USA-Colombia Takeaways: Rio roster begins to take shape

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Apr 10, 2016

The USA closed out play ahead of the start of the 2016 NWSL season with a 3-0 win over Colombia before a sold-out crowd of 17,275 at Talen Energy Stadium in Chester, Pennsylvania. The win upped the USA's record to start 2016 to 11-0-0 with a goal margin of 42-1.




1. A first glance at possible U.S. Olympic roster.

The USA was again without projected starters Alex Morgan and Morgan Brian, but it had little trouble against Colombia. Julie Johnston scored two goals on a volley and flick header, and Christen Press had her 33rd international goal in 66 games. Floridian Catalina Perez kept the game close with seven saves for Colombia.

The USA will have only two games in June against Japan and two in July before heading to Brazil, but the 18-player roster for the Rio Games is beginning to take shape. If you add Morgan, Brian and Hope Solo, who sat in favor of Alyssa Naeher, who earned her fourth career shutout in four career starts, to the 15 players who played against Colombia on Sunday, that makes 18 players who'd likely be in line to go Brazil if Coach Jill Ellis had to pick her team today.

2. Heath gives Ellis another option at right back -- and on set pieces.

With only 18 players going to Brazil, Ellis needs players who can multiple positions. She is likely to take only three outside backs, each of whom has played multiple positions: Kelley O'Hara, Ali Krieger and Meghan Klingenberg.

Since the 2015 Women's World Cup, Ellis has looked at Tobin Heath, a starter at right back in the final against Japan, at central midfield and on the outside, but she experimented with her at right back against Colombia.

Heath has also been taking more of the set pieces with Megan Rapinoe injured and Lauren Holiday retired, and her service produced the two Johnston goals.

3. Colombia's money troubles are inexcusable.

Colombia, which has not played any international competition since going to the Pan-American Games following the Women's World Cup in Canada, was no match for the USA, losing 7-0 and 3-0.

Reports surfaced of the Cafeteras not being paid by their federation and being punished for speaking out. Colombia's national league is supposed to launch a women's league in January, but in the meantime the federation needs to be its act together.

If it has any money problems, it can look no farther than its former president, Luis Bedoya, who pleaded guilty to racketeering and wire fraud in the FIFA scandals in December.

April 10 in Chester, Pennsylvania
USA 3 Colombia 0. Goals: Press 26, Johnston 42, 79.
USA -- Naeher; Heath, Johnston, Sauerbrunn (Engen, 61), Klingenberg (O'Hara, 61); Mewis, Horan (Long, 61), Lloyd (Krieger, 73);  Press, Dunn, Pugh.
Colombia -- Perez, Gaitan, Arias, Arbelaez, Velasquez, Echeverri, Salazar, Ariza (Regnier, 87), Ospina (Rincon, 87), Santos, Usme (Cuesta, 90+1).
Referee: Margaret Domka (USA).
Att.: 17,275.