By Juan Carlos Maygua
The USWNT continued their summer series fixtures as they faced Jamaica. Head coach Vlatko Andonovski keeps observing different systems with squad variations ahead of the complicated final roster decision. Jamaica had a complicated task ahead but facing a rival like the USWNT is enough for any team to test their abilities. However, with every game, the fact that only 18 players will be selected becomes daunting. Nobody in the actual roster deserves to be cut from the team, there’s too much talent. Or at least that was the message that was sent out after the result of the match.
Record-breaking result
The game saw two changes in the attacking line for the national team. Carli Lloyd and Margarett Purse were in charge of scoring the goals for this fixture. It’s important to highlight that they play together at club level with Gotham FC, meaning that their understanding of the field is close to perfect. I believe that this type of connection gives you an important advantage over any rival. While they may already have an established partnership of their own, they (the rival) only play together in their national team. This means that the level of understanding between them takes time, something that the USWNT could use in their favor. Something that paid off throughout the game.
Carli Lloyd would once again show everyone why she’s one of the best when she opened the score within a minute of gameplay. It was unexpected since the team struggled to find the net against Portugal, but the quick turnaround answered many critics. A long pass from Rose Lavelle found Lloyd completely alone and free to score her 125th goal with the National team. This also allowed her to become the most experienced player to score at 38 years and 322 days old, a record that was held by Kristine Lilly. With the record aside, Lloyd made an instant impact in two straight games. The goal against Portugal took place after she came from the bench, and now the opening goal came with Lloyd as a starter. With a goal that early in the game the national team went all out on the attack. Christen Press drew a foul inside the box after she controlled a long ball played from the defensive line. Lindsey Horan stepped up to take the penalty and scored in the 7th minute. Jamaica’s inability to cover the spaces sealed the game for the national team after Margaret Purce was found unmarked again on the right-wing after another long pass. She had enough time to control the ball and score the third goal in the 21st minute. With a 3-goaladvantage, the game plan changed and became more about keeping control. However, Alex Morgan had a chance to score in stoppage time with a header. A victory that was sealed in 20 minutes, record time, but enough to focus on other aspects that could need work.
Vlatko Andonovski gave his perspective of the match when I asked him about the change in the game plan after the early advantage.
“The game plan did change in the second half, but I was happy with the way we started the game, we set the pace, and the only thing was that I wasn’t happy when we scored the third goal, we continued rushing the attack and there was no need for it. I’m sure everyone wants to score goals, but when you’re playing against a low block, I felt like we needed to be more methodical, more precise, and I feel like we were in the second half even though we scored fewer goals. Overall, I felt like we played better.”
Carli Lloyd also spoke on her milestone and the record-breaking goal
“For me, it’s just about winning games, it’s helping the team, I don’t go searching for these records. This is a reminder to know how grateful and honored I am to step out onto the field, nothing has been given to me, I’ve had to earn every single opportunity, It’s just fun to be out there playing”.