Though deadlocked for the first hour, Press could have had a few goals and McDonald among others, Naeher stopped a point blank go on goal by the top goal getter in international soccer, Christine Sinclair to preserve the USWNT not giving up a goal throughout these games. The largest of crowds for the team to play before was still a paltry 17,489, I wonder how big of an impact the weaker opponents had on attendance. The typical suspects scored for the victors including Lynn Williams along with a pair of assists and Lindsey Horan, her 6 goals were good for 2nd on the team. This was the lucky 13th Concacaf title for the ladies as they now look forward to the SheBelieves games March 5-11 with England, Spain & Japan, far stronger teams.
Christen Press, who today had her string of 6 games in a row with a goal come to an end when she was substituted by O'Hara, but did take the Golden Ball as the best player over these games. The game earned the USWNT their 5th Olympic Qualifying Tournament Title. Press and her 5 goals were good for but #3 in the goal race, she had a great string of games and was key in the 5-0-0 record with no goals conceded and 27 scored. Press pinged the post from 25 yards, then tried for another chipped goal off a McDonald save but the ball carried too high.
The second stanza saw a blitz on the goal by the US but to no avail. At 60', WIlliams stole the ball in the area and drove on home. Shortly there after, Horan put on a dribbling clinic and made it a 2-0 game. These 2 teams know each other well as this was the 50th win, 60th game between them, the top # of wins for the US.
The one issue I had on the game is that Ali Krieger took an elbow to the head with about 10 minutes left in a 2-0 game, was down, face down for a good 2 minutes before turning over. What is the concussion protocol?, why put the player back in?, yes they always want to go back in. Press was then shortly pulled out ending any chance she would keep her goal scoring streak alive as well.
Kwik Kixx:
-50-3-7 US record facing Canada, including all of the quartet of games for this title.
-23-0-1 all time in these games with 123 for and 3 allowed by the USWNT.
-91 goals scored since last being scored up for the USWNT, a staggering 4,320 day in the 116' back in 2008, facing Canada.
-99 games now for Captian Ertz, she will be the 40th player to jin the 100 club, at RBA maybe?
-34 shutouts in 61 games for Naeher, passing Nicole Barnhart for the 3rd GK most caps on the team.
- USWNT recieved the Fair Play Award, accepted by Carli Lloyd post game.