By Juan Carlos Maygua
The USWNT continued their winning record after beating rivals Brazil in the second game of the SheBelieves Cup tournament. The game lived up to expectations and saw two teams creating dangerous chances through the 90 minutes. With this victory, the team now focuses on the final game of the tournament against Argentina. The game also marked important milestones for Christen Press and Megan Rapione, making the victory extra special.
A victory with history
The dominance by the USWNT in women’s soccer is unquestionable, with Brazil being the few squads to be competing at their pace consistently. It’s because of this competitiveness over the years that both teams will soon enter a transitional period. The South Americans are preparing for life without Marta, and the USWNT is already looking for the players to succeed legends like Alex Morgan and Carly Lloyd. Something that in my eyes, has already been covered by Lynn Williams, the polyfunctional forward that goes the extra mile to see the team function properly, and the incredibly talented Rose Lavelle, who is expected to become the new face of the National team.
In contrast to the previous game, Williams did far more defensive work, but she was always running down the wing creating scoring opportunities for her teammates. Unfortunately, the small recovery window between games and the extra effort affected her performance in the second half against Brazil. In contrast, Rose Lavelle saw her first game as a starter, surprising me with her vision and awareness on the field. Her speed and movements off the ball made Lavelle a constant marking target for the Brazilian defense. I believe that she was key in the buildup to the first goal of the game. The movement down the middle, dragged defenders towards her, leaving space for Christen Press to open the score. While Lavelle’s involvement decreased by the second half, her talent will make her the next superstar in women’s soccer, so keep an eye out for her.
History was made by Christen Press after surpassing the 50-goal mark for the USWNT. The opening goal of the game saw her join an exclusive list of players to reach that milestone. Brazil also created chances throughout the game, their approach at times was defensive, focusing only on stopping possible connections between USWNT members through fouls. However, they did have a clear chance to tie the game after Marta gave Fabinha a tap-in scoring chance, but she missed. Megan Rapione would wrap up the victory after completing a cross in the final minutes of the game. The goal makes Rapione tie Ellen White for the most goals scored in the SheBelieves Cup.
Looking ahead
Head Coach Vlatko Andonovski spoke briefly after the game. He urged those who worry about the team’s lack of finishing to see this tournament as a preseason. “I’m happy we are creating chances; you have to understand that most of the squad has not been able to train properly. Once they begin to get their fitness and rhythm back, I’m sure they will score more goals and finish the chances they create”. The team saw significant contributions from the bench in these last two games, Vlatko pointed out that, “Players who come from the bench are not substitutes, they are game-changers. The team looks up to them because they lift us and help us improve”. He concluded by highlighting the challenges that every rival presents for the team.
Brazil’s head coach Pia Sundhage also gave her insights on the game against the USWNT. “I’m fairly satisfied knowing that we created so many chances against the best team in the world. Although I feel like we can create different types of chances, especially in corners because we are good, unfortunately, that didn’t happen today”. She emphasized that the team has room for improvement and praised the learning opportunity the match against the USWNT providedthem in regards to the future.
Defender Crystal Dunn highlighted the defensive game the team displayed against Brazil. “When you’re a defender wearing this jersey, the rival can’t score any goals or create any chances. I’m happy to have helped the team defensively, but everyone on the team can step up. I think that’s one of the reasons why we can play at the top level” She also emphasized that the team is growing game by game as they prepare for the Olympics.