Commentary
USA-Mexico: Women's Friendly Player Ratings
- by Mike Woitalla @MikeWoitalla, May 26, 2019
May 26 in Harrison, N.J.
USA 3 Mexico 0. Goals: Heath 11, Pugh 76, Press 88.
Att.: 26,332.
In its final tune-up game before heading to France, the USA beat Mexico, which failed to qualify the World Cup, 3-0. A sloppy first half by the Americans produced one goal, thanks much to the Mexican goalkeeper's blunder. Carli Lloyd, one of five subs to start in the second half, created the second goal, a tap-in by Mallory Pugh in the 76th minute. Christen Press' 88th-minute goal provided a rare bit of brilliance from Coach Jill Ellis' team, which must be concerned about how ineffective its attack has been in the early phases of recent games.
USA Player Ratings
(1=low; 5=middle; 10=high.)
GOALKEEPER
Alyssa Naeher was called into action once, when she punched clear a 50th-minute cross. It was the third straight game, after wins over New Zealand (5-0) and South Africa (3-0), in which the U.S. keeper hasn't been seriously tested.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
5 Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars) 46/- (31)
DEFENDERS
Certainly against a Mexican team that showed no intention to attack, the U.S. defenders could have been much bolder coming forward. The best was left back Crystal Dunn, who sparked an early attack with a pass to Mewis, but Dunn's real first foray came midway through the first half. She managed a 43rd-minute header to Mexican goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago and a volley easily saved just before the halftime whistle. The central defense duo of Abby Dahlkemper and Becky Sauerbrunn spent most the game as spectators. Right back Kelley O'Hara supported Rose Lavelle and Tobin Heath.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
5 Kelley O'Hara (Utah Royals) 118/2 (30)
5 Abby Dahlkemper (NC
Courage) 40/0 (26)
5 Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals) 158/0 (33)
6 Crystal Dunn
(NC Courage) 85/24 (26)
MIDFIELDERS
Sam Mewis may have played herself out of a chance to start
at the World Cup. Shortly after kickoff, she mis-hit a pass that would have served up a golden chance for Tobin Heath. She slammed a third-minute shot into a Mexican defender, mis-played a pass
intended for Alex Morgan in the 10th minute, and coughed the ball under moderate pressure. Julie Ertz hit a couple decent cross-field passes before moving to the backline in the
second half, when she helped set up both U.S. goals. The first with a pass out of the back to Carli Lloyd and the second after she moved forward and fed Christen Press. Rose Lavelle's
28th-minute shot went straight to the keeper.
5 Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit) 27/7 (24)
7 Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars) 82/18 (27)
3 Sam Mewis (NC Courage) 50/12 (26)
FORWARDS
Good thing Tobin Heath finished after Santiago gifted her the ball at the edge of the penalty. Heath, who juked past defender Rebeca Bernal before stroking home, started the game with a volley that nearly went out for a throw-in and a couple poor crosses. And she missed badly from eight yards in the 33rd minute. Alex Morgan had a game to forget, missing with her left foot from six yards in the 26th minute and shooting straight to Santiago on a breakaway six minutes later. Rapinoe, who set up both Morgan chances, took a shot that actually did go out for a throw-in and skied a free kick.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
5 Tobin Heath (Portland Thorns) 150/30 (30)
3 Alex Morgan (Orlando Pride) 162/101 (29)
5 Megan Rapinoe (Reign FC) 153/44 (33)
SUBSTITUTES
Five
U.S. players came in at halftime against a Mexican team that made no changes until 63rd minute, but the fresh legs didn't alter much for the USA until later in the second half, when the second goal
finally came. After receiving a pass from Ertz along the left sideline, Carli Lloyd roasted Bernal and sent the ball rolling along the goal line, where Mallory Pugh
prevented a clearance. Pugh struggled in one-on-ones but besides helping the ball cross the
line on the USA's second goal, delivered the pass that Ertz relayed to Christen Press on the final goal. Press' strike from 18 yards, after faking out Arianna Romero, was the brightest moment for a U.S. team that heads to France after three games in
which its defense has been insufficiently tested and its offense looking below world-class efficiency.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
5 Allie Long (Reign FC) 45/6
(31)
6 Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC) 274/111 (36)
6 Mallory Pugh (Washington Spirit) 53/16 (21)
7
Christen Press (Utah Royals) 116/48 (30)
5 Lindsey Horan (Portland Thorns) 68/8 (25)
5
Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns) 33/0 (25)
TRIVIA. Carli Lloyd's 274th cap pulls her even for fourth most in history with Julie Foudy, behind
Kristine Lilly (354), Christie Rampone (311) and Mia Hamm (276).
May 26 in Harrison,
N.J.
USA 3 Mexico 0. Goals: Heath 11, Pugh 76, Press 88.
USA -- Naeher; O'Hara, Dahlkemper, Sauerbrunn (Pugh, 46), Dunn (Long, 46); Ertz,
Mewis, Lavelle (Horan, 46); Heath (Sonnett, 71), Morgan (Lloyd, 46), Rapinoe (Press, 46).
Mexico -- Santiago; Robles, Romero (Orejel, 89), Bernal, Lopez; Espinosa (Delgado,
90+1), Nieto, Ovalle (Franco, 63), Robles (Cruz, 85), Martinez (Garza, 85), Palacios (Sanchez, 82).
Yellow cards: USA -- none; Mexico -- Robles 38. Red cards:
none.
Referee: Crystal Sobers (Trinidad & Tobago).
Att.: 26,332.
Stats:
USA/Mexico
Shots: 25/3
Shots on target: 11/0
Saves: 0/7
Corner Kicks: 6/1
Fouls: 3/5
Offside: 6/2
Possession: 57%/43%
I thought Dunn had the best game. She was awesome, domininating over half the field.
I rate the TV production effort by ESPN at "2" and that is being generous. It may have just been the producer making horrible decisions, but I had to wonder if the production crew were a bunch of high school students who never saw a soccer match before.
For instance ESPN completely missed the first goal and treated the restarts as time outs in basketball.
Noticed how the energy picked up after the second half forwards came on, they should have started them in the first half. In a post game interview, Ellis stated that she is "not too concerned" about the teams effort at the WC, she has not been too concerned since she took over the team. Beautiful goal by C. Press, good effort by the second half forwards. Dunn needs to play up front.
Morgan has to be better. Missed too many chances.
Dunn looked very sharp today. Mewis didnt have her best showing, but she's still better presence than Horan. Would love to see Lavelle higher in a true 10 playmaker role. If Ertz can stay healthy, the team has the depth to do well in France.
Would never take Mewis over Horan. Horan is a beast like Ertz.
Not the sharpest of games...got better in the second half. I doubt most are going 100% and risk injury. This team has, not 11 but 18 starters. Expect big things in France.