USA vs Costa Rica: Oly Qual. 1/27

Solo uncertain to play ESPN reports.

 

The USA is in the exact place they were in the WC qualifiers, with the exception that there is no bail-out path I'd they lose.

CR is the game of the tournament. The finals are fluff.

 

I don't think we will see anything too drastic in terms of line-up, as this is the most important of games (such a weird tournament set-up in that the semi is more important than the final).

What I expect to see:
Barnhart (if Solo can't go)
Mitts Buehler, Rampone, LeP
Lloyd, Boxx
HAO, Cheney, Arod
Wambach

But, if the game is in hand, I would love to see O'Hara subbed in at half, and then start the final to see what she looks like defensively against stronger teams. I've never been a fan of LeP at outside back, and while I would prefer to see what KO can do up top, Pia isn't interested. So, let's see what she can do at LB.

Also, get Buehler out and start Sauerbrunn already. I don't want to see Bue at RB, CB or any back. I just want her off. She isn't an awful defender, but there are better options on the team. They should be starting.

 

Pia's starting lineup:

----------------Wambach----------------
-----------------Cheney------------------
Arod--------------Lloyd-------------HAO
-------------------Boxx-------------------
LP---Rampone---Sauerbrunn---Buehler


My starting lineup:

--------Wambach-------Morgan---------
-----------------Cheney------------------
Rapinoe------------------------------HAO
-------------------Boxx-------------------
KOH---Rampone---Sauerbrunn---Buehler

 

Barnhart was in goal against Costa Rica the last two times the USA played (and defeated) them, which was during the WWC Qualifiers in Mexico. So, if Solo has injury issues, then that's one big plus in favor of starting Barnhart.

Here's the results of those two matches:

08-Nov-2010 (WWCQ, 3rd Place Match)
USA 3 CRC 0

Goals:
17' Lauren Cheney (Lori Lindsey)
33' Abby Wambach (Lori Lindsey)
50' Abby Wambach (Lauren Cheney)

CRC had 5 shots, with 2 on goal.
Barnhart had 2 saves.

01-Nov-2010 (WWCQ, Final Match of Group Play)
USA 4 CRC 0

Goals:
32' Abby Wambach (penalty kick)
68' Lauren Cheney (unassisted)
73' Yael Averbuch (Kristine Lilly)
81' Alex Morgan (Heather O’Reilly)

CRC had 8 shots, with only 2 on goal.
Barnhart had 2 saves.
​

The USA also faced CRC in a 2008 WOQ semifinal, winning 3-0, though with a much different backline (Cox, Rampone, Whitehill, Chalupny).

CRC's #1 GK (Diaz), who started against the USA in the 2010 matches, was injured before the tournament and is not on the WOQ roster, so that's one key difference in their roster. It looks like about half of CRC's roster is new compared to the 2010 matches. Of the current players, only 5 are 25.0 years or older. The rest are all under 23.0.

Here's the highlights (CONCACAF TV) from the CAN-CRC match (which went 5-1 to Canada). I'd say that two of Canada's four scored goals were from rebounds off clear errors by CRC's GK (#2, unable to hold or clear effectively; and #5 unable to hold onto ball). So, that's one weakness to take advantage of.

CRC's late consolation goal looks to have been aided by a breakdown by Canada's backline, at least on review of the highlight video.

 

Like many (I believe), in the next two games I would like to see O'Hara at left back in at least one of them, to see how she does as a defender against pressure. I'd prefer to see her against Canada since it will be a better test. The US, however, wants to win every game it plays so I don't know if they'll experiment in that game. If she can perform well at left D against a decent team, that will be a tremendous step forward for the US team, as she appears to be a major + in the transition to attack.

I watched the Canada/Costa Rica game and one thing I drew from it is that the US speed of play is way beyond that of any other CONCACAF team.

 

I don't see any reason to play Solo if she's anywhere under about 98%. Given how little she had to do in the Mexico game, we could probably win this one without a keeper at all.

 

if it's the earlier game, I probably won't be able to see it live since I don't get off work until 7PM Pacific Time. Do you know how soon one is able to review the game again once the live stream is over? Will I be able to watch it later on that night?

 

I was able to watch the game versus Guatemala less than a half hour after it aired on the website for universal sports.

 

According to CONCACAF, the US game is the first game, at 17:00 EST, followed by Canada/Mexico at 20:00 EST. That's a half-hour earlier than the previous games. It also allows an extra 30 minutes between the games, probably because these no longer are pool games.

 

The U.S will come out strong, as they did against Mexico.
Expect to see Mitts start, also O"hara. If they are going to promote
this new formation, they need outside backs who can join the
attack. Hardly lp's strong suit. Expect to see a lot of Morgan also.

 

I think it's 17:00 PST (5pm) and 20:00PST (8pm)

Somehow I don't think so. I don't think we're going to see O'Hara start and I don't expect to see Morgan any earlier than we've been seeing here. We may see Mitts start or we may see the same backline as the Mexico game: LePeilbet/Sauerbrunn/Rampone/Buehler

 

It is. That's 8 and 11 pm EST, respectively.

 

I stand corrected. 5 and 8 on the West Coast.

 

Is this game going to be on Television? I can find no information about it anywhere.

 

I don't understand why they even bother to play the final. What's the point of it (unless this is also the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup, which I don't think it is).

 

Not very hard at all; thank you.

 

In fairness, for whatever reason (insert conspiracy theory) it is not listed here:

http://www.livesoccertv.com/schedules/

While Canada vs. Mexico is?

(Also due to that non-listing thanks for the time correction, I had a brief concern about no USN channel at work.)

 

It's listed there now, but only on CONCACAF. The listing doesn't seem to recognize Universal at all.

 

and FIFA points aren't meaningless

 

USA vs Costa Rica 8PM EST

Universal Sports Network


http://www.universalsports.com/vide...acaf+womens+olympic+qualifying+usa+costa+rica

 

So the only possible changes from the final group game would be Barny for Solo (due to injury) and then either Mitts or O'Hara sliding into Krieger's spot.

I expect O'Hara to step in there and do a great job with Mitts as cover off the bench - but it's not like I've seen the training sessions or had a sit down with Pia.