USWNT v Puerto Rico (02/15/2016) Olympic Qualifying

Another beautiful "winter" early evening here in Big D - no wind at kick.
NO nicks, NO red cards, rest and advance.

Guess who's waiting in Houston, the head-stomper herself - Tancredi, me no likey.

Again, thanks to 8MILL for keeping us informed about the streams and replays.

 

Once upon a time that was a big no-no. Have things changed?

 

there are only 20 on the roster. so brunn and dunn and horan (she needs the practice and fitness) will probably have to play. other than that, new starters all around.

-------------------------harris-------------------------------
o'hara---------sonnett----------brunn-------------hinkle

dunn-----------mewis----------horan-----------mccaffrey

----------------pugh-----------press-------------------------

 

Soooooooo with Tobin and Julie on Yellows........they for sure don't see the field....right?

 

I don't think there is yellow card accumulation to worry about in this tournament. Pretty sure one of the game commentators mentioned something about it following Heath's yellow card versus Mexico.

 

From US Soccer:

Card Story: The USA is carrying two yellow cards, one for Heath and one for Johnston, but yellow cards are wiped away before the semifinal round so as long as neither receives a card against Puerto Rico, the USA will be free of suspensions for the semifinal in Houston.

 

This would be a perfect game to put in players that haven't played so far. I would go as far as starting some of those players.

 

I actually met Tancredi through a friend who went to school with her. She seemed really cool, but yeah that head stomp thing was bizarre. The Canadian team has all of about two decent players at this point and she definitely isn't one of them anymore.

 

I hope KO gets playing time at some point. I feel like she is one of their best outside players. I don't understand what Ellis is doing.

 

Challenging this team to play at it's worst and still win. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

The bench players can play now because the other team sucks and the game means nothing. How nice of Jill?

That's how I look at it..

 

Well, it still means *something*. The US has to win or tie to finish first in the group. Win & you get Guyana or T&T and you are basically in the Olympics. Lose and you face Canada and it's not guaranteed. Our 2nd team should handily beat PR, but they still have to show up.

 

Id be surprised if Ellis goes that far.

 

I dont think she cares as much about the players who havent played as keeping some combinations together at least for a half to sort things out a bit. I would expect Brian and Horan to start for example with one replaced by Mewis at the half. Maybe Dunn with McCaffrey at the half.

 

What I would like to see is have them come out in the three back and practice that for a half, then sub in three players at the half

....................Morgan...........Press
................................Lloyd
Dunn..............................................Pugh
....................Brian.......Horan
Klingenberg.........Sauerbrunn..........O'Hara

........................The Unknown GK

2nd half

.....................Press
................................Lloyd
Pugh..............................................McCaffrey
....................Mewis.......Horan
Klingenberg..Sauerbrunn..Sonnett..O'Hara

........................The Unknown GK

 

Our U15 team would beat Puerto Rico lmao. What shocks me is that if Guyana and TT tie, we play Guyana to make it to the olympics..what a joke!

 

Most of the teams that have qualified haven't faced stiff competition, either.

 

anybody want to predict the number? I'm thinking 15-0......

 

Well the U.S. beat Costa Rica 5-0, and Costa Rica beat Puerto Rico 9-0, so by the transitive property [which clearly *always* works in sports] we should beat them 14-0.

I know a solid performance won't mean as much against an opponent with a -15 goal differential in two matches, but I hope the U.S. cleans up some of the sloppy play I saw on Saturday. If we don't score until the 80th minute on another disputed PK call, I'll start to be a little concerned about this team's prospects.

 

Case in point New Zealand

 

On the warm up side...Costa Rica v. Mexico has been fun

 

And Portland made a big mistake not grabbing Rodriguez.

 

Mexico is falling apart. I'm not sure if they will come back being down 2 goals but crazier things have happened.