Commentary
Netherlands-USA Women's Friendly Player Ratings
- by Mike Woitalla @MikeWoitalla, Nov 27, 2020
Nov. 27 in Breda, Netherlands
Netherlands 0 USA 2. Goals: Lavelle 41, K.Mewis 70.
Att.: behind closed doors.
In a friendly rematch of the 2019 Women's World Cup final in which the USA beat the Netherlands, 2-0, the Americans came out victors by the same scoreline. The defensive, tame and uncreative Dutch performance for now at least put to rest fears they're gaining significant ground on the USA. For its part, Coach Vlatko Andonovski's team, which outshot the Dutch 16-2, got its deserved victory despite too many predictable flank attacks and sloppy frontline play.
USA Player Ratings
(1=low; 5=middle; 10=high.)
GOALKEEPER
Zero saves were required of Alyssa Naeher, who helped set up the USA's second goal with a Route 1 boot.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
5
Alyssa Naeher (Chicago Red Stars) 63/0 (32)
Becky Sauerbrunn's interventions included a block of an 87th-minute close-range shot that proved the best chance the Dutch had in the game. Her central partner Abby Dahlkemper also played at a level the Dutch attackers couldn't cope with. Both outside backs, Kelley O’Hara and Crystal Dunn, impressed with swift attacks but disappointed with their passing.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
5
Kelley O’Hara (Utah Royals) 132/2 (32)
7
Abby Dahlkemper (NC Courage) 62/0 (27)
8
Becky Sauerbrunn (Portland Thorns) 178/0 (35)
5
Crystal Dunn (Portland Thorns) 105/24 (28)
After a shaky start of flawed touches, Rose Lavelle delivered a golazo without which this game's highlights would have faded quickly from memory. Sam Mewis and Julie Ertz most notably contributed defensively.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
6
Samantha Mewis (Manchester City/ENG) 68/18 (28)
6
Julie Ertz (Chicago Red Stars) 103/20 (28)
7
Rose Lavelle (Manchester City, ENG) 46/13 (25)
FORWARDS
Soon after kickoff, Tobin Heath delivered a cross that better anticipation from Lynn Williams could have led to an earlier U.S. go-ahead. But Heath's ineffectual play afterward included woeful corner kicks and free kicks. William' shots were of stunningly poor quality, but amid her otherwise fruitless forays she assisted on Kristie Mewis' 2-0 goal with a one-touch flick from Naeher's long, high free kick. Christen Press' uninspired start included a weak shot straight to keeper but she impressively prepped Lavelle's goal after bringing the ball up from the U.S. half.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
4
Lynn Williams (NC Courage) 29/9 (27)
6
Christen Press (Manchester United/ENG) 139/58 (31)
3
Tobin Heath (Manchester United/ENG) 169/33 (32)
SUBSTITUTES
Midge Purce flew forward to set up an Alex Morgan strike into the net called offside by a toe-nail. Sophia Smith's debut was notable for a pair sloppy fouls. A sharp finish from Kristie Mewis provided the USA with a deserved second goal.
Player (Club) caps/goals (age)
5
Alex Morgan (Tottenham Hotspur/ENG) 170/107 (31)
6
Kristie Mewis (Houston Dash) 16/2 (29)
4
Sophia Smith (Portland Thorns) 1/0 (20)
6
Margaret Purce (Sky Blue FC) 2/0 (25)
5
Emily Sonnett (Orlando Pride) 46/0 (27)
nr
Jaelin Howell (Florida State) 1/0 (21)
TRIVIA: The 20-year-old Sophia Smith and 21-year-old Jaelin Howell become the first players born after the 1999 World Cup to earn a U.S. women's national team cap.
NOTABLE: Only one U.S. starter, Lynn Williams, didn't play in 2019 World Cup final.
Nov. 27 in Breda, Netherlands
Netherlands 0 USA 2.
Goals: Lavelle 41, K.Mewis 70.
Netherlands -- van Veenendaal; Wilms, Nouwen, Bloodworth, van Dongen; Groenen, Spitse, van de Donk; Beerenstyn (van de Tanden, 67), Roord (Snoeijs, 88), Martens.
USA -- Naeher; O'Hara (Purce, 76), Dahlkemper, Sauerbrunn, Dunn (Sonnet, 75); S.Mewis (Howell, 89), Ertz, Lavelle (C.Mewis, 61); Williams, Press (Morgan, 46), Heath (Smith, 75).
Yellow cards -- none. Red cards -- none.
Referee:
Att.: behind closed doors.
Stats:
Netherlands/USA
Shots: 2/16
Shots on target: 0/6
Saves: 0/4
Corner Kicks: 4/6
Fouls: 9/9
Offside: 3/6
Possession: 62%/38%
I agree with most of this, but I think the rating for Heath may be a little harsh. Especially in the first half she was all over the field disrupting things with her play offensively and defensively. Overall a pretty solid performance by the team given how this year has played out for soccer.
NOT My National Team Anymore, When they Kneel during the National Anthem.!!!
I won't be Watching or Cheering for them anymore.!!!
NOT WORTH MY TIME.!!!
Women's soccer should realize passing the ball to each other's feet, receiving the ball standing stationary, not applying 3rd man of the ball principles, not passing balls in open space to run onto is outdated soccer. '
Sorry to say ,the women have the same disease our men's team have but worse, and this can only attributed to the stale , programmed coaching who are responsible likewise for our youth players looking like stiffs with a ball...
Generally speaking I believe the WNT team has the skills to play great soccer. So the way they play reflects the coaching. I think the most telling comment in the game report is that two of the CMs were noted for their defensive contributions. To me that means a step backwards with the new coach wanting the team to play with two DMs. IMO that is a waste of talent with this team and on any team too defensive a posture when playing weaker opponents. And I must admit that I am of the school of thought that a double pivot is always inferior to a single pivot.
That is just my long winded way of agreeing with you that our coaching is not what our players deserve.
Bob, "Great Soccer?". Yes, perhaps in generic terms but when I see how today's soccer is being played it is so predictable, especially when you watch the women, for the men side is no great shakes either. All you do is watch the 'bouncing ball', in other you know where ball is going.
It is sooo predictable, it starts off with whomever has the ball dribbles and then the passes it going into the direction of the dribble. The only surprise left is whether the receiver of the pass doesn't lose the ball it or makes a bad reception....that's the surprise...
It style of play is so robotic, it is like watching a pinball machine game. There is no shake and bake moves, no individuality, for it is so rare to see in the women game and INDIVIDUALIST and I guess that is because women tend to be more or socially minded than although tougher in the men's department as well. Although I mention turbo a lot, it is certainly not lost in the women's game, for athleticism and turbo is such huge element in the women's game that we depend upon for our success....
The way soccer is being played with 2 square centerbacks, just hanging back who lack real penetrating forwards ability, of which one remembers those days of the attacking sweeper that gave the midfield extra attacking power as well as an extra man; but now hang back just picking their nose....The centerbacks have become receptacles, tools rather, for the other teammates to use due to their own lack creative technical ability and lack positional sense for attacking purposes, that in most cases currently the weakest players in the 'footballing' sense, the centerbacks, often touch the most of any other players on the field....That is how bad soccer is getting when the worst players are gettng the ball the most because of their postion situated furthest away from attack.....
I am glad you mentioned CB. Ertz is a great CB, but instead of having a CB move up into the midfield, they make her a DM and the CBs still stay home. Under the old coach Ertz was free to get forward even into the box. Under the new coach she is not allowed to attack. This is what I see as a step backwards tactically. The WNT is no. 1 and the coach has them playing defensively.
It would be one thing if the CB and DM were playing high up the field, but they are not unless the opponent has bunkered.
Heath rating is too low for what she contributed with her work rate but, her dead balls were lousy. This is how the game is played now. You have to look for short moments of brilliance that, are really lacking. The Dutch could not handle the pressure. The coach should be mostly happy for what he got from a long layoff. Lynn Williams has to show that , she can put the ball on frame.
Apparently I am more forgiving than most of Heath not being sharp on the dead ball restarts, after an 8 month layoff.
Bob ... Unfortunately Heath has not had the layoff you point to. After all she plays for MU and is the primary corner taker fro the Reds ... Nevertheless your comment along with Mike's on the game and ratings jumps out at an issue that needs to be resolved for the future ....
Fairly certain Rapinoe's last tournament will be the Olympics (should she make the cut). Corners and other free kicks as we know can make a difference.
She just joined Man Utd 2 months ago.
the front strickers were technically lacking skill. Press and Heath seemed to have no intensity no desire to play to win. Williams the fastest of the team but with very minimal wisdom how to shoot to the goal. Does the coach noticed her poor ability to shoot?, does he teach her players how to correct their faults reviewing the post match video analysis ? we hope he does. We the fans in central Florida believe that Andro
Overall nearly a disappointment show of poor front line strickers . Heath and Press played one half of what they normally can play. Williams showed great speed better than all her teanmates
but most importantly she showed a temendous absence of soccer wisdom with the form she shot the ball and missed several goals. For a friendly one can overlook but for a qualification or a more important game ,it would nearly be unforgiveable for many fans . The coach Mr. Andronovski who we believe is abetter one than the previous coach , needs to not forget to remark this point. " you shoot to the goal using your wisdom not just with your ability to strike the ball"
Don't include me in that "we". Ellis managed the team to back to back world cups, the rarest of coaching accomplishments.
Bob, Please, it should be stated what is wrong with you as a coach if one can't win the world cup with the US women's team...Sorry ,Ellis or anyone could have been successful. We just have the Horses, the Turbo, and Athleticism other teams don't have...it is that simple...It certainly isn't great coaching for you don't needed anyway to be successful with the US women's team.
Women's soccer is so one sided as far competitive play goes, also bad as far as the level of soccer quality play when Turbo and Athleticism can win for you for that is basically our style.
Watching the women play and watching how they play certainly doesn't refect well on Ellis in my eyes...When you consider what she has to work with the US team should set an example of soccer that should be played.....A good remembrance of how Spanish women showed us how to play soccer a year agocomes closer to how the game should be played but that level is certainly beyond what Elis is capable of coaching/teaching....
Frank, you make excellent points. The only thing I disagree with is your conclusion that Ellis in incapable of coaching/teaching positional play. Just because she hasn't, doesn't mean that she couldn't.
I did see her use some Dutch Style Principles in her game plans, but she purposely created 1v1 matchups in the attacking third, to exploit the best 1v1 skills, i.e., althleticism and turbo. That was what she relied on.
This point you might agree with--the success with the athleticism is actually setting back our WNT program in the long run. I do not see USSF changing until the WNT suffers obvious failures. Like the British fell to Hungary 6-3 at home in 1953. Right now USSF is feeling comfortable. And they shouldn't.
I suspect Vltako had other plans/wasn't prepared with a plan B during a Friendly when our press so-dominated the Dutch. I'd like to see Ertz back in the back line, coming forward to start attacks in a 3-4-3. Unless playing against teams with established wing play, do we need 4 back there? Naeher had nothing to do all day.