The U.S. Women’s National Team earned a 1-0 victory against Trinidad & Tobago to open Group A play at the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship at Sporting Park, home of Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City.
Trinidad & Tobago managed to withstand the USA’s heavy attack with plenty of defenders behind the ball, but the U.S. eventually found the back of the net when all-time leading goal scorer Abby Wambach scored her 171st international goal in the 54th minute.
After the tournament’s opening day, the USA shares first place in Group A with Haiti as both teams earned 1-0 wins. In Wednesday’s earlier match, a shorthanded Haiti side defeated Guatemala at Sporting Park as Lindsey Zullo scored the game’s only goal. Haiti goalkeeper Cynthia Chery was given a red card early in the first half.
With the victory against Trinidad & Tobago, the USA moves to an impressive 23-1-0 all-time in Women’s World Cup Qualifying. All eyes are on qualification for the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada, and the U.S. is also looking to win its fifth CONCACAF Women’s Championship, having previously won the title in 1991, 1994, 2002 and 2006. The USA hosted the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup and did not have to go through the qualification process heading into that event.
Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Abby Wambach (Alex Morgan), 54th minute: After dominating the game with heavy possession and numerous scoring chances, the USA finally broke through when Morgan dribbled to her left to elude Trinidad & Tobago goalkeeper Kimika Forbes. From the end line, Morgan crossed to Wambach perched at the edge of the six-yard box, and Wambach headed the ball past defender Lauryn Hutchinson and into the right side of the frame for her eighth goal this year and a one-goal U.S. advantage over Trinidad & Tobago. USA 1, TRI 0 (FINAL)
Milestone Watch:
Abby Wambach, the U.S. WNT’s all-time leader with 171 goals, recorded her 11th-career goal in Women’s World Cup Qualifying, tying her for fourth on the USA’s all-time list with Joy Fawcett.
U.S. captain Christie Rampone appeared in her 298th match as she nears the 300-game milestone. She is second only to Kristine Lilly (352 caps from 1987-2010) in all-time WNT caps.
With her 177th cap, Carli Lloyd moved past Shannon MacMillan (176 games from 1993-2005) for 12th on the WNT’s all-time caps list.
Abby Wambach and second-half sub Heather O’Reilly have now appeared in four different CONCACAF Women’s Championships (2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014). That mark ties for second place among U.S. WNT players, trailing only Lilly’s five (1991, 1994, 2002, 2006, 2010).
Hope Solo added to her U.S. WNT record with her 74th-career shutout, making one save on the night.
Next on the Schedule:
The U.S. WNT continues Group A play in the 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship against Guatemala on Friday, Oct. 17, at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois. The game kicks off at 8 p.m. CT.
Broadcast information: FOX Sports 1 and multi-platform devices via FOX Sports GO, FOX Soccer 2GO and FOXSportsGo.com.
Additional Notes:
- The USA is now 11-2-3 in 2014.
- The U.S. WNT is 8-0-0 all-time against Trinidad & Tobago and 4-0-0 in World Cup qualifying. Wednesday’s game was the USA’s closest margin of victory between the two sides. The previous mark was the USA’s 3-1 win on April 10, 1994.
- The USA has outscored Trinidad & Tobago 55-2 in the all-time series.
- U.S. head coach Jill Ellis’ starting lineup included a defensive group featuring goalkeeper Hope Solo, right back Ali Krieger, left back Meghan Klingenberg and center backs Becky Sauerbrunn and Christie Rampone. Rampone wore the captain’s armband.
- The U.S. midfield included Lauren Holiday on the left, Carli Lloyd on the right and Abby Wambach playing centrally in a 4-3-3 formation.
- The front line included Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan and Christen Press from left to right.
- Sydney Leroux replaced Press in the 61st minute.
- Heather O’Reilly entered the game in the 77th minute for Wambach, who departed with well-earned chants from the USA fan base.
- Ellis’ final sub was Amy Rodriguez, who replaced Rapinoe in the 87th minute.
- Nine of the USA starters had played in a previous World Cup qualifier heading into the match, while Klingenberg and Press made their first appearances and starts in the CONCACAF Women’s Championship.
- Wambach is the USA’s active leader in World Cup qualifying appearances, earning her 11th cap. Rampone, Lloyd and O’Reilly earned their 10th caps in the qualifying tournament.