Commentary
USA-South Korea: Women's Friendly Player Ratings
- by Mike Woitalla @MikeWoitalla, Oct 3, 2019
Oct. 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina
USA 2 South Korea 0. Goals: Long 45+3, Pugh 76.
Att.: 30,071.
Megan Rapinoe assisted on close-range goals by Allie Long in the first half and Mallory Pugh in the second half for a 2-0 USA win over South Korea on Thursday.
USA Player
Ratings
(1=low; 5=middle; 10=high.)
GOALKEEPER
The only balls that reached Ashlyn Harris arrived from long range.
Player (Club) caps/goals
(age)
5 Ashlyn Harris (Orlando Pride) 23/0 (33)
DEFENDERS
Crystal Dunn barely resembled the dynamic left back we saw during the World Cup. Becky Sauerbrunn, who ran down and cleanly slide-tackled
Kang Chaerim during a rare South Korean appearance in the U.S. penalty area, patrolled the central defense competently with Abby Dahlkemper. Emily Sonnett
supported Rose Lavelle on the USA's more successful flank.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
5 Emily Sonnett (Portland Thorns) 38/0 (25)
6 Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage) 51/0 (26)
6 Becky Sauerbrunn (Utah Royals) 168/0 (34)
4 Crystal Dunn (NC Courage) 95/24 (27)
MIDFIELDERS
The USA's most
dynamic attacking player, Rose Lavelle, played with an urgency her teammates lacked in the first half and most of the second. The Koreans should have seen three yellow cards for
their fouls on Lavelle. By her standards, central midfielder Julie Ertz underwhelmed offensively while meeting more defensive demands than she had in recent games -- because the
Koreans often outnumbered the USA's three-player midfield. A hit-and-miss performance by Allie Long on the left wing included an important hit: her close-range volley that made it
1-0.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
7
Rose Lavelle (Washington Spirit) 35/10 (24)
5 Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars) 92/19 (27)
6 Allie Long (Reign FC) 98/8 (32)
FORWARDS
In her first game since the World Cup, a rusty Megan Rapinoe caused few problems on the left wing for the Koreans but got an assist with an
out-swinging free-kick delivery to Long and a cross to Mallory Pugh. After a first half of miscues, Carli Lloyd hit the crossbar with a 15-yard shot that she should
have buried and headed over the goal from three yards. Pugh hit the crossbar from a narrow angle in 38th minute with her only shot. But as has been the case in recent games, she too
often passed poorly and rarely threatened on the dribble. Her long lulls have become worrisome but she appeared at the right place to head home from three yards for the game's second goal.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
5 Mallory
Pugh (Washington Spirit) 59/18 (21)
3 Carli Lloyd (Sky Blue FC) 285/117 (37)
6 Megan Rapinoe (Reign FC; 158/50) (34)
SUBSTITUTES
Christian Press' crisp, low pass was perfectly timed to set up the golden chance that Lloyd squandered in the 48th minute. But Press
squandered a one-on-one chance from close range in the 68th minute, shooting within the reach of keeper Kim Minjung's foot. Shortly afterward, she hit the post from close-range, had two shots blocked
off the line, and shot straight weakly to the keeper. Tierna Davidson committed a foul within a minute of entering at halftime, was sharper when she stopped Kang Chaerim in the
56th minute, but gave up a corner kick to in the 60th minute. Jessica MacDonald missed from four yards in the 85th minute.
Player
(Club) caps/goals (age)
4 Christen Press (Utah
Royals) 127/49 (30)
5 Tierna
Davidson (Chicago Red Stars) 24/1 (20)
NR Jessica McDonald (NC Courage) 10/2 (31)
TRIVIA 1: The USA has now scored in 48 consecutive games.
TRIVIA 2: With the 106th U.S. win with her at the helm, Jill Ellis broke Tony DiCicco's record.
Oct. 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina
USA 2 South Korea 0
Goals: Long 45+3, Pugh 76.
USA -- Harris; Sonnett, Dahlkemper, Sauerbrunn, Dunn (Davidson, 46); Lavelle (Sullivan, 66), Ertz, Long (Press, 46); Pugh, Lloyd, Rapinoe (MacDonald,
78).
South Korea -- Kim Minjung; Kim Hyeri, Lim Seonjoo, Kim Hyeyeong, Ha Eunhye (So-Eun Kim, 80); Kang Chaerim (Son Hwayeon, 76), Cho So Hyun (Lee Sodam, 75), Ji Soyun (Yee Yee
Park, 90+2), Jang Chang, Lee Seaeun (Lee Youngju, 65), Jang Selgi; Moon Mira (Jang Chang, 87).
Yellow cards: USA -- none. South Korea -- Ji Soyun 56. Red cards:
none.
Referee: Gillian Martindale (Barbados)
Att.: 30,071.
Stats:
USA/South
Korea
Shots: 19/6
Shots on target: 7/3
Saves: 3/4
Corner Kicks: 6/2
Fouls:
7/12
Offside: 4/1
Possession: 51%/49%
Hello,
How do you make the mistake of reporting on Naeher in goal when Harris actually played? They're not identical twins.
Harris played in goal. Press, only a 4. She was the most dynamic US player, when she came on in the 2nd half.
Naeher did not play.
Press never gets credit for what she does. She is the most under-rated player on the team.
Did anyone else notice Long being offside on her goal? Not that it matters.
A back on the right side was keeping Long onside. She was ahead of her marker. It would be an easy determination for the assistant. The back on the right side stopped running after the ball was kicked. So if you don't look for the opponent's positions at the time the ball was struck, you might be mislead.
Wow! Long gets a 6 for being invisible except for the offside goal. Rapinoe gets a 6 for being invisible, multiple poor corner kicks before finally getting one right. Hmmm, I doubt the USMNT brings in this many injured players to any game...
Long was not offside. Watch again at the time the ball is last struck. An opponent on the far right side was keeping her onside. Easy decision for the assistant.