On Saturday, the United States Women’s National Team defeated their northern neighbor, Canada, 2:1 in an Olympic send-off match at Rio Tinto Stadium in Utah. The USA’s goals were scored by Carmelina Moscato via an own goal and Amy Rodriguez, who had an 85th minute game-winner after Melissa Tancredi equalized in the 57th minute.
[Author’s Note: I was unable to watch the match due to a lack of cable caused by the major storms that affected the Midwest and the Mid-Atlantic regions. Power was also temporarily lost, but I do have a battery-powered TV… from 1978.]
The USA faced a major scare right after halftime when leading goal-scorer Alex Morgan had to leave the match with some kind of knee injury, which now appears to be minor, although no specifics have been given. The match produced a couple controversial moments, namely a possibly disallowed Canada goal and a question of offside on Rodriguez’s goal.
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THE USA’S LINE-UP
Pia Sundhage used the same starting line-up for the second match in a row, most notably with a midfield of Megan Rapinoe and Tobin Heath on the wings plus Shannon Boxx and Lauren Cheney in the center. This was the third straight match that Carli Lloyd started on the bench and the second for Heather O’Reilly.
Starting Line-Up:
Solo (GK)
LePeilbet (RB) — Rampone (CB) — Buehler (CB) — O’Hara (LB)
Rapinoe (RM) — Boxx (HM) — Cheney (AM) — Heath (LM)
Morgan (FW) — Wambach (FW)
Once again, the USA moved to a 3-4-3 formation late in the match, with Abby Wambach playing the entire 90-plus minutes.
Final Line-Up:
Solo (GK)
Mitts (DF) — Sauerbrunn (DF) — Buehler (DF)
Rapinoe (RM) — Lloyd (HM) — Cheney (AM) — Heath (LM)
Rodriguez (FW) — Wambach (FW) — Leroux (FW)
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FURTHER READING AND VIEWING
- U.S. Soccer Match Report
- U.S. Soccer Post-Match Quotes
- Canada Soccer Match Report
- The USWNT beat Canada and the heat in final pre-Olympic test (Jenna Pel, ProSoccerTalk)
- U.S. Women’s National Team 2, Canada 1: What We Learned (CBSSports.com)
- Local news coverage (Salt Lake Tribune) – Olympics: U.S. women’s soccer team tops Canada, 2-1; U.S. women’s soccer players make impression in ‘snowy’ Sandy; U.S. women’s team riding wave of popularity
U.S. Soccer Highlight Video:
U.S. Soccer Post-Game Reaction:
U.S. Soccer Match Preview:
Women's Soccer Express 