[WOMEN’S WORLD CUP SPOTLIGHT] At its last two major tournaments, the USA failed to open with a win. On Tuesday, against a very young North Korean team, theAmericans were once again slow out of the gate. But this time one attacker’s persistence and a rare goal by a defender earned them a 2-0 victory in their World Cup opener in Dresden.
Fifth time’s a charm.After Lauren Cheney shot straight to keeper Hong Myong Hui four times, the U.S. attacker did better with her head, scoring the first U.S. goal in the 54th minute whenshe met an Abby Wambach cross six yards out and, without needing to jump, headed into the far corner of the goal. Wambach received the ball on an excellent cross-field pass byCarli Lloyd from inside the U.S. half. After faking out a defender near the corner flag, Wambach she sent the inswinger to Cheney and she finally beat the shaky 19-year-old keeper whohardly had to move to make four saves on Cheney’s previous efforts.
Rachel Buehler’s Day On. Besides competently patrolling the central defensealongside Christie Rampone, Rachel Buehler picked a nice time to score her second goal for the USA. The 25-year-old making her 57th U.S. appearance scored her firstlast year in a 5-0 win over Haiti in World Cup qualifying. After right back Ali Krieger delivered a ball from the wing that came off the crossbar, Buehler headed the rebound into thegoalmouth, where Lloyd won a scramble for the ball and touched it back to Buehler, who slid and shot low from 15 yards, just inside the left post.
Mainstriker off target. She’s the USA’s third all-time leading scorer — after Kristine Lilly (130) and Mia Hamm (158) with 118 goals and has the bestgoals-per-game ratio in U.S. history, but 31-year-old Abby Wambach scored just once in the last 10 games coming into the World Cup and squandered several chances against the Koreans.Wambach, who missed the 2008 Olympics after suffering a broken leg on the eve of the tournament, has recently been hampered by Achilles’ tendinitis. Against the Koreans, she did find scoringchances – ones she’ll need to finish when the USA faces tougher foes.
Colombia up next. In other Group C action on Tuesday, Sweden beatColombia, 1-0. The USA faces the Colombians on Saturday in Sinsheim – home of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim – at noon ET (ESPN/ESPN3.com/Galavision). The Colombians are making their first World Cupappearance.
June 28 in Dresden
USA 2 North Korea 0. Goals: Cheney (Wambach) 54, Buehler (Lloyd) 76.
USA — Solo, Krieger, Buehler, Rampone,LePeilbet, O’Reilly (Rapinoe, 79), Boxx, Lloyd, Cheney, Rodriguez (Morgan, 75), Wambach.
North Korea — Hong Myong Hui, Ho Un Byol (Kwon Song Hwa, 81), Song Jong Sun, JongPok Sim, Ri Un Hyang, Kim Su Gyong, Jo Yun Mi, Ri Ye Gyong, Jon Myong Hwa (Kim Un Ju, 68), Yun Hyon Hi (Paek Sol Hui, 48), Ra Un Sim.
Referee: Bibiana Steinhaus (Germany).
Att.: 21,859.
Players from the back attacking from the cemtral area are a rarity…where have u gone Franz Backenbauer…need more of such attacking.
Great result, but a horrible performance. The rankings looked reversed in the first half, as N Korea possessed and attacked with confidence. Throughout the match, US skills and decisions were poor. I’ve been stunned by the TV commentary. I’m actually MORE pessimistic about our chances after this match…though I hope they prove me wrong.
@John, we will need to improve the technical skill level of our women’s program or we will lose our dominance as other nations step up their programs. We need to avoid going with just big, strong athletic girls that win games for club tournaments and instead emphasize true player development based on skills.
Good stuff, John and David. I thought the tv commentary is ever so much better than for the Gold Cup. I can almost stand to listen, particularly to Julie Foudy.