring alternatives got here from throughout — Morgan, Mallory Pugh, Sophia Smith and Lindsey Horan all took high quality photographs that simply did not go in. As has been the case your complete match, the U.S. struggled to complete. Canada, a worthy opponent, could not end both.
“Though it did not appear as convincing, I assumed there have been moments of the sport and sure conditions within the recreation that confirmed enhancements from Sport 1,” coach Vlatko Andonovski stated.
Regardless of the shortage of objectives, this was the USWNT’s finest efficiency of the match by far.
Listed below are three takeaways from the sport.
U.S. clinches 2024 Olympics berth
Very first thing’s first: The U.S. had already certified for the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand earlier within the match. And with its 1-0 win over Canada, it additionally clinched a spot within the 2024 Paris Olympics. Jamaica, who beat Costa Rica to complete in third place, and Canada will play in a two-leg playoff in September 2023 to earn the area’s second Olympic spot.
This was an vital win for the USWNT. Canada has been a persistently worthy challenger on the worldwide stage — they received the gold medal on the Tokyo Video games final summer time, beating Sweden in penalties after upsetting the U.S. within the semifinal match. The USWNT went dwelling with bronze.
However in the event you thought this recreation was all about revenge, Andonovski defined that was probably not the case.
“We did not actually take a look at this recreation as a revenge recreation as a result of in the event you take a look at the roster, I imply 60% of the roster is totally different,” he stated. “They did not actually really feel the loss from the Olympics. However for us, it is a win. We like to win, however we hate to lose extra in order that’s why we’re celebrating this second.
“We expect that is just the start of what we’re going to see within the subsequent 9 to 12 months. And I used to be simply reminded a minute go, that I completely forgot about, was that we certified for the Olympics. Clearly the World Cup is our focus. Because the second we certified, we have talked about what it takes to organize for a World Cup, and we do not wish to look previous that, however now we all know that we’re going to the Olympics.”
Nonetheless not World Cup prepared
Regardless of profitable this match, the USWNT will not be World Cup prepared and Andonovski is aware of that.
“I’ve to say, in the event you ask me if we’re prepared to enter the World Cup, right into a aggressive World Cup tomorrow, we’re in all probability not prepared for it,” Andonovski stated final week. “However are we going to be prepared in a yr? Completely. I am very proud of the event of the group and the event of the people on the group, as effectively. I feel that we’re doing a great job and we’re transferring in the suitable path.”
The U.S. continues to be in that tinkering section as Andonovski figures out the suitable combos. Monday evening was his fifth totally different lineup in 5 video games.
It is vital to do not forget that this can be a newer group of gamers – Morgan and Megan Rapinoe returned to the nationwide group in June for the primary time since final October. And there are new faces all around the subject, like Smith and Pugh up high and Emily Fox and Sofia Huerta on the again line.
“The group is considerably youthful than the earlier time we performed Canada, they usually got here with just about the identical group from the Olympics,,” Andonovski stated. “We modified 5 gamers within the beginning lineup. Gamers which can be going to be right here for no less than three, possibly 4 World Cups, so, get used to it.”
It takes time for a group to gel, construct camaraderie, and get comfy taking part in with one another. The beginning lineup within the last averaged 28 years outdated with 77 caps. Simply three gamers – Morgan, Horan and Becky Sauerbrunn — had greater than 100 caps. Three others — Huerta, Fox and Alana Cook dinner — got here into the sport with fewer than 20.
On high of that, there are such a lot of gamers who aren’t on this roster proper now – Crystal Dunn lately had a child and Julie Ertz is pregnant; Tierna Davidson, Catarina Macario and Christen Press tore their ACLs; Abby Dahlkemper, Sam Mewis and Lynn Williams are recovering from numerous accidents.
There’s a number of expertise and the U.S. is able to making historical past as the primary group to ever win three consecutive World Cup titles. Large image, this match gave Andonovski a chance to judge what he has and what he nonetheless wants as he builds his roster for subsequent summer time.
The USWNT is a piece in progress. And that is OK. Not less than for now.
Morgan wasn’t lacking
The U.S. may have and will have scored about 5 – 6 objectives. However the theme of the match gave the impression to be its incapacity to complete.
It wasn’t till the 78th minute when Morgan delivered the most important second of the sport, nailing a penalty kick previous Kailen Sheridan, to present the U.S. a 1-0 lead. It was the one aim Sheridan, who occurs to even be Morgan’s San Diego Wave teammate, gave up all match.
After Rose Lavelle was fouled within the field, it seemed like Horan was going to take the kick. Then Morgan stepped in and took the ball, which was a gutsy transfer contemplating the familiarity between her and Sheridan.
Morgan and Andonovski admitted after the sport this was deliberate and that she was truly the designated penalty taker for the match.
“Alex is an enormous participant and massive gamers are born for giant moments,” Andonovski stated. “That is what makes her particular.”
As she ready to take the kick, Morgan was locked in.
This second – and match as a complete – was large for Morgan. She’s in high type and leads the NWSL with 10 objectives in 11 video games. However up till this roster was introduced in June, she hadn’t been referred to as into the nationwide group since final October.
Morgan is arguably sharper and extra harmful than ever. Defenders have at all times needed to be totally conscious of her presence on the sphere, however it’s much more intense now as she’s grow to be a better participant. Morgan is at all times drawing consideration and might both cross the ball off to Pugh or Smith, or end it off herself. All along with her two-year-old daughter watching.
Morgan had been on the sphere final summer time when Canada beat the U.S. within the Olympics, so this was private. It was large for her to attain and clinch the win this time.
Laken Litman covers school soccer, school basketball and soccer for FOX Sports activities. She beforehand lined school soccer, school basketball, the U.S. Ladies’s Nationwide Soccer Crew and the Olympics at Sports activities Illustrated, USA At the moment and The Indianapolis Star. Her first guide, written in partnership with Rizzoli and Sports activities Illustrated and titled “Robust Like a Lady,” was revealed in spring 2022 marking the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX.
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