USA: 1-Alyssa Naeher; 2-Emily Fox, 4-Naomi Girma, 5-Trinity Rodman, 7-Crystal Dunn, 9-Mallory Swanson, 10-Lindsey Horan (Capt.), 11-Sophia Smith, 12-Tierna Davidson, 3-Korbin Albert, 17-Sam Coffey
Available Subs: 18-Casey Murphy, 22-Jane Campbell, 6-Casey Krueger, 8-Lynn Williams, 14-Emily Sonnett, 15-Jaedyn Shaw, 19-Hal Hershfelt, 20-Croix Bethune, 21-Emily Sams
Head coach: Emma Hayes
CRC: 1-Noelia Bermúdez, 2-Gabriela Guillén, 3-María Paula Coto, 7-Melissa Herrera, 9-María Paula Salas, 10-Gloriana Villalobos, 11-Raquel Rodríguez (Capt.), 12-María Paula Elizondo, 13-Emilie Valenciano, 14-Priscila Chinchilla, 20-Fabiola Villalobos
Available Subs: 23-Daniela Solera, 4-Mariana Benavides, 5-Yaniela Arias, 6-Jimena González, 8-Priscila Rodríguez, 15-María José Morales, 16-Ángela Mesén, 17-Alexa Herrera, 19-Alexandra Pinell, 21-Tanisha Fonseca, 22-Sianyf Agüero
Head coach: Beni Rubido
The United States Women’s National Team played Costa Rica to a scoreless draw in the last match of their Summer Send-Off series on Tuesday night at Audi Field. 18,972 fans were on hand to send off our nation’s best to the Paris 2024 Olympics. We learned just before kickoff that Rose Lavelle and Jenna Nighswonger were taken out of the starting XI as a precaution. Lavelle was feeling tightness in her leg so Korbin Albert started in her place.
The U.S. was most effective down the right side. They spent almost the entire first half wearing down Costa Rica’s defense on that side. The combination of Horan, Rodman, and Mallory Swanson was not only a headache for defenders, but it was also effective for creating chances.
The U.S. saw their first chance at glory in the 6th minute. Sophia Smith made a run down the left flank and took a shot on goal. Costa Rica’s Noelia Bermúdez made the initial save but it bounced over her head and ricocheted off the crossbar. Fortunately for her, it landed within a safe distance to recover.
In the 17th minute, Costa Rica’s Priscilla Chinchilla made a nasty tackle from behind on Trinity Rodman, which spurred the Washington Spirit star to spring up from the ground and confront Chinchilla face-to-face. Chinchilla earned the match’s first yellow card for the tackle.
I asked Sam Coffey what she thought of Costa Rica’s physical play after the match and how she felt her teammates stood to the task. “All these different teams that we’re playing, we’re getting so many different pictures and things we can continue and learn and grow from,” she began. “Yeah they were very physical but I think we’re physical too, we matched it well. We need to expect that going forward, despite that being a frustrating part of the game.”
Lindsey Horan had the team’s third shot on target when she headed the ball on frame from a corner kick. Since the header was from distance, Bermúdez was able to easily collect the ball. Not long after, Bermúdez collided with Trinity Rodman and both players needed treatment. Horan was visibly livid, lambasting the referee after no foul was called. With the heavy tackle and the collision within minutes of each other, we knew the physicality of the match was just going to increase.
Smith had a clear chance on goal just before halftime but the ball seemed to bounce unexpectedly forcing an odd connection when she tried to shoot. The pitch condition was to blame, which is the last thing the U.S. needs to hear after a string of subpar conditions reported at Copa América.
In the second half, Emily Sonnett, Jaedyn Shaw, Casey Krueger, and Lynn Johnson came into the match to thunderous applause. The crowd erupted even louder in the 88th minute when Emma Hayes sent out Washington Spirit sensation Croix Bethune.
“I’m glad I got to get in the game,” the NWSL star said after the match. “I thought it [her performance] was decent and I got to get in and kinda feel it out.”
The best chance of the second half came in stoppage time. Trinity Rodman lobbed a beautiful ball into the box that found Lynn Williams. Her headed attempt was met by Bermúdez immediately and thwarted the U.S.’s best chance at victory.
The ladies won’t be happy about a draw but they did a good job against a young Costa Rican side that sat in a low block all match. Stacking eight players in a box at any given time would prove difficult for anyone, but it’s also a compliment to the USWNT, acknowledging how dangerous they can be.
The U.S. begins their Olympic journey on July 25 against Zambia.
-Jon Jones
Photo: Alex Hernandez